Page 36 of Parrish

“I’m sorry.”

“Nah, don’t be sorry,” he says.

“I had no right to put my hands on you,” I rebut. It sickens me that I put a bat to the kid’s neck. Especially knowing his father sent him here out of respect for me and my family. It just confirms how much of a mess I truly am and how much better off everyone will be once I’m gone.

“You were confused,” Nico argues with a shrug of his shoulders. “No harm, no foul.”

“The marks on your neck say otherwise,” I tell him as I draw in a deep breath and run my fingers through my short hair.

“Don’t sweat it, Uncle Jack,” he says, rubbing his fingers over the bruises. “Go get some rest. You got a big day ahead of you.”

With no fight left in me, I nod my head in agreement and turn around feeling defeated. I walk back inside the house, close the door and make my way to the mantle. Staring at the photos on the wall, the devil creeps inside and calls for me.

You’re mine now, Parrish.

In sickness, until death do we part.

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