Page 17 of Ashes to Ashes
They take the tape off his mouth and he lets out a yell, ‘That fucking hurt.”
I scrunch my nose up, “That’s not really nice language, daddy.”
Dad turns to look at me, “Cala, what’s going on?”
I tap my chin, “I’m finding myself and soon you will too. You’re going to leave Mom.” I’m not sure where I’m going with this yet, but I probably will find my rhythm.
Dad looks confused, “Leave your mom? Have you lost your mind?”
I laugh, “No, I’m finding it. I know that you hurt someone that means something to me, to others. And it’s time you pay. If you want to live, you will leave Mom.”
Dad just stares at me like I’m crazy. Well, I probably am.
“You’re going to be put on ice and tomorrow you will write a letter stating you’re leaving Mom.”
He blinks, “And then what? You’re my daughter, she’s my wife. What is going on?”
I slap him, “You know what you did. And you let it happen to me.”
His eyes widen in fear, he remembers now, “We…I…I…we…”
He can’t even stammer out an apology or an excuse, what a sorry excuse of a human.
I turn to Hunter, “Is there somewhere we can store him so he doesn’t disturb the peace until tomorrow?”
“Yeah, we have a place,” he says, hauling Dad to his feet. I follow as we walk around a corner and Peck finds a panel with numbers.
“You have a panic room?” I ask, wide eyed at this.
Daze shrugs, “Never know when it will come in handy.”
Wow, they’ve thought of everything.
“We’ve learned along the way, especially when cleaning up after you,” Hunter says. I feel bad that they’ve put themselves in that position.
Hunter lifts my chin, “We would do it no questions asked, for you.”
I nod, “Okay. Can we go home for now? Let him sit?”
Hunter takes my hand and helps me in the car, “You need your rest.”
I yawn and pass out before we even make it down the road. Plotting murder is exhausting.
Chapter 14
Cala - Talking to myself
The morning sunlight streams through the window, hitting my eyes as I open them. I sit up, stretching and remember everything that happened yesterday.
Of course you do. You always will. We’re one now.
It feels weird to talk to a voice in my head. The guys never explained how they knew I was possessed by a doll, but that’s a story for another day.
I have plans and one of them won’t be worrying about school. Lots of plans. Okay, two plans.
And one just entered my room like she owns it. Well, I guess she does in a way, but the guy that pays the bills is gone—long gone.
“Have you seen your father?” she asks as I toss the covers aside.
