The Stepfather: a gripping psychological thriller with a killer twist by Theo Baxter

Author:Theo Baxter [Baxter, Theo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Inkubator Books
Published: 2023-04-15T16:00:00+00:00

22

DAMON

No matter what he said, no matter how much he pleaded for Connie to say something to him, anything, she remained unresponsive. She looked so small, so fragile all balled up, shaking like a leaf. If one of his Army brothers were here instead and acted like this, he would try to slap him back to the here and now.

There was no way in hell he would ever try something like that with his daughter. Especially not knowing what had happened to her in the first place. He really tried not to think about that because it would drive him mad. Connie had come back to him, and she was his number-one priority now. He racked his brain about how to help her.

How about taking her inside, jackass? he snapped at himself.

“Let’s get you inside.” He spoke softly.

Damon moved and gently, as though she were the most delicate thing in the world, since to him she was, gathered her in his arms. With some acrobatics, he unlocked and opened the apartment door and carried her inside. He gently placed her on the couch, wrapping a warm blanket around her. She appeared as though she didn’t even notice the change of location. That worried him. Should I call a doctor or the police?

Damon sat beside his daughter. “Please, Connie, speak to me. It’s me, your dad. You’re safe. You came to me, as you promised,” he continued, pleading for her to say anything at all, over and over.

Connie kept rocking with her eyes closed, refusing to deal with the outside world as though what had happened to her was too horrific, so she had to get away, withdraw into herself.

Stop, Damon, you are spiraling, he snapped at himself.

“Please speak to me. Tell me what happened.”

She looked perfectly fine, unharmed on the outside. Her clothes looked clean, untorn. There were no marks on her or evidence of being mistreated in any way. That worried him even more.

Although he didn’t want to move an inch from her or leave her alone, Damon realized he had to call Madelyne and let her know that Connie had been found.

Was she technically found if she came here on her own? He must be in shock as well if his thoughts were this crazy. Crazier than usual was more accurately put.

“Tell me you found her,” Madelyne answered after the first ring.

She found me, waiting on the steps, shaking. “I got her,” Damon reassured her.

“Oh, thank God. Let me talk to her.”

Damon hesitated. He didn’t know how to tell her that although their daughter had been found, she was far from well.

“Damon, give the phone to Connie. I need to speak with my daughter, hear her voice,” Madelyne pleaded.

“Madelyne—”

“I promise I’m not going to yell at her. I just need to hear for myself that she is okay,” she interrupted, misunderstanding his reluctance. And although Damon understood the urge, he couldn’t comply.

“That’s the thing, Madelyne, I can’t.”

“I don’t understand, is she or is she not with you?” Madelyne demanded.

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