Read The Devil Inside for Free Online

get into that now. It’s still too raw.  
    “Adele.” From behind, mom pleads with me. “Stop.”
    Oh no. I’m not going to let this slide. Because I can’t tolerate the fact that he’s brought this shit home. I’ve seen the types of people dad associates with. They’re the same breed as the men who tried to threaten me in Fat Dragon. Thugs, lowlifes, unscrupulous moneylenders.
    I can’t stand that he’d let those people into the house, that he’d let them know where he lives. I can’t forgive him for letting them near mom and Mina.
    “He’s racked up a gambling debt again, hasn’t he mom? How much does he owe this time?”  
    Mom stays silent.
    “Get off it, Adele.” Dad moves to stand beside mom. I clench my teeth in frustration. Even after all he’s done to her, they still seem to side against me.  
    “How much?” I demand. I’m not going to back down.
    “It’s twenty grand.” Mina’s quiet voice cuts the air like a knife. “I heard them talking. If he doesn’t pay by tomorrow, they’re going to come over and smash the place up.”
    The anger in me explodes into full blown rage. Twenty thousand dollars might not seem like a lot to some people in this town, but there’s no way any of us can find that kind of money in a day.
    “Couldn’t control yourself, could you, Gavin?” I’m so pissed off right now. I’ve raised my voice, ignoring the way dad’s eyes have narrowed. “You just had to go and screw it all up, like you always do. When are you going to man up and take some responsibility for your actions?”
    I’m shouting now, and I don’t see the fist heading for my eye until it’s too late.
    “Shut up!”
    Pain lances through my skull and I gasp. I stumble back, disbelieving.  
    “Stop it, Gavin!” Through the fog of agony, I can hear my mom’s voice. I clutch my left eye and look up at dad.  
    He’s staring at me as if he’s never seen me before in his life.
    He’s never, ever hit his own daughter before.
    An expression of frozen shock comes over his face. “See what you made me do, Adele?” He’s whispering now, subdued. He steps back as Mina rushes to my side.  
    “Oh my God, Adele,” she gasps.  
    I rise up and glare at him, looking him in the eye. His eyes are bleary.
    “Adele,” he’s pleading now, ashamed. “Sweetie. I’m sorry.”
    I’m having none of it. The anger is gone now, replaced with an emptiness I haven’t felt before. “Call your loan sharks. Tell them you can give them five grand now. Get an extension on the rest. Do whatever you have to do. Sell the car, get another loan, I don’t care. But you will not bring these people to our house, ever again. I don’t want Mina and mom exposed to that kind of filth. I’ll drop the cash off in the morning.” I look at mom and Mina. “I’m leaving. If you want to come, I’ll be waiting in the car outside.”
    I know no-one’s coming. But the offer’s there.  
    I always hope that one day, mom’s going to reach her limit and choose to leave with me. But she shares a connection with dad that I don't understand. If mom stays, Mina will too. She’s protective like that.
    And they will never, ever call the cops.
    I tried it once, when I was ten. Mom denied everything, of course. She just smiled and told them she fell down the stairs. Dad thought she’d been the one to call them.  
    He punished her for it. It was a really big deal, because dad was in the police force back then. He absolutely hated that they’d been called to our address. It struck too close to home. Mom didn’t say a word. She protected me. I was only ten, but I had to witness her being beaten for my mistake.  
    I reach up and touch the broken skin around my eye. It’s exquisitely tender. The funny thing is, I could have hit back. Dad’s not the strapping young police officer anymore. Most of his muscle has gone to fat.  
    But I refuse to lower myself to that level.  
    With a tight smile towards Mina and mom, I turn and