Page 134 of Atone

“What kind of lesson is there in killing me?”

“You were never going to wind up dead. I knew you could handle him. He’d make you work for it, but you would neutralize the problem like you’re good at.”

“I was strapped to a makeshift electric chair. I couldn’t neutralize shit.”

“The interrogator being called away was unexpected. You should have been cut free by that point.” A pathetic excuse. “I can’t anticipate every twist of events, but it worked out. You’re here now.”

“He tortured me. Fried my skin and forced me to watch it cook. Forced me to smell it rot. And somehow, when the currents hit my brain, the fact that my flesh was burningwas no longer even the worst part.” I pull my hands from my pockets and flex my fingers, feeling the stretch of the scarred skin. “I almost died.”

“You didn’t.” He almost sounds proud of himself about that. “And I got you the best doctors money could buy. The best accommodations. You’re the one who chose to stay in there as long as you did. That’s not my fault.”

Except, I’m now seeing that it is.

Just because I was physically healing, it didn’t mean it was over. I knew what would happen the second I left. That my father would expect me to once more represent the Lancaster name within Sigma House.

Which is why I was done. I’d given up.

If it weren’t for Mila finding her way into Bristal, I’d never have found the willpower to leave Montgomery.

My gaze finds hers, and she’s absolutely stunning. Her hair is in a messy ponytail, and every inch of her body is covered in a gray sweatsuit. Not a drop of makeup colors her face, and she’s perfect. Even with the doubt swimming in her green eyes.

Fear.

Worry that she’ll never be good enough because my father can’t see she’s out of my league, and I’ll never deserve her. Money and status mean nothing when she is the salt of my earth.

Her lips press together, turning them a brighter shade of red.

I want to kiss them until she’s smiling again.

“You needed to be ready, Alex. Don’t you see that?” Dad shifts on his feet. “Especially now that the Pierces and Donovans have fallen. We need to be the ones to guide Sigma House in this new direction.”

“I have no interest in any of that.”

“You’re a Lancaster; it’s your place. Your throne to claim. We started this town—this fraternity—it was always going to end like this.”

“So that’s what all your tasks were leading to? What the incident at the trial was leading to?” I step forward, and he shifts closer to Mila again, so I pause. “You used my being in Montgomery to your advantage. You knew Declan and I were friends, so you planted seeds of doubt in his head about the Council, knowing he would come to me to dig up information. And when I handed it over, Declan did your dirty work, leaving your hands clean of all of it. Now you’ll make your play for control like you intended from the start.”

“My play?” His smile tilts. “Those weren’t just moves, Alex. This is my game.Ourgame, and everyone else is a tool for us to manipulate. Pieces for us to move around. Don’t you see what I’ve been preparing you for? You can have anything you want at the end of this. Don’t waste it on some”—his gaze slides to Mila—“whore.”

I step forward, but he moves faster.

He grabs a knife from the block on the kitchen counter and shoves Mila in front of him. The knife is at her side.

“Alex.” Mila’s voice squeaks as the knife presses closer.

“Get away from her.” I hate that my voice is unsteady.

I still can’t trust it because of what he did, and it’s failing me now.

“Think about what you’re doing, Alex.” Dad tightens his grip on Mila’s arm. “You’ve seen what happens when you let people distract you.”

“We made a deal.”

“For your sister. And I’ve kept your mother at bay and done my part. But I won’t watch you give everything up because some slut has made you soft.” He scoffs. “You wanta cunt to fuck, then fine, choose another one. Ten others for all I care. So long as they don’t make you weak like she does.”

“There’s nothing wrong with him giving a shit,” Mila grits out.

Dad looks down at her, tightening his hold and making her wince. “I didn’t ask you.”