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I pondered for a moment.
“We can’t jump to conclusions, but… this would somewhat agree with Uncle Blaine’s idea of Uncle Eugene—how he can’t truly be trusted,” Kimiko muttered.
Sterling said, “Gosh, this sounds like all too much for me to handle. Big Aves, be a dear and get me a glass of ice water from the kitchen.”
Archer turned over to Kimiko. “Shut him up, Masahiko, or I will,” he threatened, and Sterling gasped loudly.
Kimiko turned around, looked at her boyfriend, and smiled softly. “Sterling, that’s enough from you, honey,” she said softly.
Sterling crossed his arms like a child. “But tiger... he’s being mean,” he muttered.
Jin made a face of disgust. “I can’t believe Kimi wears the pants in this relationship.”
Sterling glared. “First of all, that’s stigmatizing, and secondly, worry about your own premature relationship!” he seethed.
I turned to Archer as I blocked them out and shook my head. “They literally have no common sense. It’s actually insane,” I muttered.
He chuckled. “I thought I was insane, Princess?” he asked.
I shook my head. “In comparison… you’re better.” I laughed, and I felt my phone buzz in my pocket.
Thinking it was my mother messaging me, I picked it up to check, but my mouth went dry as I saw it was from an unknown sender and the first few words from the sentence made my blood go cold.
Archer wrapped his arms around me from behind and opened my phone for me as my fingers felt frozen.
Unknown: Delilah. This is Michael. Sweetheart, I would like to speak to you and explain everything if you’d let me. I owe you a million explanations, and I promise that you’ll get them, but I’d like to speak to you in person. I understand you may have hesitation, but it would make me happy if we could have a one-on-one conversation.
Unknown: Father to daughter.
Marissa
Walking up to the cabin with my groceries, I sighed. Michael said he would help us, and although I didn’t want his help… every now and again, it was appreciated, especially when my limp could only get me so far.
Pulling my key out to open the door, I placed it in the lock, only for the door to open fully. My heart began to hammer in my chest, and I stepped in slowly. I looked around for any sign of my parents or anyone else. Entering the living room, I dropped the bags in shock as my parents sat on the couch… motionless with a bullet in both of their chests.
Tears rushed to my eyes, and my heart constricted as I felt the need to scream or let out my sadness to the world, but it soon left me when the front door slammed closed, and I heardhisvoice.
“Don’t worry. I made sure they were dead this time. Almost got my ass handed to me a few months ago, so... couldn’t fuck the job up again,” Eugene said, coming into the room with a glass of whiskey. He took the final sip before placing it on the table and picking up the gun beside it.
I shook my head frantically as I looked at Eugene, but I felt frozen in place, like I couldn’t move. My nightmare… for many, many nights… years, finally came true.
Eugene shushed me softly as he traced the gun along my face and held it under my chin.
“E-Eugene... Please. Show mercy,” I whispered.
He tilted his head. “Mercy… a strong word, isn’t it? Because I showed you three mercy, my wife and daughter are in danger. Do you know how much it pains me to ignore Brielle, to belittle her, to tear her down... all because I’m not fucking man enough to look my own baby sister in her eyes? To look your daughter—well,her daughter—in the eyes because of the weight of my guilt? All because I showed you all…mercy? Ironic, isn’t it?” he muttered.
I went to speak when I fell to the ground after being slapped with the gun.
It all happened so fast… as I went to move, he grabbed my hair in a fist.
“Where the fuck is he?” he asked.
I thought about playing dumb, but I knew exactly who he was talking about.
“M-Michael?” I whispered, and he nodded mockingly. I gulped and shook my head frantically. “I-I don’t know. I promise! A-All I know is that some young boys picked him up the other week. I think he mentioned the name Luca,” I spilled.
Eugene looked angry as he carelessly threw me to the ground. “Fucking Crawford,” he muttered, and he glanced back at me. “You have a few weeks… two at most. Then and only then will I come after you.Don’t make me look for you.” Afterward, he turned around and left me in the cabin, alone with my dead parents.
