Page 65 of Mercy & Malice

“Micah,” Luca moves closer to me before he focuses on Davenport. “Who else was working with our father?”

“I don’t know.”

“Anything. Names or descriptions of people with him. Something useful to go on.”

“Man, I never saw anyone but him. Even when he met with Guidry, I wasn’t there in person. I just arranged it.” Davenport keeps babbling as I look to my brother. He nods, telling me he thinks the dumbass is being truthful. I do too. And that’s what bothers me. Because now I know for certain there is another motherfucker out there who needs to suffer, and I have no clue who it is.

“Then I guess your time has come to an end.” I lift my arm, ready to plunge the knife in him as he yells, “Wait. Just let me go. I won’t tell anyone. I swear. I’ll even help you find your father and whoever else you’re trying to locate. I can be useful. Trust me.”

I don’t even consider the offer. “You should’ve been useful to Tara and Brooke years ago—they deserved help and protection from a sworn officer of the law. Time to pay your penance.”

He struggles against the restraints as I jab the knife into his gut. It won’t kill him instantly. Which is exactly what I intended. I want him to slowly bleed out, suffering and understanding there’s no one willing to help him. Just like he never stepped in for Brooke.

Standing in front of him, I watch as Davenport eventually passes out. My brother and I walk into the corridor as he tells me what I don’t want to think about. “You know what this means.”

“Yeah. And I need to find them now.”

“We will.” Luca glances back at the room where Davenport is. “I’ll have this taken care of. Just don’t do anything rash until we figure out who the third person is.”

34

BROOKE

New year, new me. The thought is nice. But I know that’s too good to be true. I feel it as we watch the countdown to midnight on TV. Fireworks start exploding on the screen and outside. Micah hesitates before he leans down and presses his lips to mine. It’s a soft, quick kiss that he pulls away from as soon as his lips touch mine. He’s barely spoken a word all evening. I can feel him retreating further and further away. And I hate it. I just want normal. Whatever that is. But not this. It’s supposed to be the time for a new beginning. I always liked the idea of a fresh start and setting goals. Normally on New Year’s Eve, I’d sit and write out my goals. This year I just want to go to sleep and hope the nightmare stops when I wake up.

“I’m gonna go to bed,” I say as Ivy stands and gives me a quick hug, whispering, “Happy New Year.”

She’d offered to go out. Normally, I’d be the one begging her to attend a get-together, but a low-key night at her house was much more appealing. Though, I need to get back to full reality. “Thanks for letting me stay. I think I’m going back by my mom’s tomorrow.”

“No, you don’t have to leave yet.” She looks to Luca. “Right, Brooke can live here as long as she wants. We enjoy having both of you here.”

“Yes, we do. No need to go anywhere else,” Luca agrees as he focuses to his brother.

There’s a silent exchange that passes between them before Micah says, “I think it’s better to stay here.”

Me too. But I can’t avoid reality forever. “I love it here, but I need to return to my usual routine. I have work, and school starts next week. Might as well get back to normal.” I pause for a second before I ask the question I’m dreading the answer to. “Are you going to sleep at your house?” Because even though him being at the Montclair mansion hasn’t been standard since I’ve lived under their roof, I don’t want to be there without him.

“Yes, if you’re there. But I really don’t think it’s a good idea.”

There’s no hesitation in his reply, but I don’t get his sudden want to be in the same house as Luca. “Why?” This time, he doesn’t respond right away so I continue, “Give me a reason to keep avoiding my mom … At some point, she’s going to march over here to guilt me into going back with her.”

As Luca goes to say something, Micah cuts him off. “I just want to be here.”

“That’s not good enough reason for Tara Guidry. She’ll start giving Ivy a hard time too.”

Micah says, “It’s too soon. Maybe you should request some more time off and take a break from school. You can do everything virtually. We can even go on vacation and just get away for a while to reset.”

He’s baffling. I watch the guy who’s pulling away from me and also wanting to take a vacation together. It doesn’t make any sense. “There’s something you’re not telling me. What is it? Did anything happen?” Other than the obvious. “Did someone try to get to us?”

“No, no one has tried. There’s no guarantee they won’t though. I need you safe and protected. I can do that better here.”

“The Montclair fortress is safer than Ivy’s or some random vacation spot, isn’t it?” I ask. His silence is more of an answer than he realizes. He’s lying. “Don’t tell my mom that. She’ll freak out.” Which she will also do if I keep avoiding her. “It’s best if I just go stay with her.”

After I say good night and head upstairs with Micah, I’m convinced everything is off. “What’s going on? Please tell me.”

He says, “I’m just worried about you. You’re acting like everything is fine and tomorrow is just another day.”

“Okay. And? What else can I do? Sit in the corner and cry because a couple psychos decided to hold us hostage and play games with us?” I cringe at my own words, shaking my head to rid the thoughts that are replaying as I resume my flimsy rant. “It’s over. We’re free. I need normal. I need to get back to my life. And I need to appreciate the fact that I still have one.”