Page 189 of Boy of Ruin
And him…
I want to hate her for loving him. For bringing him up.
My half-brother.
I want to hate her so much.
“Tell me why you did it. Why you left him there. How could you fucking do that to him?”
“Sit down.”
My father’s cold words send a chill down my spine, but I haven’t done anything wrong in a long, long time—I can still feel his fist against my face from the last time I did—so I sit down with ease, running my palms over my sweats.
His blue eyes lock on mine as he twists the 6 ring around his finger. “Ophelia’s father had some interesting things to ask me about this afternoon.”
I tense, shifting in my seat, trying not to squirm too much under his gaze. “I haven’t seen O all day,” I tell him truthfully. “And Cain wants us all to meet him at the strip, so—”
“Don’t interrupt me.”
I close my mouth, clench my jaw, but I try not to show any outward sign of anger.
My father sighs, leaning back in the leather chair behind his desk. It’s dark at Sanctum, as it always is, smelling like the incense that Pammie loves so much, and my stomach churns thinking about it.
“Her father wanted to know why we didn’t open up this facility”—he snarls that word—“for the community.” Another snarl.
My throat feels tight, but I keep staring at him, waiting for my chance to speak. Fucking Ophelia. I told her about Sanctum when she kept bugging me about where the fuck I go on Sundays. I fucked her right after that, and I thought it would make her forget. Apparently not.
“Her father shouldn’t even know about this place, Lucifer. Do you understand that?”
I do my best to keep the sarcasm out of my voice, my legs bouncing as I fist my hands on my thighs. “Dad, come on, it’s a big church. There’s a steeple and everything.” I force a laugh, but he doesn’t look amused in the slightest. I shrug. “I didn’t tell her anything—”
“But you did,” he cuts me off coldly. “You clearly did, Lucifer.”
I chew the inside of my cheek, thinking. How can I make this better? I think about the tabs in the car. About skipping the strip altogether and losing my mind in my bedroom when I get home. At least it’s night now. Pammie will keep to herself.
I can get lost alone.
My dad sighs, glancing down at his long, pale fingers drumming atop his desk. “Tomorrow afternoon, you’re to go to the Forgues house.”
My blood runs cold.
I’ve heard screams from inside that house.
I know there’re three kids there. I’ve met them, briefly. Two girls. A scared boy.
I think Ezra is fucking one of the sisters, but he won’t talk to us about it. He goes over there to visit them, though. He must be getting his dick wet somehow.
“W-why?” My voice shakes, and I hate that, but I can’t stop it.
My father’s lips curve into a cruel smile. “You’ll see.” Then he waves his hand dismissively, picking up a pen on his desk, glancing at papers stacked neatly in front of him. “Get out, Lucifer. Go home. Think about keeping your fucking mouth shut from now on, even to girls you’re involved with. She doesn’t need to hear you speak for you to fuck her.”
When I get home, Pammie is still up.
I smell the incense drifting from her room, just down the hall from mine, but I duck behind my door, close it tight.
Before I can flip the lock, though, she’s knocking softly.
There’s a lump in my throat, but I can’t ignore her. She knows I’m in here. And if my dad hears I didn’t let her in, he might accuse me of more shit.
