Page 61 of Mercy & Malice

“Check under Marston Ridge Enterprises. That’s what he used for the shell company. I doubt he’d risk staying anywhere connected to it, but it’s worth a shot.”

Luca eyes me for a few seconds. “I need you to explain to me what’s actually going on. I know he’s a goddamn psychopath, but this is extreme even for him. Why would he do this to you or Brooke?”

My father wanted to punish me. Brooke was just the easiest way for him to serve his retribution. And he doesn’t care who is harmed as long as he gets his way. “Like you said, he’s a psychopath.”

“We’ve never been close, Micah. And I don’t claim to have some brotherly twin bond with you. But I know when you’re lying. And there’s something you’re not telling me.”

It’s not surprising he’s questioning my intentions for not coming clean. And I will eventually. But right now, there’s only one thing I need to do—kill our father. “I’ll explain when I can. But just know everything I’ve told you is the truth.”

Luca says, “You should tell Brooke it was him. I get that it’s not going to be easy. But hiding secrets and keeping her in the dark will only put her more at risk. She doesn’t know to protect herself from him and haul ass in the opposite direction when needed.”

“He won’t ever get near her again. I won’t let him. Her mom isn’t on his shit list, and the less she’s involved, the better. I need him to think he’s got the upper hand. He’s a coward above all else, but his ego will get the best of him eventually.”

After a minute, Luca nods. “I’ll follow your lead on this, but my advice is to be honest with her. If she finds out from someone else, it’ll hurt her more that you didn’t tell her.”

I fucking can’t. Even admitting everything to my brother feels impossible, and he already suspects I’m full of shit. She’ll see right through me. I need to eliminate the threat before I tell her. And maybe there’s a part of me that hopes she’ll never find out the truth. Because when she finds out who was responsible, she’ll want to be as far away from me as physically possible, and she needs to be near me now.

The elevator dings as the doors open, and among the a few people who step out is Cain. When he notices us, he heads over and taps his knuckles against my shoulder. “Hey, man. About time you came home.”

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

Luca answers, “I called him. He can be an asset with finding our father.”

I know he helped Luca hunt down the Keepers, but I’m not on board for this. The more people involved, the more chance she’ll find out. And maybe this person in particular rubs me the wrong way since he seemed too chummy with her when I wasn’t around.

“I’m going to see Brooke. She had me worried.” He glances over his shoulder and adds, “I was worried about you too, bro. Glad you’re back.”

I follow him, watching as he enters the room. When my attention shifts to Brooke, I see her light up when she spots him. He rushes to her, wrapping his arms around her, and she hugs him back.

He would be better for her. That’s purely why he’s irritating me. A better man would step aside and let him have his shot at making her happy. That’s not me. Not only am I weak, I’m selfish too.

When I move to the opposite side of the bed from him, Brooke gives me a soft smile after releasing Cain who tells her, “I agreed with Ivy that something was off as soon as she said you told her you didn’t want to chat. It was a major red flag for sure.”

“Exactly,” Ivy adds.

My assumption is when Ivy started asking questions and recruited Luca and Cain in the search, my father got rattled and deviated from his original plan. Which explains his extended absence. In their own way, they probably saved us because the dipshit we were left with had days to unravel and lose his restraint to resist or think remotely logically.

Cain smiles at her as he places his hand on her forearm. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

Ivy says, “Me too. And the offer still stands to stay at my house.”

It’s my first choice since I know she’ll be safe there.

Brooke glances to me before she says, “I’m not sure. I wouldn’t want to be in the way since you’ve got a full house now that your aunt, uncle, and grandma moved in. Plus, we don’t know if they will try something again. I don’t want to bring that to your doorstep.”

Ivy states, “First off, let the Keeper-wannabe bastards show up. It’ll be their last mistake. Second, there’s plenty of space. Don’t forget, I shared a bedroom with my little brother before we moved. So, even if we had to share a room, it wouldn’t bother me. At least you wouldn’t be up all night yelling at video game.”

Cain leans way too close to Brooke as he tells her, “You will be protected there. If it’d make you feel better, I can crash at her place too and sit guard next to you all night.”

Unable to control the anger and maybe some panic inside me, I state, “Not going to fucking happen.”

All eyes dart to me. But it’s hers I keep.

Cain takes a step away from her as he holds his hands up. “I was just offering to help, man. Not trying to overstep.”

Brooke remains quiet for a few seconds before she asks me, “Are you going to stay at your house?”

“I’m staying wherever you are.”