Something new.
Something threatening.
From then on, his presence became oppressive. Invasive.
Even now, with my father bleeding out in front of me, that look is still there.
I can sense Tristan’s eyes scouring over my body, reveling in the knowledge that I called him in my time of need.
Never mind that I had no fucking choice.
* * *
When his men arrive, four in total, they’re all dressed in uniform. They’re all wearing police badges.
But I trust none of them. None of them make me feel safe.
Tristan is right about one thing, though: they don’t ask questions.
They bandage Pa up and hoist him onto a gurney.
I follow them outside. Just as I’m about to step into the back of the ambulance, Tristan puts his arm out and blocks me.
“What are you doing?”
“They’ve got him well taken care of,” Tristan tells me. “And it’s crowded in the back there. I’ll drive you to the hospital myself.”
“That’s not necessary.”
He doesn’t respond. He shuts the ambulance doors on Pa and taps the back of the vehicle twice.
“Wait!” I cry.
But my words are lost in the roar of the engine.
I turn to him in shock. “I need to be with my father.”
“What a devoted daughter you are,” he says with that leer I loathe so much. “I wouldn’t dream of keeping you from his side. I only want what’s best for you, Saoirse.”
His gaze drops to my chest and I take an instinctive step back.
“Where’s your car?” I ask. “Let’s follow them.”
He smiles. “So impatient,” he says. “Don’t worry, we will follow them. But I need a drink of water first. You wouldn’t deny me that, would you? Not after everything I’ve done for you?”
I push back a loose curl that’s fallen over my left eye. He watches the movement with fascination.
Again, he runs his tongue over his thin upper lip.
He’s been watching me this way for years now.
The thought of exposing my back to him feels wrong. It’s like closing your eyes on the predator stalking you.
But I have no choice.
I walk into the house, keenly aware that Tristan is shadowing my every move.
He follows me right into the kitchen and takes a seat at the tilted round table while I pour him a tall glass of water. I pass it to him silently and he accepts it without a word.