28. Annalise
Chapter twenty-eight
Annalise
Matt's dad and mine stalk off together as soon as the last name is called, and as concerning as that probably should be, I’m thankful for the extra air that seems to fill the room in his absence.
Taking turns during the slow songs, Matt and Theo spin Emily and me around the dance floor as Sasha looks adoringly up at Antonio, song after song.
Theo catches me smiling back at Sasha, before pulling me in closer, only semi-attempting to whisper.
“It’s like looking into our future, isn’t it? Though you’ll be the one coming back for me to show you off to my family,” Theo sighs dreamily.
“Hope I’m not interrupting,” Antonio chuckles, just before I can remind Theo that we aren’t dating—a point that would have been made regardless of my feelings before tonight after watching the disgusting show he put on for my dad.
“Not at all,” I say, taking his hand as Sasha twirls by in her father's arms. “And thanks for that."
“I really hope that’s not serious, because I don’t think Matt will be able to restrain himself from killing him much longer,” he teases, as we slowly move to the music.
"We came as friends, but Tyr's about ready to throw him from the tallest building he can find," I laugh.
“Aiden would have lost his shit seeing your dad here tonight…He was planning to come, ya' know?”
My steps falter, and though I’m sure he noticed, he's kind enough not to mention it.
“He got sent on a last-minute mission north this afternoon.”
“Good for him."
Antonio snorts softly. “Come on, Lee.” His hand tightens slightly at my waist as he spins me once before pulling me back in. “Aiden’s a great guy—"
“And the one who—quite brutally—ended things,” I remind him flatly.
“Yeah, and I’m still not sure why.” He dips me just enough to make me roll my eyes before pulling me upright again. “But I do know one thing...”
His voice drops lower, serious in a way that has me bracing for impact, “He had no idea what he was walking away from.”
My throat tightens, and I look away, willing the tears to vanish. “Antonio…You didn’t tell him…did you?”
The question comes out quieter than I mean for it to, but Antonio’s steps slow nonetheless, his jaw tightening slightly before he shakes his head, “No, Lee. I didn’t tell him why you weren’t at graduation…or what we found out after.”
I exhale so hard my ribs feel like they might tear the seams of my dress apart.
“Good.”
“You really wouldn’t want him to know?”
I shake my head.
“Regardless of how he felt about me, he would be devastated to know that a piece of him was taken from this world, and I wouldn’t want to do that to him.”
“But if he would have come back—”
“Then it would have been because he felt obligated too, not because he wanted to.”
“You don’t know that,” he argues as the song hits its last few notes.
“I do, actually. He didn’t call. He didn’t text. And he didn’t come back. And you know what?”
“What’s that?” he asks, his voice softer now.
“I’m ok with that. He deserves to be happy,” I say as the last note finishes, "And so do I."
Antonio's expression softens, and he gives me one last gentle squeeze before releasing my hand.
"Good," he says simply.
Before I can respond, Matt materializes at my side.
“When’s the last time we swing danced?” he asks, not mentioning the damp streaks glistening on my cheeks.
“Long enough that you’ll probably step on my toes!"
“I would never!” he gasps, already singing every word of “Sold” by John Michael Montgomery as he begins to move us around the dance floor like we’ve done so many times before.
Every spin, relaxes us a little more. Every loudly sung lyric brings a wave of laughter.
And when the last “Weee” plays through the speaker, I’m practically falling into his arms, exhausted and lighter than I’ve felt all night.
“Your not-date is waiting for his turn. Should we let the pitiful excuse—"
"Mattey—"
"Fiinnnee. I’ll be right back with some drinks.”
“Water, please!” I call after him as my hand is pulled into Theo's.
“You know this one?” he asks, glancing down at me as the opening beat shifts into something faster.
“Yeah…'Makin’ This Boy Go Crazy,’ right?”
His grin turns bright— “Yes, you are.”
I narrow my eyes at him immediately. “Don’t tell me you requested this just so you could say that.”
He doesn’t even try to lie. Just keeps smiling, clearly proud of himself, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Do you swing dance at least?” I ask, eager not to be awkwardly slow dancing to a song that's this fast pace.
“No, but I’m open to learning,” he says, immediately attempting to prove it by pushing me out and yanking me back in—far too confidently, and far far too hard—his timing completely off. His arm clips my head violently, and I'm nearly knocked to the ground, caught just as my balance falters.
“Sorry, maybe not my strong suit after all,” he blushes.
“Let’s start with a two-step, Big Guy,” I laugh.
Luckily, that keeps his attention, watching my feet to pick up the steps…then attempting, and failing, to match them to the song.
Once I convince him the music doesn’t matter and just to stick with me, we start to have fun. Him laughing at his own mistakes, and dipping me low when they’re so bad they can’t be covered up.
By the time the song ends, I think my friend might finally be back from whatever’s possessed him all evening, but as my dad approaches, he’s nowhere in sight…
Gone as if he hadn’t just been holding me…and so are all of my other friends.
