Page 31 of Monster

At least, I had thought so.

And if I went through with this plan I was forming, the little wildcat wouldn’t fucking look at me and see someone human.

She would find me repulsive.

More monster than man. So many other fucking bastards had accused me of that. Usually, it was right before I sent them to meet their maker.

I didn’t head inside right away. Instead, I sat on my bike, looking over at the house I tried so fucking hard to make into a home for my boys.

Did I succeed?

It felt like I was fucking it up every day.

There was a dichotomy between being a good father and being a good club president.

Most days, it felt like I had to make a choice between the two, and I always ended up choosing wrong.

It was the fucking life I chose that had now brought trauma to my youngest.

My fist clenched around the handgrip.

It was a little after midnight here, so it would be only nine o’clock at night in New Zealand.

She would still be awake.

But would she even pick up if I called?

I fucking wouldn’t if I were her.

I put the phone call in before I could really think about it and held it to my ear. It felt like my heart was beating in the rhythm of the ringing tone.

Loud, long, and slow.

I released the handgrip a little when I heard a click on the line. For a moment, I was sure she had sent my call to voicemail. Then I heard it. The slight breathing on the other end. My heart was no longer beating too loud, too long, or too slow, but picking up speed.

I spoke first. “Jenny?”

My sister didn’t answer right away. Then, in a cold and lifeless voice, she said, “What do you want, Dominic?”

I closed my eyes, trying to ward off the pain. She used to speak to me with affection. Once upon a time, I had been her favorite person in the entire world.

Now, I was the one she hated more than anything and anyone else.

“I need your help,” I said, trying to keep my tone neutral.

She scoffed. “And why would I help you?”

I had expected her venom. It still slashed across my skin like a fucking blade. “Not for me. For Braxton.”

Her breath caught. “Braxton? What’s going on?”

I licked my lips and looked up at the night sky. How could I explain what was going on when even I didn’t fucking know?

“I can’t go into much detail, but I need you to take him for the summer.”

“Are you serious?”

I shook my head. “It’s the only way I can think to keep him safe.”

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