These Thin Lines by Milena McKay

Author:Milena McKay [McKay, Milena]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-01-30T13:00:00+00:00

Vi knew her father was in her apartment before she’d closed the door behind herself. Despite the melancholy of being rejected after the absolute best kiss of her life—a kiss so earth-shattering that she would surely divide her life into ‘before’ and ‘after’ now—her senses alerted her it was time to be watchful. And Vi sensed him before he stood up from the armchair.

“Hello, father.”

She took off her drenched sweatshirt, remarking that, despite its state, the camera was dry as she gently placed it on the kitchen counter next to her open laptop.

Something inside her clicked at seeing it lit, and Zizou’s words came back to her. Her suspicions, her premonitions. They’d not been baseless at all. She could see how certain things could have been accomplished despite her vigilance—the method to this entire madness and a way for her father to…

She was afraid to finish her thought. And at this point, there was nothing on the laptop of any importance. The Lilien Haus’ collection was out there in the world.

The most he’d find were her pictures of Chiara… Her brain screeched to a halt, the desire to scream in frustration rising in her along with bile, leaving a foul taste in her mouth.

Well, this must be why her stepsisters had mocked her about following Chiara around like a love-sick puppy and for being an embarrassing lesbian pining for a married woman.

Vi was so careful with everything pertaining to Lilien Haus and the collection. It seemed she should have been more cautious about her and Chiara’s privacy as well. Her father must have gone through her laptop before and found the numerous pictures she’d taken, and told them. For some reason, it hurt less that he himself had never mentioned it or humiliated her about it in person. Small blessings.

Her shoulders sagged as he finally crossed the room to her. In the dark, that he seemed to prefer when he visited her place unannounced, his face looked strangely animated.

“Genevieve, you’re a mess.”

Well, maybe calling out her disheveled appearance was invigorating him. Because she hadn’t seen him emote in a really long time.

“Yes, father.” The prerequisite words were automatic.

“What happened at Lilien Haus? I heard the police were called?” His voice rose, as if he initially hadn’t intended for it to be a question.

He would know if she attempted to lie or evade, and the truth was easier, anyway. Easier, more expedient, and maybe it would save him. Vi bit her cheek until she tasted blood. It washed away the bitterness, but the copper lingered, so familiar, somehow safe.

Blood of his blood.

After everything, she still cared about what happened to him and thought she had an obligation to warn him, even if that left her sullied in ways she did not want to yet contemplate. He was all she had.

“I don’t know anything about the police. When I left, Renate and Frankie had a fight. But… The Lilienfelds hired a private investigator. He has been looking into me, into us, really, the whole summer.

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