Page 190 of The Right Wrong Promise

This must go back to theOptiSynth disaster. Nothing else I’ve done would leave anyone so irate, so willing to follow me here and raise hell.

But the kids, shit.

Margot.

I don’t know how I’m going to break the news and shatter a perfect morning.

Still, now there’s no choice. I need to get them out of here.

Back to my mother.

Away from Sully Bay.

Whoever this creepy fuckroach is, they’re not going to stop without good reason. I can’t risk putting my family in their crosshairs.

I promised we’d stay as long as I was sure they’d be safe.

Now, I’m not certain of anything.

And Margot, fuck—how do I tell her?

How do I drag her off her own property when she’s just at risk?

Every breath sears my nostrils.

I take a few tortured seconds to calm down before grabbing lunch from the trunk, raiding the cooler like an angry grizzly.

No, cool it. Let them have the lake for a couple more hours.

When we get home, I’ll break the bad news.

The secondwe’re back at the house and settled, I drop the bomb on the kids.

Things have changed and they’re going off to Grandma.

I’ve texted my mother, explaining the situation and why I’m sending them home. She was already on standby since Daria turned us down.

“No way!” Dan whines, folding his arms defiantly. “Dad, you said we could stay.”

“I said for now, Bud. We’re way past ‘wait and see,’” I tell him. “You know better. I don’t play around with safety.”

He opens his mouth again and closes it, twisting his lips.

“I don’t wanna go.” Sophie’s stubbornness surprises me today.

She’s normally the skittish one who shows up at my bedroom door for comfort during thunderstorms.

“I know, Soph. It’s rotten luck, but we don’t have much choice. I’m not budging on this, guys. Hate me for now. I’ll live, as long as you’re okay.” I start upstairs after slipping Margot that stalker’s note plus one of my own so she understands the severity. “Let’s get your stuff packed. You’ve got a flight to catch.”

“If it’s so dangerous, why don’t you come with? Why are you dropping us off?” Dan demands.

“Because I need to sort this out once and for all. Last thing I’ll do is let this problem follow us home,” I say, heading to his room first.

I look in and shake my head. Clothes everywhere in a messy explosion. Typical preteen boy.

Also, I need to look after Margot. If she won’t leave, neither will I.

That’s the part I don’t say.