“You can explain from out there.” I hold my stance, knowing if I let him in, he’ll never leave, not until he gets what he wants.

His gaze slides to the side of him then lands back on me. “Fine, I’ll make this short and simple then, if you’re going to insist on being stubborn.” He steps to the side. “I’d like you to meet your new bodyguard.”

I open my mouth to protest, but all words get lost in the sound of the rain as Ryler steps in front of me. He appears drained, his black hair is disheveled, and his black jeans and grey are shirt wrinkled.

“I’d introduce you two, but you already know each other,” my father says, way too pleased.

I stare at Ryler.

And he stares back at me.

You know my father, my fucking gaze reads. You’ve known him this entire time.

I wish his gaze said, I’m sorry. Wish it said something. But all I see is emptiness and my loss of freedom. He was supposed to be a part of my new life. He felt like he was, felt different. He made me feel different. Made me feel alive.

“Emery, Ryler is going to keep an eye on you”—my father plops his hat onto his head—“until I can figure out who’s been leaving you the notes.”

With a lot of effort, I tear my eyes off Ryler and look at my father. “Notes? You know about the other note?”

“I told you, Emery, I’ve been watching you.” He leans forward and dips his head toward my ear. “You didn’t think I’d just let you move out on your own, did you?” My body stiffens as he grasps my shoulders. “Now here’s what you’re going to do; otherwise, I will tie you up and drag you home. You’re going to behave like you were taught. You will call me immediately if anything happens—if you get more broken windows, feel like you’re being followed, or if your life is in danger. You will allow Ryler to continue to be in your life and you will go to him if you need help.” He gives a weighted pause. “And you won’t hurt him, Emery, no matter how much you want to. You won’t hurt anyone ever again.”

My eyes widen as he pulls away.

His nails dig into my skin. “And you will continue to be with Evan. You don’t have to move in with him yet, but your relationship with him is important for business.”

A causal smile touches his lips as he leans away from me. “I have to go. I have some business to attend to. But, just remember, I’ll be keeping an eye on you, as well.”

He pats Ryler on the back, a friendly gesture he offers to pretty much no one. Just how well does Ryler know my father? And for how long?

Ryler and I avoid eye contact until my father vanishes down the stairs then our gazes collide.

“You know my father?” I say hollowly, even though my heart hammers in my chest. Even after what I just found out, my body wants him. My mouth wants to taste him. My tongue wants to lick his ring, feel the coolness of the metal. My fingers ache to brush his skin and for his fingers to caress mine.

“I know your father.” His expression softens. “Emery, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that you were… his daughter. Otherwise, I would have said something.”

He seems genuine, but then again, he also seemed like someone my parents would look down on. No wonder my mother asked about him. She had to have known who he was. She was never a fan of most of the people my father works with, except for people who are higher up, like Donny Elderman.

I think about all the stuff I told Ryler and worry he told my parents. I think about how different I thought he was, how at peace I felt with him because he wasn’t part of my father’s evil world.

I can’t trust him anymore. I don’t know if anything between us was real. Don’t know anything about him. Don’t know what my father is up to. Don’t know if I’m really insane or where my brother is. I don’t know a lot of things.

“Yeah, I’m sorry, too.”

The sound of rain and thunder surrounds us as silence stretches between us.

There’s no comfort in it at all. None whatsoever. Like the rain washing away the dirt on the ground, the peace I felt with him is gone. All I’m left with in this new life of mine is a bunch of questions with no answers, just like Ellis said.

But I’ll get answers, no matter what it takes. I won’t go back into the dark anymore. Back to my old life.