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Chapter nine
Jade
Oneyearago
“I don’t understand why it has to bethisone,” I say into my phone, which is tucked between my ear and my shoulder. I’m standing next to a pile of boxes and furniture in an empty, hollow, much-too-big house.
David makes an exasperated sound. “Seriously, Jade? I bought you a goddamned home. I’m paying for all your living expenses,andI’m letting you keep Rosie. What more could you possibly want?”
“Well, I don’t like the neighborhood. Or the house.”
It’s too quiet. I’m used to all the noises that come with living in the middle of Chicago. Moving to an upper middle class suburb outside of Philadelphia was never part of my plan.
“What the fuck is wrong with the house?”
It’s too big and it reminds me of how fucking lonely I am.
“For starters, one of the lightbulbs in the garage is out.”
“Jade, I swear to god, if you’re going to be this needy, I’m taking Rosie away and feeding you to the wolves.”
“It’s too high up,” I whine. “How am I supposed to reach it? You didn’t get me a ladder.”
David groans.
Here’s the thing about older brothers: they think they’re the shit. They think that they’re better at everything, that they know everything, and most importantly, that their little sisters are completely incapable of living on their own.
Well, I suppose that last part isn’t entirely true. For the last couple years, I’ve crafted an image of myself specifically for David. One that portrays me as emotionally vulnerable and weak. One that shows I’m not capable of foresight.
Sure, David knows who I am when I’m working. He knows I’ve killed more people than I can count, and that I’ve gotten rid of even more dead bodies. He knows that I could kill a person before they even realize I’m there.
But when I’mnotworking, all he sees is a woman with no goals who cries often, has a huge weak spot for her seven-year-old niece, and will do anything to keep her. The perfect prey for a man like him.
It’s annoying, sometimes—having to pretend to be someone I’m not. But I’ve never spoken an independent thought around my brother. All I’ve ever done is followed orders.
Why? Because David knows what I’m capable of when I have a plan set out in front of me. So the only way I’ll get myself and Rosie away from him is if he thinks I’m not smart enough to run in the first place.
So for now, I do as I’m told. He wants someone dead? I make the kill. He needs information? I find a way to get it.
In exchange, he pays our living expenses, and I get to keep Rosie.Hisdaughter. The one he was so ready to sell to the highest bidder. I had to beg him and bargain away all my freedom, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Rosie means everything to me.Everything.
“Figure it out, woman. God, you’re so stupid sometimes.”
David hangs up, and I smile. Life may look shitty right now, but at least everything is going according to my plan. Hopefully, in a year or two, Rosie and I can disappear and never have to deal with David again.
But for now, I need to get us unpacked. I left Rosie in her still-empty room with some books and toys, but that won’t occupy her for long. I need to get as much work done as possible before she gets bored.
My first step? Changing this lightbulb.
Unfortunately for me, Ididn’thave the foresight to buy a ladder. But why would I think I’d need one? I’ve always lived in apartments where climbing on a chair got me high enough.
With a sigh, I grab my coffee table and haul it out to the garage. Then I grab a kitchen chair and place it on top. I climb up, keeping my weight evenly distributed so I don’t tip anything over. It’s a little wobbly because the chair legs aren’t perfectly even with each other, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.
Once I’m standing on the chair, I rise up to the balls of my feet, and—yes!—I can just barely reach the light bulb. Twisting it out is a bit of a challenge since I can’t get the greatest grip on it, but I manage. By the time I’ve replaced it, I’m feeling pretty confident in myself. Which is pretty silly, I suppose, since it wasn’t even that hard.
“Definitely not in my top one hundred accomplishments,” I say, staring up at the light with my hands on my hips.
“Ever heard of a ladder?”
