Page 119 of A Lesson in Obedience

I rubbed my hands together. “Asher, I don’t think I tell you this enough, if ever, but thanks.”

He let out a short laugh. “Don’t mention it, but sometimes all I want is for you to listen to me. I know you can do things for yourself, but I can admit that sometimes when I look at you—” he got up from the floor and held his hand out to me. I took it, standing in front of him. “I see that same kid balled up in a corner because his dad didn’t know how to fucking talk to him.”

I took in a shaky breath, instantly remembering my dad’s screams and him throwing me disgusted and unimpressed looks.The next day I always felt better, I could move on as if nothing happened. I’d always thought I made that happen for myself.

“Alright, alright. I just want to wake up and see Riley and Grayson.”

Asher gave me a pained look.

I pointed my finger at him. “I don’t like that face.”

My brother took a few steps back, placing a hand on his hip. “We get you out of here and I’ll explain about Riley.”

“No, you’ll tell me now.”

He closed his eyes, clearly annoyed. “I tell you now and you might sink deeper into this space due to stress. Let’s wake you up, see how much physical therapy you’ll need and make sure you’re all good. Then I promise I will catch you up to speed.” He held his hand out for me to shake.

His tone was clear and authoritative, but he was probably right. Emotions blend with any kind of magic whether it be in a good way or bad. I was ready to get out of the state I was in and open my eyes.

I grabbed his hand and shook it. “Fine. Let’s wake me up.”

48

Riley

“Honey, what’s going on?” My mom peeked out one of the windows before making her way back over to the couch. Even when she sat back down, she looked over her shoulder again.

“Mom, it’s, uhm, fine. Please focus.” I ran my hands down my braids, feeling anxious myself.

“Fine doesn’t cut it Riley. You go from letting me in on things to having your friends try to explain different vital pieces of information. I know you don’t have to tell me things, you can do what you want, but I thought after everything we had a better understanding.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “We do, Mom.”

“And you’re pulling up to this house in a car I’ve never seen. Riley, if you sit here and confirm what Grayson told me...”

My mouth formed into an O and my mom let out an exasperated sigh. “Oh god, it’strue isn’t it?”

I fiddled with a string on my jeans. “Um, that car out there belongs to Chancellor Fowler.”

She nearly choked on air, clutching at the fabric of the couch. “Riley!”

I held up my hands in defense. “He didn’t kidnap me, okay? I’m trying to fix things, Mom. I’m staying with him to make things smoother for when this all ends.”

“All ends? That’s very ominous and I don’t like it. You spend all this time trying to separate yourself from the man and then this happens.”

I sighed. “I’m not spending the rest of my college career tiptoeing around him. He started this whole thing with dad and it will end with me. That’s that.”

She touched the end of one of my braids, letting the hair fall through her fingers. “Always so determined. Just like your dad. That man was obsessed with making things better, but unlike you, he wasn’t giving me heart attacks while doing it.”

I winced. “Sorry. I would have preferred not to have such a colorful family history.”

She huffed, leaning back on the couch. “I do too. I would have preferred that you had not seen so much blood and death in such a short amount of time. You don’t belong in a bubble, but no one deserves to go through the things you did.”

I pressed my lips together. “Even though you said it a million times on the phone, you don’t think I’m like him, right? What I did to Teresa, to Geena, and how easy it was. How there are things I regret, but there are also things I don’t.”

She grabbed my body and pulled me in closer to her, so that I could snuggle against her chest. “Honey, I think you arenothinglike him. I can tell you how much of a good person you are, your friends can say it to your face a million times but unless you believe it yourself, nothing will change. How I see you might matter, but how you see yourself is something I can’t help you with.” She kissed the top of my head. “Erik always let other people try to tell him who he wasand I don’t think he ever got over it, so he embraced it. You are stronger than him because I think you knowexactlywho you are, Riley.”

“I love you, Mom. And in all honesty, I’m scared.”