Page 9 of Shattered Souls
I slide my arm through his.
“Ready to do this?”
Staring up into his dark chocolate eyes, I answer honestly. “Not even a little bit.”
He grins, all teeth and savage. “Me neither. Let’s get this shitshow of a dinner over with.”
It doesn’t matter that Grayson is pressed against me, a solid strength of support. It doesn’t matter that the restaurant is full of patrons and staff or that I’m not the same weak teenage girl I was when I last facedhim.
Nothing—and I meanabsolutely nothing—could prepare me for coming face to face with the monster who stole my innocence.
My voice.
My sanity.
The restaurant is a blur as Grayson leads me through the tables, following the maître d’ to where our parents are sitting.
All I can see is his face—it looks exactly how it did four years ago. There are a few more lines at the corners of his eyes and around his mouth, and salt and pepper dust his dark brown hair,but otherwise, you’d never know he’d just been released from prison.
You’d never know the evil that lurks beneath his superior facade.
The darkness that resides under his skin.
The pit of tar that lives where his heart should.
When he spots us approaching their table, his eyes lift to mine. Outwardly, his expression doesn’t change, but the second our gazes connect, a sick gleam ignites in his dark eyes, and all I see is his hidden malevolence. It makes me nearly projectile vomit, and honestly, I’m not sure how I keep moving. How I don’t turn and flee. I want to. Everything in me is screaming for me to run. To get away.
I must react to the urge because Grayson’s arm squeezes mine, refusing to let me slip away.
“Look who I found outside,” he purrs, easily falling into the role of father’s son once we reach the table. My arm falls from his as he pulls out a chair at the table—deliberately choosing the one opposite Lydia instead of Bertram—and gestures for me to sit.
Forcing my gaze from Bertram’s, it inadvertently slides to my mother’s as I reluctantly take my seat. The shock on her face is apparent.
“I’m so glad you could make it, Riley,” Bertram says smoothly. He draws out my name, and I have to bite my tongue to stop myself from barking at him to keep it out of his sick mouth. His gaze shifts to my mother, hardening imperceptibly. “Yourmotherwasn’t sure if you’d be able to.”
Still staring at Lydia, I force my lips upward into the best replication of a smile that I’m capable of at this moment. “My study group canceled at the last minute.”
“Their loss and our gain,” Bertram continues, eyes still drilling into the side of my face as I astutely ignore him, unfolding my napkin and nitpicking as I place it over my knee.God, will he shut up already?“And looking so beautiful. You’ve truly grown into a stunning woman, Riley.”
It feels like bugs are crawling over my skin, and despite my dress not being revealing, I still have the urge to cover myself up.
“Shame you couldn’t have worn something smarter to dinner,” my mother snipes, her lip curled in distaste. “Couldn’t you have made an effort? We’re in a fancy restaurant.”
I merely stare at her. She’s really one to speak. She might be wearing a designer dress, but it would look more at home on a twenty-year-old hitting the clubs. Her tits are practically spilling out the top, and without looking, I know the hem likely barely covers her ass.
Bertram ignores his wife, too, finally shifting his attention from me to greet Grayson. “Son.”
“Dad,” Grayson responds in that same tone, claiming the seat beside mine. His gaze shifts to Lydia, his smile forced. “Lydia.”
“Grayson,” my mother simpers. “So nice to see you looking so well after all these years.”
Cue internal eye roll.
Bertram smiles, a charismatic, charming grin that fools everyone. That once fooled me until I caught a glimpse of the monster that lurks underneath.
“Isn’t this nice? Having theentirefamily back together again.”
Lydia turns her saccharine smile on Bertram as she leans in to place her hand on his arm. “So nice, dear. We have so much to celebrate and be thankful for.”
