The Price Of Their Cruel Deceit

Whit

nd limbs rendering me helpless. Water rushed into my nose and mouth, a suffocating, burning torrent. Panic, primal

abbed my hair and yanked me back to the surface. I gasped, ch

face a grotesque mask in the moonlight. "Ha

my abdomen, doubling me over in the water. This was it. It was

perate, animal need. "Call an ambulance. I was wrong. I admit

and mixing with the pool water and my tears. "It'

t, preparing to k

me. The terror of drowning was still there, but it was dista

ot the splash of my body hitting the water, b

iron, were buckled inward, torn from their hinges as if by a giant'

door s

AD

pure, untamed rage that seemed

of the pool, his face a mask of disbelief and fear. It was a fear I knew well-

across his face as our father, Dorris Manning, emerg

g toward them with a false, hearty bravado. "You're just

rm. "Thank goodness you're here, Mr. Manning.

ght shame on our family. I was... I was just cleaning up the mess." He lowered his voice

ozen lake, were blazing with a fire I had never seen. They were fixed on me

er went sprawling onto the manicured lawn. He didn't spare a

worked at the wet, tight knots of the rope. "Kalea,

tural sound escaped his lips, a sound of pure agony. "

ng to him. "Save our bab

arp crack of his cane striking flesh echoed across

ying! It's not Angus's! We've been gone

ce shrill. "She only found out she was pregnant two m

you know everything?" he bellowed, his old frame trembling with a rag

outh agape. "No...

lass. He stood up, turning to face his brother. His wet clothes clung to him, but he

d and kicked his brothe

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