Page 41

I closed my eyes and tried to focus on calming my spinning thoughts, it took me a moment to consciously realize I was nodding.

Daisy drew me into a hug, just as Oakland reached my side. He joined her, his cheek pressing to my belly.

“Ya’ll go home. Everything will be okay. Everything is going to be okay; do you hear me?” Daisy insisted, her hand stroking my back again.

“I hope,” I whispered, allowing her to open the door for me.

Chapter Fourteen

Drastic Measures

Daisy

I sat with Brenna’s confession for the rest of the afternoon. There wasn’t enough tea in the world to settle my nerves. I’d always hated Chef Aviston. I blamed myself for letting Darla come on the double-date that started all of it.

He’d always been a horrible person. Not to mention, a terrible husband; who somehow managed to be an absent father, even though his wife and kids had to look at his sorry ass every day.

I pushed the teacup away and stood up from the kitchen table. I opened the freezer and took out the small bottle of Cognac I saved for special occasions.

I’d been trying to help Darla see clearly enough to leave the man for nearly a decade. His antics had only gotten worse with each year that passed. Now, there were kids in the mix. If he was out there beating on my sister like they were in a boxing ring, and beating up random women, what the hell was he doing to them boys?

I swigged, allowing the smooth flavor to churn into a warmth once it reached my belly.

If I left this thing alone, the Disciples might implode, but what did that mean for Darla and the innocent people around them? Would they be caught in the crossfire and torn apart as well? I had no doubt Chef would take every ounce of it out on Darla and the boys. Hell, as bad as they fought, one day he was gonna kill her.

I didn’t have a single doubt.

My hands shook as I took another sip and sighed.

I’d thought about calling children’s services so many times, but every time I picked up the phone, I hesitated. Some little part of me deep inside feared that my sister might have been so deeply head fucked by Chef, that she might let the kids go if they made her choose between them.

Anger boiled over inside me, the wave of pain and regret that came with it was almost unbearable.

I had to figure this out. I had to stop him.

That was just all there was to this thing.

A faint knock sounded at the front door. I glanced up, half expecting to see my sister bloodied. Instead, Brenna’s boy was staring back at me through the screen door. I knew he wore the vest, same as the rest of them, but something about him suggested there was still hope.

“Come in,” I quietly offered, not seeing anyone else with him.

He nodded, quietly opening the door and stepping inside.

“I’m sorry to come here uninvited, ma’am.” His manners surprised me; I’d never met a Disciple who still had a few of those intact.

“You’re fine. Brenna is a good friend of mine.”

He glanced down, his head bobbing with understanding.

“Yeah, I know. That’s why I came by.”

“You want to know if I know anything about what happened to your mother?” I steeled my nerves and took another drink of the cognac, before taking up another glass and pouring him a shot.

The stocky, young man ventured deeper into my home, pulled out a chair at my table and sat down with the drink.

“Sip,” I encouraged him, having made up my mind at the mere sight of him, “You’re gonna need it.”

Chapter Fifteen