Silence Me (Dare Me Series Book 1)

Part 17

A rush of excitement fills the car as we head back to the broken-down house. We bought two gas cans. One for her and one for me. That house may have been the last place I talked one-on-one to my father, but it's a place my mother chose over us, and it's a place Alexis was abused in. I don't want it standing any more than she does. We couldn't do anything about the man who lived there. God took care of that. But we can do something about the shell he did his dirty work in. And we will. As I pass the county line, my cell rings and I lift up and pull it from my front pocket. Looking at the screen, I say, "It's Mills, baby." Her brows lift and she gives me a small smile. "Answer it." I hit the green button. "Hello." "Colby. Hey... I... um... is Alexis there with you?" The poor man is nervous, and I don't blame him. He's gone his whole life living one way, having no idea he had a child this entire time. Once he finds out what that child went through, it's going to kill him inside because there's nothing he can do about it. He'll feel like I do, except in a different way, I imagine. Bethany would probably do better not to ever come around again. The fault is on her. "Yeah. She's right here," I say before handing A the phone. "Hey, Mills," she says, unsure of herself. Like him, she's in unknown territory. This is going to take time if either of them cares to do it. But I could tell he did the moment he found out she was his. "Yes. I'm still in town," she says. "Colby and I are actually headed to my old house. Where Saw lived." She looks over at me, chewing her bottom lip before she says, "We're going to set it on fire." My brows lift at the fact she told him that. I'm not sure what he says back, but she says, "Sure." And then she rambles off the address before hanging up. She puts the phone in the cup holder and looks out the window. "He'll be here in a few." I slow the car as we near the house again. "He's going to join us?" I ask. She twists her head back to me. "He knows my life back then was no picnic. He deserves to have a part in this... him being my dad and all." I park the car and smile at her. "You amaze me, girl." She returns my smile and I reach over and grab the back of her neck before kissing her forehead and then her lips. "I love you." She looks at me and slightly shakes her head. I'm not sure if she believes that I really do love her, or she just can't believe someone actually does. Either option breaks my fucking heart, and I swear I'll make her feel my love every day from here on out. Until she knows it deep in her soul. "Say it back," I tell her. "Just once say it back to me." I changed my mind. I need her to say it more than I'm willing to wait for her to be ready. She folds her lips in, about to say something, but then we hear a truck flying down the road. I curse under my breath but open the car door. She repeats this action as Mills turns into the drive and parks his two-door truck. I grab the gas cans and hand one to her. "Ready?" I ask. "Yes." She takes it from me as Mills walks up. "Sorry to keep you two waiting. I got here as fast as I could."