She shudders again and it’s all I can do to keep from laughing.
I watch Austin’s handsome mug for a minute instead and it gives me an idea. “You might get a sibling out of this, you know.”
Sierra looks up, clearly intrigued by the idea.
“You’d make a good big sister.”
“I would.”
“And anytime you want to come and crash here for a night, you just let me know.”
“Really?”
“Really. I’ve got a couch that no one’s slept on in a while. Maybe it’s lonely.”
“Can I stay tonight?”
“Absolutely.”
She smiles radiantly and gives me a crushing hug. “Thank you, Merrie. You’re my honorary aunt.”
“Bite your tongue, girl. I’m your fairy godmother and don’t you forget it.” I pull back to look in her eyes. “Honorary aunts have no business introducing the innocent to the dark side.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“I might.” I lean closer to whisper. “And if I do, you’ll thank me for it.” She laughs and laughs, which is the very best thing.
It distracts me from Austin Cavendish ripping the heart out of a contestant and shredding it before their eyes, making the most of the savagery that is his very special gift.
Bastard.
44
MIKE
My phone rings in the middle of the night. Sylvia and I are wrapped around each other and I don’t want to move. I consider letting the call go to voice mail.
“No good news in the middle of the night,” Sylvia murmurs against my shoulder and she’s right.
It takes me a minute to locate my phone, since I’ve plugged it in at the trailer and I’m not entirely sure where anything is there yet. Sierra could probably have laid a hand on it in an instant, but she’s stayed with Merrie tonight.
“Candace.” I read the display aloud and meet Sylvia’s gaze in the shadows. It’s late enough that the fairy lights have extinguished themselves and Una’s place is in darkness, too.
Might as well deal with it now, whatever it is. I answer, checking my watch as I do. It’s just three.
I can hardly understand what Candace is saying.
“Your father,” she says several times. I hear wailing in the background. “Patrick. It’s Patrick. Omigod, it’sPatrick.”
“What’s going on, Candace?”
She sobs. “Mike, you have to come now!” Then she breaks down crying and ends the call.
I get dressed and go.
By the timeI get to the house, there’s an ambulance in the driveway, lights flashing. The paramedics are working on Dad inside. He looks awful, pale and much older than he did a few hours ago. Candace clings to my arm as they work, telling and retelling her story. How he was livid. How he went to his office alone. How short-tempered he was. Madison and Ethan are both there, looking frightened. Elke is gone and I hope she left right after me.
Dad doesn’t revive but he doesn’t pass away either. The paramedics stabilize him and load him into the ambulance. Ethan goes with them to the hospital.
