Page 78 of Wicked Brutal

Mom looks toward the study. “Good.”

“Mom, Monday—“

“No.” Immediate. Quiet. She drops my hand. “Not here.”

My breath catches. Not don’t talk about it. Not nothing happened. Not here. I stare at her. Mom picks up another plate. “Your father doesn’t need to know every time I ask someone for help.” It’s the closest she comes to saying it.

I keep my voice low. “Why Cassandra?”

Her hands stop again. For a moment, I don’t think she’ll answer. Then she whispers, “Because I knew she’d take care of him.” Tobias.

“Why couldn’t he stay here?”

Her face changes. Footsteps sound in the hall. Mom turns the faucet on so fast water splashes against the sink.

Dad appears in the doorway. “What are you two whispering about?” My heart stops.

Mom doesn’t turn around. “Dessert.”

Dad looks at me. I shrug. “She thinks Tobias had too much cake.”

“He did.” Dad seems satisfied. “Victor’s leaving.”

Mom nods. “I’ll come say goodnight.”

Dad disappears. Neither of us moves until his footsteps fade. Then Mom grips the counter. “Don’t ask me again.” Her voice shakes. “Not here.”

I nod. “Okay.”

She takes a breath. Another. By the time she turns around, her face is composed again. “Come say goodbye.”

I follow her. Victor is waiting in the foyer with his coat, Dad beside him. Victor smiles when he sees me. “There she is.”

I stop beside Mom. Victor steps closer. Too close. He takes my hand, and I let him. “Sunday.” Not a question.

I smile. “Sunday.”

He lifts my hand like he might kiss it, and my stomach turns. Then Mom moves beside me. Barely. Just enough that her shoulder touches mine. Victor seems to change his mind. He squeezes my fingers instead. “I’ll call your father with the time.” Of course he will. Not me. My father.

“Goodnight, Alison.”

“Goodnight.”

He leaves. Dad closes the door. Mom walks away before he can look at her, and I stand there with my hands at my sides and the ghost of Victor’s fingers still wrapped around mine.

I lie in bed and repeat the dinner until I can hear it exactly. Hollis. Vane. Zurich. Bellamy. Mercer. Foundation. Pennington. Lucian. Hartley. Ashford. London. Separate account. Middleburg. Palm Beach.

I go through it again. Then again. I add Dad’s questions about Ryan. Victor’s hand. Sunday. Thirteen. I add Mom. I think it’s weird. I don’t like it. If you can avoid being alone with him. Be good. Do you understand? Not here. And Monday. Cassandra. Dad still doesn’t know. Something is happening with Mom. I just don’t know what yet.

I send Ryan one message.

Dinner was bad. I heard a lot. Need to tell you in person.

Ryan: safe?

yes

Ryan: tobias?