If watching me and Brandon parade around as a fake couple was Jack’s personal torture, then being at the same party with Jack but not being able to touch him was mine.
I missed him.
And yes, I knew exactly how ridiculous that sounded. But I couldn’t help it. He was so close, but I couldn’t talk to him. I couldn’t make him laugh, I couldn’t kiss him. I sighed.
Torture.
This was sheer torture.
Brandon took pity. “Look, I promise to be on my best behavior around Richard if you want to sneak off with Jack for a little while.”
I arched a brow. “Really?”
He rolled his eyes. “At least one of us should be having fun with our real crush tonight.”
I grinned as I leaned over and gave his cheek a quick peck. “You’re the best.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He called after me as I started to slip away. “You owe me one.”
He was teasing, I knew that. We both knew he owed me big time. But this ruse wouldn’t last forever. And for tonight…
Well, tonight I’d settle for whatever little window I could get.
With a quick glance around us, I headed toward the main house, slipping in the side door the way Tess had come out.
I passed a handful of waiters and servants as I headed through the kitchen and to the family living quarters.
I’d text Jack to join me in my bedroom whenever he could sneak away. I reached my room and turned on the light.
My bedroom still looked exactly the way it had when I was twelve and had gone through my pink phase.
Pink everywhere. Ugh.
I flinched a bit as I took it in through new eyes. Seeing what Jack would see when he came into my bedroom for the first time. I shook off the thought as I tugged my phone out of my little clutch and kicked off the stilettos that were making minced meat out of my feet.
I’d just started to text when there was a knock at my door. I grinned. Jack had beaten me to it. He must have seen me leave the party. “A little eager, aren’t we?” I threw open the door—and froze. “Daddy?”
The word came out of my throat right before my heart plummeted into my belly.
This wasn’t Daddy. This was the man he turned into when he lost all reason.
This was the monster Tess and I were trying to escape. I stumbled back a step, but Daddy followed.
“Expecting someone?” he asked.
His tone was deceptively calm.
Eerily pleasant.
I tried to swallow as I shook my head. “No, Daddy, just—”
He snatched my phone out of my hand before I could finish. “Jack,” he sneered when he read my half-written text. “Did you think I was an idiot, Delilah, is that it?”
He took a step toward me, and my heart lurched into my throat.
“No, Daddy.” It came out as a whisper as my lungs seized up at the pure fury in his eyes.
“You didn’t think I’d remember the name? Didn’t think I’d be keeping an eye on the boy who distracted you the last time?”
“N-no, it’s not like that.”
“Enough!” The cold edge slipped, and his voice rose in anger.
There was no going back now. I knew that. I knew it so well. My legs were shaking, and all I could hear was my own breathing and the rush of blood past my ears as I tried to think of something to say. Anything to make him calm down. But a part of me knew…
It was too late. For me, at least, it was too late. But not for Jack.
“He didn’t do anything. This was my idea,” I said. “It was all me.”
My father’s laugh was sharp and cruel. “True, he was an idiot to fall for your brainless, witless charms. But don’t think I didn’t see the way he’s been eyeing you all night, and I heard all about how he came to visit you the other day.”
“It wasn’t like that—”
He took another step toward me, and I could feel his anger like a vibration in the air. It seemed to coil in his body like a snake waiting to strike. It turned his stately features into a mockery of themselves—a sneering, cruel version of the smiling man the rest of the world knew.
“Really, Lila, what a stupid, stupid girl,” he said, the softening in his voice somehow making it so much worse.
Tears welled up and threatened to choke me as he moved slower, his movements dangerously smooth.
“If you couldn’t control yourself and play the part of a