“We need to talk,” my dad growls under his breath.
“No! I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“You sure about that?” he asks, fingers clamping bruisingly around my arm.
“I need you!” I call to Tyr down the bond, but there’s no time for Tyr to respond before whatever tincture coats my dad’s skin is absorbing into mine.
“Smile,” he orders quietly. “Then walk to the door behind you. Do not make a scene. Do not try to alert anyone.”
A chill races through my veins, then I’m consumed by horror as my body obeys, a smile cementing onto my face. Hypnonysis.
My feet move without permission.
I fight for control with each step, willing my body to come back to me—each denied command met with a sharp pain ricocheting through my head.
“Please,” I whisper silently down the fractured bond. “Please find me, Tyr.”
The side door opens beneath my trembling hand, cool night air rushing over me as I step into the darkness—alone once again with a monster.
Another wave of panic slices through me when I spot my dad’s pickup—cabin lights just bright enough to reflect off the bed cover and illuminate the already open tailgate—alone in an abandoned service parking lot.
“Where the fuck do you think you’re taking me?”
My dad pushes me forward, but I resist as much as I can with the hypnosis, trying to fight my way out of his grip now that we’re out of view, and his command no longer has any hold.
“Oh, you’re not going anywhere until we’ve had a nice, long talk,” he snarls as his beastly arms try to find hold around me. “There’s some things we need to get straight.”
“A talk? I’m not going anywhere with you!” I spit out, knee connecting hard between his legs.
Sprinting back to the door—back to safety—I yank it…FUCK!
Locked. Of course it’s locked!
My dad’s bulbous fingers fasten around my arm, pulling me back so abruptly I’m shocked it didn’t dislocate.
Tyr’s roar booms overhead at the same time my free hand grips his face, my thumb pushing into his eye.
His arms drop, and I don’t hesitate, taking off for the front of the building.
I’ve barely crested the corner when another set of arms wrap around me, only this time, they’re accompanied by a low, out of breath voice that I'm beyond grateful to hear.
“I’ve got you. I’ve got you. Stay with me—”
“You little bitch! Get back here!” my dad bellows before Tyr’s flames light the sky, transforming my dad’s silhouette into a clear picture of frenzied rage—his fists clenched as he charges after me.
Thud
We’re plunged back into darkness just as his body hits the ground.
Thud
Thud
Thud
Another burst of light floods the sky, illuminating my father's bloody, swollen, and totally unconscious face—Korr on top of him, unleashing years of his own pent-up aggression.
Where the fuck did he come from?
“Korr,” I call, but he doesn’t hear me.
“Hunter!”
His eyes snap to mine—dark and predatory, his pupils blown so wide that the usual gray of his irises looks like lightning flickering at the edge of a storm.
“Hunter, he’s knocked out. We’re safe.”
“Lee!”
Matt’s voice has me spinning, his already long strides turning into a full-on sprint, Theo right behind him.
“Thank the Gods, you’re ok! I was looking for you everywhere!”
His arms wrap around me, as he splatters a thousand tiny kisses on my head.
“Theo said your dad wanted a dance with you, but you were gone before the song was even over. What happened?”
My head turns to look at his still unconscious frame, but he’s gone…
Oh my gods.
“Look again, Little Faren,” Tyr says, though the connection is still faint.
There’s another burst of light, and I’m caught between shock, horror and laughter.
My dad’s legs are bound by his own pants—knots tied around his ankles with the legs, and the crotch of his pants slung over Korr’s hunched shoulder as he drags him unceremoniously to the still open pickup bed.
“Reyes, Stevens, don’t just watch me take out the trash. Get your asses over here and help me pick him up!”
Both rush over without argument, and after Matt “accidentally” trips several times—his boots connecting hard with my dad’s ribs each time—they get him loaded into the pickup.
"Now what?" Theo asks the second the tailgate snaps shut.
"Now, you shut the fuck up. You're lucky we're not throwing you in there with him after letting him take her."
"Sir-"
Hunter's glare is enough to shut him up, his apologetic eyes shooting to meet mine as Hunter and Matt take a few steps away, talking too low for Theo, or me, to overhear.
After a minute of bickering, they must come to an agreement, because Hunter claps Matt on the shoulder before walking over to me, his face already relaxing.
"Matt is going to take you home while I take care of your...the sheriff."
"Take care of...how?"
His laugh is light, a jarring contrast to his rage just minutes ago.
"I'm not going to kill him if that's what you're worried about."
Letting out a deep breath, I choose not to acknowledge the muddled emotions his answer stirs inside me.
"Matt and Tyr will keep you safe until I get home. It shouldn't be too long," he tells me quietly before turning to walk away. "Oh, and Annalise....?"
"Yeah?"
The edge of his lips lift, the briefest hint of his dimples appearing. "Unless you want me to make Stevens suffer for whatever bullshit excuse he's about to feed you, you can hang up now."