SO COLD (18+) currently editing

Chapter 47.5

"How long will it be like this?" I asked.

"Who knows?" he was enervated. "We've got to take one day at a time. Keith Law advised to keep a low profile, he wants us all in one place so he can keep an eye on us, make sure your father doesn't make another appearance. How's Irvin? Have you heard from him?"

"He's in bad form. Still in the ICU last I heard. It's all touch and go. They don't know if he'll recover or if his condition will worsen. If he dies, I'll kill my father myself."

"Oh, don't say that," Grandma said.

Irked, I stood up. "I'll join Seth outside."

Seth was kicking a football against the wall, a disgruntled twist to his mouth. "Watch the flowerbeds," I said, he kicked the ball my way and I tossed it back.

"This fucking sucks ass,"

"Don't curse,"

"Fine. This fucking sucks butt. Happy? You know, the three of us were supposed to leave the country, get away from all of this. Live a happy life. I've been so stupid. I went along with everything he said. Now I'm mad because I've been duped by that dickhead. I hate him."

"Dad fooled a lot of people. He's manipulative."

"And Jade? She's lost her goddamn mind."

"You keep kicking the ball way left," I got the ball under my foot and aimed it towards him. "But yeah, I agree. She's a toxic person."

"When I first told her I was going to stay the summer here, she smacked me and threw her wine bottle and then she cried. I didn't do anything, I just watched her and then I went to my bedroom. We didn't speak the next morning when I left with you but I saw that she was watching from the window."

"She hit you? That stupid fucking bitch."

"Hey, no swearing,"

I rolled my eyes. "How was it living with Jade when I wasn't there?"

"It was weird at first. It was very quiet, I felt like I had to tiptoe around the flat. She wouldn't tell me where you went. And then dad came around and he said a lot of awful stuff about you. He called you a slut and said you were living with these men that were taking advantage of you. But then he said you were confused and that once he got us passports, everything would work out. Everything was a secret. No-one could find out he was coming to visit us, especially not you. Jade was telling me to stop talking to you. It was a tough time, man...I missed you."

"I missed you, too, Seth," I rubbed his head. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. I should've been,"

"It's cool, you're here now though, right?" he combed through his hair with his hand, "and uncle and grandma are taking care of us so we'll be alright. Won't we?"

"Of course,"

"We don't need dad or Jade," he stopped, screwed his face up, "I miss him, though. Am I wrong for–?"

"No, no, come here," I hugged him. "Don't feel bad or apologise for how you feel. Whatever happens, he's still our father. We can't turn our backs on him overnight and suddenly loathe him. It's not that simple."

"I feel shitty because he killed all those people, and it's just – that's not dad,"

"It's not the dad we knew, but it's him now. The idea seems alien but its reality and we've gotta accept it. Now go inside, finish your breakfast. I notice you hardly ate."

"I'm tired, I think I'm going to go back to sleep,"

"I'll wake you up in the late afternoon,"