Page 92 of The Prom

“You did what you thought was right for your friend. You attempted to solve shit on your own and I hope you’ve learned a valuable lesson from that.”

I hang my head and whisper, “I’m sorry, daddy.”

He tilts my face to stare up at him and his eyes glitter as he whispers, “No matter how old you are, no matter how old I am, I will always be here for you. Run it by me first and what you can’t ask me, ask your mother.”

“I promise.” Tears blind me as his warning hits home. I disregarded the most powerful weapon in my arsenal and endangered all our lives. I made a stupid mistake and my regretful tears burn as I whisper, “I nearly got us all killed. I’m such a shit friend.”

He grips my face and forces me to look at him, and his voice is firm. “You did what you thought was for the best. This doesn’t mean I’m not insanely pissed at you, princess. I am so angry I am tasting venom.”

His eyes flick to Frankie and he growls, “I want a word with your guy now.”

Fuck. Part of me dies inside as I turn and wave Frankie across. The fact he shows no fear is either impressive or god-damned stupid, and when he arrives, my father glares at him.

“Tell me why I shouldn’t kill you now.”

My shocked gasp is the only sound as Frankie nods.

“I wouldn’t blame you, sir. It was my plan, not Cassie’s. We thought we had it covered with Luca’s family as back up. I should never have involved the girls.”

My eyes flash, hearing me dismissed as a girl and yet I’m not stupid enough to interrupt right now. The hell, I’m being left out of anything and my father nods. “I’m glad you realize that. I also want you to realize this.”

He glares at Frankie with an expression that could melt iron and hisses, “If my daughter is sad, upset, or even doubtful about anything you do from now, or in the future, you won’t be so lucky and I don’t care who your family are. You guard my princess with your life because if anything happens to her, yours will be worth shit. Do I make myself clear?”

“You do and I’m sorry, sir.”

“Sorry for involving her in a potential death trap or sorry you were unsuccessful in your mission?”

I cringe as Frankie faces him with an angry gleam in his eye and huffs. “Both sir.”

For some reason, his answer eases the building tension and my father shakes his head. “It’s an honest answer, and I respect that.” He sighs heavily. “Go back to Rockwell. And just so you know, we are not done talking about this yet.”

Frankie reaches for my hand. I swear that guy has balls of steel as my father’s eyes disappear into his hairline.

I clasp it firmly and smile at the man who is trying to keep his shit together and whisper, “I love you, daddy. I always will.”

He nods, a small trace of emotion showing on his chiseled expression and as we make to leave, he hisses, “Send Jack over. He has some explaining to do.”

As we head toward an anxious-looking Jack, I walk with a huge ball of guilt dragging behind me. I let them all down and I vow never to let that happen again.

FORTY-EIGHT

IMOGEN

It’s as if I’m watching a scene in a movie and am not part of the action. It’s the most surreal experience of my life. I hear the words and understand them, but am powerless to react. I’m locked inside my own body, and it’s the scariest thing that has ever happened to me in my life.

I thought I was going to die. The man in the red cloak, the samurai sword, and his evil words will haunt my nightmares forever. There was nothing I could do but where my body had no reaction, my mind did. Fear prickled on every nerve ending as I awaited my fate, accepting it would be a painful ending. Then I heard Frankie and my fear increased ten hundred because if Frankie was here, so was Cassie.

There was another voice, a deeply disturbing chilling voice that made my flesh sizzle. Then shots, so many shots before salvation.

As soon as Drake whispered he had got me, I couldn’t even cry tears of relief. He saved me and I had no way of thanking him.

Then he was replaced by my father and I swear if it was possible, I would have broken down. I will never forget that emotion inside me when my father lifted me effortlessly off thetrolley and carried me to the waiting ambulance, the emotion in his voice so very hard to bear.

I am not alone in the ambulance. The other girl was brought in with me and with two Reapers and the paramedic it’s pretty crowded in here. He says nothing, but his anxiety reaches out and fills me with fear. What if I never recover and am destined to live life locked in my body with no way out?

“She’s been drugged.” The paramedic explains to my father as he lifts my wrist and checks my pulse.

“Will it wear off, or is it–” Daddy’s voice catches and I have never heard real fear accompany his words.

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