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My smile widens. Kaleb wouldn’t mind my clothes. I bet he’d enjoy tearing them off me.

He’d enjoy destroying my clothes, not me.

Dad lied when he said Kaleb would kill me for no reason whatsoever.

When Kaleb kills people, he does it for a reason. I’ve learned that over the past two days. He kills them to help me. To be with me.

I deserted Kaleb. Cursed him and told him I hated him.

He hurt me in return. He loved me, anyway.

Wewillbe together. That’s why I’m doing this. For him. For us.

I lift my chin in my empty apartment. “Yes, this is she.”

“I’m glad.” She sounds pleased. Too pleased. “I’ve been waiting for your call.”

My hackles rise almost immediately. “Why’s that? Dad’s been looking for me?”

I had no missed calls. Then again, Kaleb was here. He could’ve deleted them.

Hot.

“Your father is currently in a meeting.”

A loaded pause.

Again, strange. “Okay. So take a message.”

“No, I won’t. I do, however, have a message for you.” She clears her throat. “He suspected you’d call and asked that I relay it since he won’t be talking to you directly until further notice.”

That fucker. He knew I’d ask him to help Kaleb.

This is how he hurts both of us.

The nerve of him, to resentme. Despite his never-ending brainwashing, despite keeping me away from Berkshire.

Despite my endless questions when I was younger.

Is he okay?

Did he ask for visitors? They won’t let him have any? Maybe you could try?

All I ever got wasno. No. No.Sometimes it wasGo to your room.

Other times, he’d use the belt.

Kaleb’s mom would eat or drink and nod absently as the abuse went on.

Until I stopped asking about Kaleb. Until I started to think he was really dangerous to me.

“I’d rather he called me back.” The clock in my kitchen ticks, reminding me that I have to leave for school in thirty minutes if I don’t want to be late. That I should hurry to avoidreaching into the phone and murdering this lady. “What’s your name, anyway?”

“Eden. Listen, Miss Talbot. I won’t lose my job over this,” she snaps, talking quickly. I can’t get a word in. “Here is his exact message, in his own words:I paid off the independent reporter who had been snooping around your apartment building. He shouldn’t be an issue anymore. In case Kaleb drops by, I expect you to call me at this number immediately. I’ll handle it privately before you cause a pseudo-incestuous scandal, which I’m sure you’ve been after for years. You’ll pay for it if you don’t call when he comes. I won’t tolerate disobedience on your part. I’ll be in touch when you’re needed.”

I clutch onto the edge of the kitchen counter, my knuckles turning white.

I’m speechless after hearing the fucked-up message from his assistant.