Daddy's Stepstalker (Daddy's Little Deviants)

“I moved the body. I never intended for it to remain in that one place, but I needed you to think that, so if you got cold feet and changed your mind about us and tried to turn me over to the police, you wouldn’t because then you would be an accomplice.”

I fell silent, completely dumbstruck at his words. It made total sense why he would do that, but it also felt like a betrayal. Here I thought we shared this big secret when he’d been keeping it from me that later he’d gone and dug up the body by himself.

“Are you mad at me?” he asked. “Are you going to punish me when I see you again?”

“Is that what you want? To be punished?”

“Yes, because I should always trust Daddy, but I didn’t then. You’re the only one I trust now.”

“I’ll forgive you if you allow me to choose your punishment and you have to bear it.”

“Ooh, what is it?”

“You won’t know until I see you again.”

“That’s not fair, but I’ll take you up on that.”

My phone beeped, and I removed it from my ear. Ari had sent me a text message — an address.

“What’s this?”

“Your surprise. Someone will meet you there.”

“Ari, what are you up to?”

“Surprise, remember? I really have to go.” His voice lowered. “I love you so much, Shaw. Never forget what I’m willing to do for you. For us.”

He hung up before I could respond. I sat there, phone in my hand. I scanned my surroundings. Where was he watching me? When I spotted nothing, I checked the address again and drove out of the parking lot. I stopped in front of a modest one-story house. The lawn was neatly trimmed, but the outside could use a fresh coat of paint. Other than that, the house looked to be in great shape.

Was it for rent or sale? Was that the reason Ari told me to come here? It didn’t have a sign, though. I parked my car right behind the car sitting in the driveway and got out. I checked out the houses on either side. They were a similar style and seemed well-maintained. The neighborhood looked pretty decent.

I knocked at the front door, but the door was ajar, and I let myself inside.

“Hello?” I called out, my voice echoing in the empty house. The floors were bare, so were the walls. I slowly walked across the hall. “Anyone here?”

A woman walked out a door to the left with a smile on her face and a stack of papers in her arms. Dressed in a gray skirt with a yellow blouse and matching flats, she seemed like a sales agent. A real estate agent.

“Hello there, I’m Jessamyn King of King’s Home Solutions.”

My face heated up. I knew what was going on here. “Oh gosh, I’m sorry for wasting your time. Did someone tell you I was interested in this house?”

“You’re not?”

“It seems great.” What little I’d seen of it so far. “But I’m not in a position to make an offer on this house just now. I’m so sorry. I think there’s been a misunderstanding.”

“Oh, but the house is already paid for.”

“Excuse me?”

“Your son wanted this to be a surprise.” Her smile was back. “He explained you recently had an unfortunate situation at your last home and he wanted to surprise you. Such a talented young man, and what a lucky father you are to have a son capable of buying a house for you at his age.”

Her words took forever to process. Ari bought us a home? But how? When? He hadn’t said anything about it.

I have a big surprise for you.

It was big. Huge. I had no idea what I’d done to deserve that precious boy who loved me more than anything and anyone else in the world, but I would never cause him to regret it.

“Are you ready for the tour?” she asked. “I admit there was another we considered, but he insisted on this one because he wanted to work on it with you. I’d say you have some great father-son bonding time in the future.”

If only she knew how well we bonded.