Page 49 of Wreck and Ruin
A father, arealfather.
And Ezekiel knows him.
The revelation replays through my mind as my heart beats rapidly in my chest like a wild beast is chasing me. Faster than it did before Ezekiel arrived. I can hear whatever’s left of my blood whooshing loudly in my eardrums while I lie here and watch the array of emotions cross Ezekiel’s face as he and Father Grimsbytalk.
Sharp, searing pain radiates through my palms and pulsates on a loop throughout my entire body.
I almost died today.
If it weren’t for Ezekiel, I know that I would have.
The offensive, metallic stench, a combination of blood and flesh, permeates the air around us, masking the noxious smell of incense and burning candle wax, and for that, I am thankful.
I hate that awful, holy smell.
Because whenever Father burns them, the opposite of anythingholyhappens.
I knew that if Father Grimsby ever found out about my pet man, the consequences, not just for me but also for Ezekiel, would be dire. Yet, it still didn’t stop me from keeping him.
I’m glad that I did.
The problem we are faced with now, with Father being aware that Ezekiel and I love each other, is that Father wants me all to himself. The two horrible men did say something like that to me. Why else would Father hide me from the others all these years if he didn’t want to share?
Ezekiel will not allow Father to touch me ever again.
I know that for sure.
It’s one of the very prominent tells on Ezekiel’s beautiful, blood-covered face whenever he looks at me. Father would notice this, and I fear his reaction to that the most.
Ezekiel traces small, soft circles on my skin, yet his eyes do not waver from where Father Grimsby stands, twirling around a small, gold object and whispering prayers for who I assume are the dead men lying on the floor before him. I cannot see them from up here.
Ezekiel doesn’t look like he cares about Father’s discovery, but I sense that his coldness may just be on purpose. That gold thing is important to him.
Father walks out of sight and, behind where Ezekiel stands by my side, his shoulders noticeably stiffen, his manner morphing into something I don’t recognize as he shares one more glance at me and winks a sky-blue eye.
What? What does that mean? What is he planning?
I don’t move. I don’t really have a choice as my exhausted, tired body writhes in pain. My inability to move prevents me from seeing Father approach Ezekiel from behind and hurting him with…something.
I want to cry.
I want to ask Ezekiel if he is okay, but he spins on his heels, retrieving the small blade protruding from beneath his ribcage, almost on the side of his back.
“A bit obvious, don’t you think, old man?” Ezekiel reaches around, taking his eyes off Father, and pulls the blade from his skin, dropping it to the floor.
Blood gushes from the wound, but Ezekiel appears completely unbothered by it. My eyes flick to Father, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this mad.
“You think you can destroy years of hard fucking work, boy? All because of one insignificant girl? That’s the only reason Titan bothered to take us down in the first place, and we both know it. He wouldn’t have cared about The Royal otherwise!” Father says, his voice betraying the array of emotions written on his face.
He’s afraid.
I’ve never seen Father fearful of anything before. Not in my nineteen years.
Ezekiel says nothing as he glares down at Father. I realize now that Ezekiel is taller, his body much more powerful, and broader than the older man who stands before him, and for the first time in my life, Father looks small. Ezekiel takes a step toward him, and then another, until he is standing toe to toe with the man who has hurt me in every way possible.
“She and her mother may have been the reason why Titan came for you and your fucking pedophile ring, but I can assure you that it was me who killed Charles and Valerie,” Ezekiel growls as he leans in closer to Father, getting into his face. Blood still drips from his body, saturating the skin surrounding the wound where Father stabbed him. “It was me who killed your precious niece, Ursa,” he takes another calculated step forward, forcing Father to tread backward.
He killed Ursa?
