Page 103 of Forgive Me Father

We scramble to shove our bags into the car, Zoey’s face pale with shock, her breaths shallow and rapid.

“Zo—” I start, but she cuts me off.

“Roman told me everything,” She murmurs, her voice quivering. “About my dad, my stepmom, the kids…”

The mention of “the kids” draws a confused look from Aiden. He’s still piecing things together, uncertainty written on his face.

A sudden thud against the window makes us jump. A rock smashes into the glass, my father’s furious shouts piercing the night.

Zoey slams her foot on the gas, and we lurch forward, the car speeding away. I glance back, catching Roman’s smirk as he stands by the sidewalk. My phone buzzes with a new message—Roman’s text with our new address.

The city lights blur as we drive into the night, the weight of our departure settling over us.

Roman

Staggering onto the lawn, Eric approaches his car, glancing back at me with a look of cautious curiosity.

There’s only one more thing I need to do tonight.

I stroll over to him, my steps deliberate. With a tap on the hood of his car, I watch him slide into the driver's seat.

"I think we got off on the wrong foot—"

"How long do you think David will buy your lies?" Eric interrupts, his voice low and dangerous. "You think Eden leaving will change anything? I know you’re the mole, and I’ll make sure David finds out."

I clench my jaw, forcing myself to remain composed.

"How about this: come over for a drink at my place. Maybe you’ll get a clearer picture of my role in all this," I offer.

Eric surveys me with a skeptical look, shaking his head.

"Why would I do that?"

Leaning on his open window, I take a deep breath, meeting his gaze.

"Perhaps I want to discuss Eden’s true nature. You spoke about her being a temptation—well, I’d like to show you how I’ve been handling that particular 'temptation.' After all, if anyone should understand what drives a man to sin, it’s someone like you," I say with a dark grin.

His expression shifts as he considers my words, finally allowing a thin smile to form. He glances at his watch, seemingly intrigued.

"I suppose I have time for a drink."

The room is dimly lit, the amber glow from the lamp casting long shadows on the walls. Eric lounges comfortably in an armchair, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips as he sips his drink, oblivious to the darkness that lingers just beyond the edge of the light.

I keep my gaze steady, though my mind churns with a storm of righteous fury. The air is thick with the scent of aged whiskey and incense, a dissonance that mirrors the turmoil within me. I sit across from him, the silence between us growing heavy, each tick of the clock a reminder of the divine justice I am about to enact.

“So, Eric,” I begin, my voice low and deliberate, “you really believe Eden was a temptation sent by the Devil. Is that right?”

Eric chuckles, a dark, mirthless sound that cuts through the room. “You think too much, Roman. She’s nothing but a sinner, like the rest of us.”

I take a slow sip from my glass, letting the fiery liquid warm my throat. “A sinner,” I echo, considering the gravity of the term. “The Devil’s work is subtle, weaving through the innocent and corrupt alike. But sometimes, it needs a hand to guide its machinations.”

Eric’s eyes narrow, his amusement fading. “What are you saying?”

Leaning forward, I set my glass aside, my hand brushing over the worn Bible resting on the side table. The holy book feels heavy. Its weight is a tangible reminder of the sacred duty I bear. “I believe the Lord has tested me,” I say, my voice gaining a fervent edge. “He’s shown me the corruption that festers in those who claim to be faithful while plotting sin in the dark.”

Eric shifts uncomfortably, the realization dawning on him that this night holds more than idle conversation. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“You spoke of Eden as a force of temptation, a means to corrupt,” I continue, my voice now a whisper. “Yet, it’s you who have allowed that temptation to fester, to poison you. It’s you who’s been an instrument of the Devil’s will.”