My Stepfather’s Prey - Chapter 2: Chapter 2
You are reading My Stepfather’s Prey, Chapter 2: Chapter 2. Read more chapters of My Stepfather’s Prey.
My stomach lurched as disgust coiled inside me.
Vincent Lowell didn't even flinch at my reaction. Instead, his grin widened, and he leaned in closer—too close.
"Evelyn, relax. I'm one of the good guys. Hell, your mother loves that about me."
I kept my face carefully blank, but inside, I was screaming.
Good guy?
Was he serious?
If Vincent Lowell was a "good guy," then the world was overflowing with saints.
When I didn't answer, he inched nearer, his voice dropping to a slimy whisper.
"Evelyn, you're stunning. How many men have you been with?"
My breath hitched. Did he really just say that?
Was he out of his damn mind?
Revolted, I tried to push back from the table, but his fingers clamped around my wrist, yanking me into his lap. Before I could react, his lips grazed my ear, his breath reeking of stale whiskey.
"If you ever need... anything... I'd be happy to help."
Bile rose in my throat. His words, his stench—everything about him made my skin crawl. I twisted free, my voice sharp.
"I don't know what you're talking about!"
Just then, my mother swept into the private dining room, her brow furrowing at the tension in the air.
"Evelyn, what's going on?"
Vincent smoothly cut in before I could speak.
"Your daughter's just a little shy. I was telling her she can always come to me if she needs support."
My blood burned at the audacity of his lie.
That's what he called support?
Disgusting.
I wanted to rip the mask off his smug face—to show my mother exactly what kind of predator she'd let into our lives.
But the thought froze me.
She'd spent years searching for someone. If I shattered this for her, how broken would she be?
No matter how vile Vincent was, I had to endure him—for her sake.
I swallowed the rage clawing up my throat.
My mother beamed at Vincent's words.
"Oh, really? Evelyn, did you thank Mr. Lowell?"
Thank him?
I should've been dialing 911.
When I stayed silent, she pulled me aside, her voice a hissed warning.
"I raised you better than this. What's wrong with you today?"
"Mom, I—"
I bit my tongue, torn.
If I told her the truth, how deep would the devastation cut?
The man she'd finally found... was a monster.
Before I could decide, she nudged me forward.
"Don't mind her nerves! Go on, thank him properly!"
For her, I forced a smile.
"Thank you... Mr. Lowell."
Vincent's beady eyes gleamed with sick satisfaction.
"Such a beautiful girl, and so sweet," he mused, licking his lips. "A taste of her would be worth a decade of my life."
"Oh, stop spoiling her! Here, have another drink!"
As their laughter filled the room, I suffered through the longest dinner of my life.
The second we stepped outside, I gasped in relief—until my phone buzzed.
I glanced down.
A single message glared back at me:
"You're welcome."
The memory of my mother forcing me to thank him flashed in my mind.
Ice flooded my veins.
It was from Vincent.
Vincent Lowell didn't even flinch at my reaction. Instead, his grin widened, and he leaned in closer—too close.
"Evelyn, relax. I'm one of the good guys. Hell, your mother loves that about me."
I kept my face carefully blank, but inside, I was screaming.
Good guy?
Was he serious?
If Vincent Lowell was a "good guy," then the world was overflowing with saints.
When I didn't answer, he inched nearer, his voice dropping to a slimy whisper.
"Evelyn, you're stunning. How many men have you been with?"
My breath hitched. Did he really just say that?
Was he out of his damn mind?
Revolted, I tried to push back from the table, but his fingers clamped around my wrist, yanking me into his lap. Before I could react, his lips grazed my ear, his breath reeking of stale whiskey.
"If you ever need... anything... I'd be happy to help."
Bile rose in my throat. His words, his stench—everything about him made my skin crawl. I twisted free, my voice sharp.
"I don't know what you're talking about!"
Just then, my mother swept into the private dining room, her brow furrowing at the tension in the air.
"Evelyn, what's going on?"
Vincent smoothly cut in before I could speak.
"Your daughter's just a little shy. I was telling her she can always come to me if she needs support."
My blood burned at the audacity of his lie.
That's what he called support?
Disgusting.
I wanted to rip the mask off his smug face—to show my mother exactly what kind of predator she'd let into our lives.
But the thought froze me.
She'd spent years searching for someone. If I shattered this for her, how broken would she be?
No matter how vile Vincent was, I had to endure him—for her sake.
I swallowed the rage clawing up my throat.
My mother beamed at Vincent's words.
"Oh, really? Evelyn, did you thank Mr. Lowell?"
Thank him?
I should've been dialing 911.
When I stayed silent, she pulled me aside, her voice a hissed warning.
"I raised you better than this. What's wrong with you today?"
"Mom, I—"
I bit my tongue, torn.
If I told her the truth, how deep would the devastation cut?
The man she'd finally found... was a monster.
Before I could decide, she nudged me forward.
"Don't mind her nerves! Go on, thank him properly!"
For her, I forced a smile.
"Thank you... Mr. Lowell."
Vincent's beady eyes gleamed with sick satisfaction.
"Such a beautiful girl, and so sweet," he mused, licking his lips. "A taste of her would be worth a decade of my life."
"Oh, stop spoiling her! Here, have another drink!"
As their laughter filled the room, I suffered through the longest dinner of my life.
The second we stepped outside, I gasped in relief—until my phone buzzed.
I glanced down.
A single message glared back at me:
"You're welcome."
The memory of my mother forcing me to thank him flashed in my mind.
Ice flooded my veins.
It was from Vincent.
End of My Stepfather’s Prey Chapter 2. Continue reading Chapter 3 or return to My Stepfather’s Prey book page.