Page 158 of Creep

“I’m going to get it. I… I have work today, so I can’t stay long.”

He smiled, but for some reason, this smile felt off. “Okay, sweetheart. You should come home for dinner soon though. It looks like you haven’t been eating properly.”

I blinked, feeling my eyes burn. He sounded like he genuinely cared. Was it a lie, then?

“Of course,” I said softly. “I’ll go up to my room. See you soon.”

I waved awkwardly at him. The smile was still on his face when he nodded at me. I turned and walked away, my back burning from his gaze.

I never felt more awkward in my father’s presence. I would like to say it was because of what Mael had told me, but there was something about the expression on his face…

Wouldn’t Leo have told him I was taken to the cabin to hide from my stalker? But there were no words of concern, only an off look in his eyes that had all my hackles rising.

And right now, it felt like I was prey, out in the open with no shelter or tree for protection. It suddenly became urgent that I get the book and get out of there as soon as possible. I rushed upstairs as soon as I turned a corner and was sure Dad couldn’t see me anymore.

My room was exactly as I had left it. I walked over to the closet in a daze, pressing my hand down on the hardwood floor until I heard that familiar squeak. I pushed the board up.

The black book seemed to take all of my attention.

I grabbed it without a thought, shoved it in my purse, and got out of there. Dad wasn’t anywhere in sight when I got back downstairs. I let out a small sigh of relief. I didn’t think I could do another encounter with him or keep up the façade that nothing was wrong if I looked into his eyes once more. I was about to head out of there when voices coming from Dad’s office caught my attention. Everything told me to get out of there as quickly as possible, but I was curious enough to pivot around and head to his office instead.

He was talking on the phone.

“No, I don’t know why she’s here. I thought you said you took her away.”

I closed my eyes as the truth of his words finally hit me, and what it all meant. I was theshehe was referring to, and there was no doubt in my mind that he was talking to Leo.

“Yeah, I’ll try to keep her here. But I don’t think she trusts us anymore.”

He got that right.

But why did he even need my trust in the first place? Why give me a normal childhood and make me believe that he loved me?

Why do all of this?

Tears pricked at my eyes, and I pushed away from the wall, rushing out of the house. I wasn’t going to let him keep me here long enough for Leo to come by and take me away once more.

I looked around my surroundings as soon as I got outside. It was early afternoon, and the sun was shining brightly on me.

I walked away from the property without looking back. Even just being near this house felt dangerous somehow.

I would call for a car when the house was no longer in sight. Or I could call for Mael. No doubt, he would be angry, but his being angry at me was a better alternative to having Leo find me.

I let out a small, humorless laugh. Since when did my stalker become a better,saferalternative to a man I thought of as my uncle for most of my life—not counting the brief period when I had developed a crush on him—or even my dad?

How had my life come to this?

I didn’t know how long I had been walking, but I figured it must be safe enough to call for a ride. I pulled out my phone, but before I could make a call, it vibrated in my hand. Mael’s name flashed on the screen, and I picked up.

“Hello?”

There was a brief silence before Mael’s voice came through. “Where are you?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Baby.” There was a warning in his voice that told me he knew more than he let on. How would he know unless…

“How do you know I’m not at the apartment?”

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