Page 33 of Wicked Promises

“Say it,” he prodded. “It’s just a word, Caleb. It’s what they were doing. They were fucking. Right?”

I couldn’t. Mom would be angry.

He exhaled. Disappointed.

The next thing I knew, I was flat on my back. He knelt beside me, his hand wrapped around my throat. The pressure was just enough that I could barely suck in air.

“Continue,” he said.

Tears burn at the backs of my eyes.

“She came up to… tell me.” It wasn’t quite right, but the details were blending together. Did she find me or did I find her? “Her mom realized we saw her and begged her not to tell.”

Uncle David leaned down. “But she did tell, didn’t she? And then her father took matters into his own hands.”

I shuddered.

“She should’ve listened to you, Caleb. If she had, your father would still be alive. Your family would still be together.”

He squeezed harder, until white spots exploded across my vision.

“Say it,” he repeated.

I knew better than to grab at his hands, but the urge was still there. The last time I did that, he backhanded me.

The easiest way to get out of this was to give him what he wanted.

“It’s Margo’s fault,” I whispered. “She ruined everything.”

“And what was your father doing with Amber Wolfe?”

“Fucking.” The word was barely audible.

He released me and sat back, smiling. He was a bit maniacal, wild hair and a crazy grin. “That’s it. One day, we’ll demand justice. Action is the only way things get done around here. Trust me, son. It’ll make you feel better.”

I swallowed. I didn’t believe him, but I would do anything to keep him calm.

“Yes, Uncle.”

Present

What if everything I believed was…twisted?

“Wake up.”

I open my eyes. I look up at Eli, my brows furrowing. How did I get in the car?

“You still have a concussion,” he says. “In hindsight, we shouldn’t have gone for a fucking run after dinner.”

Right.

I touch the back of my head. The wound my uncle gave me is all but closed.

“I’m fine.”

He grunts. “You’re in denial, is what I think.”

I don’t bother with a response. He gets out, and I follow him up into the house. Mr. Black comes down the stairs as we’re kicking off our shoes. Eli tosses his truck’s keys into the bowl on the foyer side table.