Forgive Me by Kateri Stanley (reading strategies book TXT) 📕

His eyes caught hers. “Not when our loved ones are at risk.”

Something inside her slowed down. “You think it’s coming for my mom?”

“No, not for sure. But the victims are getting nearer, this young man, Anna, the couple, those girls and coincidentally someone shows up at your work giving off bad vibes? It doesn’t feel right. I know this feeling all too well. Hiding in plain sight is our best bet for now. Conceal the ones we love until we know what’s really going on here.” His gaze held her to the spot. “Leave your digging skills at the door for now. You can seek the truth out later. Please, Stripe.”

She hadn't seen him agitated before, it felt unnatural. She didn’t want to think her mother was in potential danger, that was the last thing she needed. Beverley had been through a tidal wave dealing with her father’s death. She had to identify his mutilated body and deal with a jackass journalist who’d decided to use their full legal names in the news so everyone, stranger or foe knew who they were. In a dark sense, Isaac had caused all of this misery but since the discovery, Stripe understood why it happened. She’d crashed against a war of words in her conscience about Isaac and the whole situation. Should she have spared him or speared the whole thing to a Titan News reader?

The guy’s got a point. I know you don’t want to admit this, but what choice have you got now?

With reluctance, Stripe rang her mother.

“Hi, Mom,” she said, feeling her skin begin to boil over. “How are you?”

“I'm fine. What's the matter?”

Rip it off like a band aid. “Mom, this isn't a good way to put it but...I need you to leave town for a few days.”

She heard Beverley laugh. “Where’s this come from? I can't just pack up and leave! I have commitments and appointments!”

“Mom, I'm being serious.”

“Okay, what's going on?” Beverley pulled on her strict teacher voice. “Are you and Sofia okay?”

“I don’t want to alarm you, but you know I wrote that article about Charles Libby a while back?”

“Yes…”

“Well, I've received a threatening letter from the group he belonged to. It didn’t come with a stamp. There was no return address. It was hand delivered.”

“It's a prank.”

“Mom, please listen to me. These people are fucked up. They are violent and dangerous. Why do you think Charles wanted me to tell his story? Why do you think I wrote about them? I’m going to take Sofia to a friend’s house and stay with him for a while. I need you to get out of town.”

Beverley breathed heavily. “Stripe, this is ludicrous.”

“I wouldn’t do this if I wasn’t being serious. You know I face a problem full on but this is worse. Go and stay at Barbara’s, and I’ll call you when I leave the house.”

“You shouldn’t let those idiots intimidate you.”

“Normally, I wouldn’t but this is stepping over a major grey area. When I call you, I want you to have made tracks. Got it?”

She hung up on Beverley feeling like she was going to cry and began to pack Sofia's belongings, chucking clothes, wipes and pacifiers into a backpack. The sound of the thunder storms and heavy rain was probably going to wake her sleeping daughter. Stripe grabbed the photograph she found back at Kaltheia. She ignored the way Isaac watched her when she placed it with her belongings. She didn't care. It was going with her no matter what, no matter where it came from.

Chapter Thirty-Five

For the first time in his life, Isaiah had slept without any nightmares plaguing his corrupted mind. He wasn’t haunted with the memories of being sprayed with ice cold water, having to go for days without food because he'd failed a regulation test and he didn't have to listen to their cold callous voices. He awoke with Anna's head resting on his chest. Her blonde hair was spread across him like a lake. He watched with fascination; her pink lips quivered as she slept. He wanted to kiss them all over again. He thought about the sounds that had escaped from both of them, secret and intimate. He replayed how he’d kissed her breasts, how she trembled under his touch, how she bit down on her lip when his voice got louder, how her shoulders rounded when she rode him, how good it felt to be inside her.

I killed you, he thought. What are you? Why are you making me feel this way?

He pressed his fingers to her forehead, running them along her slender jawline and cheekbones. Blood rushed under the skin; veins vibrated with a blue pulse. She was warm and he couldn't fathom why. Anna's arms tightened around him, making his ribs hurt. She wouldn’t touch you in real life. Isaiah winced from the pain as his abdomen burned. You don’t deserve her.

He was going to prove his point and make the ultimate move. But he had to make a good impression first. Today will be an iconic shift in history. You can’t rush something good, Peter used to say this over and over again.

Isaiah changed his clothes, keeping his gaze off Anna who shrugged back into her nightdress. She’s so beautiful. Tension filled the van; they hadn't spoken since she woke up.

Isaiah dressed into his dark blue boiler suit, if anyone stopped him, he’d casually say he was a maintenance man. Hiding in plain sight, a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He polished his gas mask, sharpened his machete and made his way outside.

“Don’t come with me,” he whispered.

Anna shivered. “Are you going to hurt the baby?”

Isaiah’s heart dropped as he saw the car in the driveway was gone. “No,” he gasped. “No, no, no, no. This isn't the plan!” He raced up the driveway, peering through the windows. “Fuck!”

He walked around to the back of the house. It wasn’t very secure. I can’t see anyone. Nobody’s