Can you please just get to the point? I shoot back, wondering how the hell I’m going to survive tomorrow’s luncheon. What if Maxx and Chasm are right? What if I don’t survive it? Then again, Justin had me in the woods all alone in the middle of night. Why not kill me then? He certainly wouldn’t reveal himself to the public the way he did today and then murder me on our first father-daughter outing together, not unless he really, really wanted to get caught.
I warned you more than once to choose your pawns carefully. People can be useful tools, but they must be managed carefully. If you’ll recall Mr. Fosser. He disobeyed me and needed to be punished.
Adrenaline rockets through me. Is he … is he going to ask me to kill Maxx?! What if he does? Then what? I could never do that. I’d have to give up on Parrish right then and there, run and tell Tess as quickly as I could. But Parrish would still die and everything I’ve done thus far would be for naught.
Maxx Wright was not a good choice. He’s impulsive but also morally righteous, in his eyes. He cares much for little things. You allowed him to react toward me today in an inappropriate way, and I would be remiss if I didn’t use this opportunity to impart my parental wisdom.
I’m shaking so hard right now, but all I can do is wait for his directive. I’m essentially helpless in this moment. And I hate that. I hate it so fucking much. Rage fills me, bright and hot, but there’s no outlet for it. Just a screen and a series of text messages that are so goddamn vague, they’d never hold up in a courtroom.
Sure, Justin’s mentioned Mr. Fosser and Mr. Volli, but they aren’t him. Sure, he’s said things like ‘parental wisdom’ but so what. It could be anyone on the other end of this phone. Anyone. I’m sure he’s covered his tracks with all due care.
I’ve heard word that he values his virginity.
That last message throws me a bit. I blink a few times, but apparently, I’m dense as hell. That, or I’m just too exhausted to think clearly. I don’t understand why that’s a relevant piece of information. Where did he hear that from? From Maxine? Oh god, I hope not. More than likely, he was listening to Maxx and me talk through our phones while we were on the trail.
It’s effortless, the way this man hops from one device to another. Seamless. No wonder he was able to craft an app like Milk Carton, a facial recognition app that can be used by anyone, anywhere. This isn’t military stuff; this is for the public. How terrifying is that?
As much as I despise Justin Prior, I must admit: this technology could change the world.
For the worse, more than likely. What good will facial recognition technology do in the wrong hands? Stalkers, murderers, opportunists, sexual predators, they’ll all use the app in a way that Justin either didn’t intend or doesn’t care about. Milk Carton will not just bring lost children home, and everyone knows that.
Here’s what I’m going to do. I’m feeling generous tonight. Maxx took something from me today, so I will, in turn, take something from him. It’s a small thing, tit for tat. And you will not like it. But as a parent, we sometimes must do things that our children don’t like.
I’m still trying to figure out his aim when the next text comes, obliterating me emotionally, physically, mentally. Ruining me in a single sentence.
Tonight, you will have sexual intercourse with Maxx Wright.
Bile comes up in my throat, and I know before he even continues talking that I’m going to be sick. I end up on my knees in front of the toilet, retching over the bowl and throwing up nothing but feelings. I haven’t eaten in hours, not since breakfast this morning. My feelings were in too much of a tangle to eat.
Not only did I meet my biological father for the first time: I met the Seattle Slayer.
Gasping and choking, I pick up the phone to read the newest messages.
You will complete the act before the sun rises in the sky, or I will finish what I started. He took a piece of my dignity today, so I will take something from him. He values his virginity, and it now belongs to me.
I furiously text Justin back, tears brimming in my eyes. What I did with Chasm was one thing. It almost broke us both, but at least there was some … I don’t know, understanding there. Parrish already knew that Chasm liked me. That, and he wasn’t my sister’s ex-fucking-boyfriend.
You must really hate me, to turn me into a cheater like you. Why would you order your own daughter to keep having sex with guys?!
