Twisted (Never After Series)

My father passed away with me still in the room.

It took hours, but the second I told him it was okay for him to let go, he did.

I spend the rest of the night crying, deep, guttural sobs that tear up my soul and make me feel like I’ll never be whole again.

And honestly, I don’t think I will be. Losing a parent is like losing a limb. There’s a part of me that will always be missing now that he’s gone, an ache that will never be filled. I loved my father with everything that I am. I gave up my own dreams and ambitions just to make sure he was happy, looked forward to every summer I’d come home, just to be able to breathe the same air.

He was my everything.

And it wasn’t until he faced his own mortality that he became the man he truly wanted to be, and somehow, even though I won’t get to experience the relationship that could have been with that version of him, I’ll have to find peace in the fact that at least he made peace with himself.

And now he can go be with his love, my mother.

But none of that makes it hurt any less, because he’s still not here.

Julian didn’t leave my side all night. And I know that even if he doesn’t say it out loud, he’s hurting too.

He loved my father, regardless of whether he’ll admit it.

And when he tries to stay home with me the next morning, I push him out the door, telling him that he needs to go on with life like things are normal. I need him to be normal, because if he isn’t, then my whole world will fall apart. I still haven’t told him about the lamp, but I will. Tonight when he gets home.

I’m fortunate enough to have had time to prepare for my baba’s death, but it doesn’t make the loss any less overwhelming.

I spend the morning sitting outside on the back patio, taking in the crisp autumn breeze and closing my eyes as it kisses my face, wondering if I can feel my father’s spirit in the air if I only try hard enough.

But even through the grief, the world keeps spinning.

Clicking my tongue, I spin the burner phone around in my hand on top of the patio table, staring blankly at it. I suck in a deep breath and open it to the texts I’ve exchanged with the lawyer, Randy, rereading everything and letting my choices cement even further in my head.

I don’t need him anymore, and if I’m going to be with Julian for real— truly choose him— then I have to make sure Randy doesn’t think I still want to move forward with our plan to annul things.

Me: Hi. I want to thank you for being so helpful and willing to go up against my husband, but there’s been a change in plans and I won’t need your services.

I press Send, that familiar swirl of anxiety at doing something for myself squeezing my stomach tight. The phone vibrates quickly.

Randy: Understood. I’m here if you change your mind.

And just like that, it’s over. I breathe out a sigh of relief and stand up from where I’m sitting, stretching my arms over my head, trying to ignore the heavy weight of sadness that’s pressing down on my chest when I’m reminded that my baba is gone.

Something my school counselor used to tell me was to write out my feelings in a journal or as a letter, any way that would help me process them so I don’t bottle them all up inside and let them build until they explode. I’ve never tried it before, choosing to find my therapy behind the lens of my camera, but now the urge to take a picture isn’t there, so maybe journaling will work.

I walk down to Julian’s office to find a blank piece of paper and a pen.

When I get there, I stop along the bookshelf, running my fingers along the framed photo of him with my father, both of them grinning as they hold up a large uncut diamond. My heart squeezes tight, and a few stray tears drip down my face. I press my fist to my chest, trying to stem the throbbing ache.

Moving along, I go sit behind his desk, glancing around. Reaching for the right-side drawer, I open it, looking for a piece  of paper and a pen. I grab some random papers with writing, moving them out of the way, but my breath catches when I see a flash of a name.

My name.

A sick feeling weighs down my chest.

“Don’t trust them.”

My breathing stutters, and I scoff, shaking my head and convincing myself it was a trick of the light. Trust is paramount in a relationship. And I do trust Julian.

Frowning, I glance at the papers again, unable to stem the urge to just peek and see.

I pull out the papers.

I read.

And my already broken heart shatters completely as it falls to the floor, ripping through my very fucking being on the way down.

Will of Yasmin Karam-Faraci.

“They’re going to kill you.”

I drop the papers from my hands like they’re on fire, my stomach tossing like I’ll throw up if I stay in one spot.

Maybe the will is a mistake.

Maybe it’s from back when he first started blackmailing me, before things changed.

All these things are possible, and I want to hear his explanation for every one. But not right now. Not like this, when my feelings are so raw and I feel so ripped open and betrayed.

Was everything just a game to him?

I know I won’t get any relief until I find answers. I breathe deep, trying to find my center and not react out of shock. I’ve spent my entire life running away from problems, and it hasn’t gotten me anywhere good.

It’s what got me in this mess in the first place.

I slide down the desk and just sit on the floor for a long time, staring down at the pages that say if I die, everything is left to Julian, and it isn’t until the doorbell rings that I come out of my daze, standing up and trying to hold myself together long enough to walk across the foyer and answer it. I’m sure my eyes are puffy and I look like a disaster, but I can’t find it in me to care.

I don’t even know who would be here in the first place.

Opening the door, I find Julian’s assistant on the other side, his eyes dragging slowly up and down my frame.

“You look like shit,” Ian states.

I move to the side, letting him in, even though now everything in me is screaming to keep him far away. Is he here to kill me?

“My father’s dead,” I reply blankly.

Ian spins around to stare at me, his gaze growing round.

“Excuse me?”

I tilt my head. “You didn’t know?”

He swallows, his hands sliding into his pockets as he glances around. “No. Where’s Julian?”

My forehead scrunches. “At the office. With you, I thought.”

He shakes his head slowly. “No. I came here to find him.”

“Call him, I guess,” I state, trying to keep my body from visibly trembling from the nerves. “Make yourself at home.” I wave my hand around. “I have to make a phone call.”

I leave him in the foyer and walk up the stairs back into Julian’s room, my heart beating out of my chest as I grab my phone and call Riya.

She doesn’t answer, but I leave her a message, peeking behind me and making sure my door is fully closed.

“Hey, Riya.” I keep my voice a whisper. “I need your help so call me back. I have this…” Groaning, I run a finger over my curls. “I don’t know what to do. Baba died,” I choke out. “And then I found a fake will for me, and…maybe I should be calling Randy, but I need you to come get me out of here. I have that lamp, and I don’t know what to do. It was one of my father’s last wishes to find it, and I just—I’m not sure who I can trust. So call me  back. Please.”

I puff out my cheeks, place my hands on my hips, my phone digging into my side as I try to find my center. I head out of the room and down the hall, passing by Ian as I make my way into the kitchen.

“Do you want some tea?” I twist back around as I ask the question, but I never hear his response.

Because all that’s next is sharp, blinding pain across my skull, and then silence.