The Interloper (Abbie King Thrillers Book 4) by Mark Ayre

Author:Mark Ayre [Ayre, Mark]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Conundrum Publishing
Published: 2022-06-02T23:00:00+00:00

Thirty-Two

Abbie rose from the chair. She couldn’t help it, she wasn’t controlling it. Her father's fingers slipped from her grasp, and then she was standing, then pacing. The blood drained from her face as Abbie faced her father.

“I don’t understand,” she said again. “It can't have been me.”

Her head was spinning—she was supposed to be forcing her father to confess who had stabbed him. Or asking why Ian had been visiting. Now she could do nothing but reevaluate her entire relationship with this man.

Had Ian really pinpointed Abbie as David's weak spot? And had this tactic truly worked.

She couldn't quite fathom. She wanted to ask her father for an explanation, but no... She pulled back. Stopped herself.

"I'm not here as your daughter." She was trying to persuade herself as much as him.

With sadness and regret in his eyes, David nodded.

“I think that's for the best. Our time has passed. I wasn’t a good enough dad to you, and when I tried to rectify the situation, it fell apart in my hands. You left, and it broke my heart, but looking back, I'm glad. Your mother and I were no good for you, and staying would have torn you apart. All those memories.”

David looked to the door. Reaching out with his now free hands, he pressed the nurse call button.

“It’s time to go. There’s nothing for you here.”

“It’s not about me.”

“Then who?”

“Amber. Her life’s in danger. Who stabbed you?"

David looked at her. "Isn't it obvious?"

"Tell me."

"One of Ian's people. That's why Ian was here. His guy messed up, and Ian had a change of heart. Or so he said. He wanted to ensure I'd do my part to keep his secret. I promised I would."

David didn't break eye contact as he spoke, and his story made sense. Abbie wasn't sure about the change of heart, but maybe Ian had decided killing David was more trouble than it was worth when he was so easily controlled.

"What about Amber?" Abbie asked.

"She was six at the time, and she blamed her father," said David. "She's no threat to Ian, and he knows it. Just leave it alone, will you? There's nothing to be gained by poking the hornets' nest."

"Amber's father's out of prison," said Abbie. "And James knows the truth."

David gave Abbie a long look. "So?"

“So..? So I believe the combination of James’s knowledge and Amber’s father’s freedom will push Ian to do something drastic. You might be safe, but Amber isn't. I won't leave until I'm certain.”

David's eyes suggested he wanted to make another push to get Abbie to leave town. Before he could, there were footsteps outside. Father and daughter paused, but no one entered. David saw his opportunity and implored Abbie.

"I sent a man to prison for ten years to keep you safe. If you get in Ian's way now, he’ll kill you, and it'll all have been for nothing."

"I would rather die protecting an innocent teenage girl than live with the knowledge that I abandoned her to Ian's wrath."

David was tearing up.

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