HIS DOE, HIS DAMNATION (An Erotic Billionaire Romance) novel Chapter 151

Alaric’s POV:

The last thing I thought I would ever do–asides go to therapy–was to come here.

This was a bad fucking idea. I knew it from the moment I got in the jet. Knew it from the very second I landed in Louisiana and throughout the entire drive to my destination.

But there was nothing else I could do except this. I needed some kind of closure, and where else was I going to get it except here, in the Louisiana State Penitentiary?

Fuck, yes. I was here to see Meadow’s father–the man who was in prison for killing my father.

My fists curled on the surface in front of me and I stared down at it. I hadn’t seen this man in many years. And even before then, I never saw him enough. But I knew. I knew everything he did.

I couldn’t tell Meadow that I loved her when I didn’t have a clear conscience, and I would never have a clear conscience if I didn’t speak to Clint Russell.

A loud buzz signified his entrance, and I slowly raised my gaze, watching as two prison guards hauled Clint Russell in. He was dressed in the usual orange jumpsuit, his wrists cuffed in front of him.

I was so fucking glad that Meadow didn’t bear any sort of resemblance to him.

Clint Russell was a huge man, and even prison didn’t change that, although, he had aged accordingly in the past thirteen years. Scruffy beard that I was certain he was choosing to keep, bald head, and a hard expression on his face.

I wasn’t scared of him. I wasn’t scared of anyone. But I could see why and how Meadow would’ve been terrified living in the same house with a man who looked like this, treating her like she didn’t matter.

A friend, an acquaintance–that’s what he was to my father before he turned around and stabbed him in the back.

And triggered a fucking chain reaction.

Clint’s gaze narrowed as he settled down into the seat across from me. Not like he was trying to remember where he knew me from. No. The man knew who I was. I was sure of it:

“Hm,” he scoffed, smirking. “Bold of you to come here, boy. I assumed you had enough resources to organize a video chat if you ever wanted to speak to me.”

The corner of my lips tilted up in response. He was right about that. “True,” I muttered. “But somehow, I thought it would be better to see you in person. You know, for… better communication.” My gaze shifted to the prison guards who brought him in.

They knew what to do. This was a conversation that was going to be completely private, no cameras, no recorders… nothing. A video chat wouldn’t have exactly assured that.

The guards nodded, and then they stepped out of the room, leaving me in here with my father–in–law.

Clint Russell sized me up, his jaw working, and then his gaze fell to his wrists on the table between us. “Such a shame they cuffed me, like I’m a danger to anyone. Can you fucking believe that?” He chuckled, shaking his head.

“Nice try.”

His smile fell, eyes flashing. “What do you want, boy?” he finally asked. “Haven’t seen you since that day in the courtroom when you testified against me. And now, all of a sudden, you’re here.”

A memory flashed in front of me.

Me–twenty years old on the witness stand, staring at Clint from across the room, looking into his eyes as I told the judge that I saw him pull the trigger on my father when I was thirteen, and that I was too scared to say anything because Clint had threatened to kill my brother and mother if I told anyone.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify