Deep (Heavy Hearts Book 2) by Sarah Duncan (red seas under red skies txt) 📗

for over an hour. When I look at the screen, I answer it without hesitation.

“Hi, Val.”

“Lexi.” My name is whispered, “There’s someone at your house.”

“What? Who?” I bolt up from the barstool, taking the stairs two at a time to get my shoes from up in my room.

“I don’t know, but they must have a key or something because they pulled into the garage and closed the door,” Valarie whispers down the line again.

“Val. Why are you whispering?”

“Ah- I don’t know. It just seems like I should because I’m a spy.”

I laugh, “Okay, Val. So, a car pulled into my garage and closed the door. Did you see who was driving the car?” That’s probably a stupid question.

“No.” She whispers again. “But the car was silver, if that helps?”

“Silver.” I repeat, “My dad’s car is silver.”

“That would make sense then because your dad would be able to get into the garage, right?” Val says, her voice a little louder this time.

“Yes, he would. Thanks for calling me Val. I’ll take it from here.”

“Okay, Bye.” Val hangs up before I can say bye too. She’s a weird kid, but I adore her.

Sliding my sneakers on, I grab a hoodie out of the drawer and take off for my house. I know deep down that this is a bad idea given what my dad did to me, but I’m sick of fearing him, and he needs to learn that I will not be pushed around anymore.

Like I said, probably a bad idea.

As I take the back streets, I consider calling the police first but decide against it. I need answers from him, and if the cops fail to do their job, then I’ll never get them. Cutting through a park and a laneway, I have the odd feeling that I’m being followed as I enter my street from the opposite end. Val’s house comes into view first, and I see her jet-black hair in the window as she spies on the street below. She’s never at school. I’ve never asked her why. Maybe she gets home-schooled?

Spotting me, her dark eyes widen, and a big toothy grin spreads over her face as she waves. Grinning back, I wave too and then stop by the fence that divides our houses. My house looks normal. No blinds or curtains are open, so I can’t see inside, but I can hear noise coming from inside the house.

Nerves stop me from moving forward. I’d be an idiot to go inside without letting someone know. I think about sending Ayden a message, but he will freak and ditch school. I don’t want him to do that. He needs to focus on passing year 11.

Taking my phone out, I hit Officer Zimora’s contact and wait as it rings out before going to voicemail. It’s not ideal, but I leave him a message and then suck in air as if it will give me extra courage before I walk up my front path.

Sweat pops out over the back of my neck, reminding me that I am shit scared as I walk. I don’t stop, though. Either my dad is inside, or Mike is. If they are together, then this probably won’t end well for me, but I still don’t stop. The heroine from Uppercut Princess wouldn’t back down. So, neither will I.

My hand trembles as I turn the handle and push the door open. I’m instantly met with mess strewn down the hall and noise coming from the back of the house. At first glance, you would think my house was being robbed, but I see my dad’s wallet and keys on the hall table and know that he’s here.

“Dad?” I call from the door, and the noise from the kitchen area stops. Heavy feet move across the tiled floor right before my dad steps into view at the end of the hall.

I don’t know what I expected. Maybe a look of remorse or even relief to see that I’m okay, but instead, my dad glares at me, looking annoyed that I interrupted him.

“Alexis. What are you doing here?” Hearing his voice in person is conflicting. Part of me has missed him, so it’s nice to hear. The other part of me, the smarter part, knows the words that are laced with distaste come from the monster who left me at the mercy of his sick and twisted son.

“I don’t have school today.” I lie.

He frowns, studying me for a moment from the other end of the hall.

“Right. Well, either help me or stay out of my way.” He spins on his heel and disappears into the kitchen.

Drawers open and close, cupboard doors slam shut, and the sound of a stack of papers being tossed draws my attention. Slowly I step further into the house, leaving the front door open behind me, and carefully step over discarded papers scattered down the hallway.

Entering the back part of the house, I watch my dad frantically search through every cupboard, every drawer, every shelf, looking for something.

He sees me looking and frowns. “Where is it?”

“Where’s what?” I ask, confused as hell. I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket but ignore the incoming call.

“The file Alexis!” He’s angry. Barely holding it together if the fact that his face is nearly purple is any indication.

The file? Mum spoke about a file over the phone a couple of weeks ago. She wasn’t making sense. She’d been concerned that Mike had already found it and said something about the money still being in the accounts, so he probably didn’t have the file. It was confusing as hell, and she made no sense. But now, my dad is here, tossing the house looking for a file. What fucking file?

“What file dad?” I ask, which just fuels his anger. Heavy steps pound toward me, and I watch my dad’s fury contort his face and take over his entire body.

“Tell me where it is, Alexis!” His deep voice booms, bouncing off the walls as he stands before me with