“Nice to me.”
Even in the middle of all of this, that’s a heartbreaking question.
Dad’s expression softens and he looks at me. “Because my son asked me to.”
Silas holds his gaze for a moment, then shrugs. “I’ll take it.”
Turning to me, Silas pulls out his phone and brings up his Notes app. “While we can’t exact revenge tonight, I have a list of people I need to kill. Wanna come with me on one of these?”
Anders leans in and points at a name. “Oooh, this is a good one.”
I look between the two of them, wondering what’s become of my life. “I honestly can’t tell if y’all are trying to terrorize me or just get me used to this level of crazy.”
The two serial killers exchange a look.
“Both.”
I sigh. “Then, um, why don’t you two take care of him, and I’ll drive Sy’s car home and check in on True?”
Dad knocks into Sy. “Wanna grab some burgers for the Wildlings after?”
“Top Notch?”
Something approaching pride comes over Dad’s face. “Erik taught you well.”
Sy ducks his chin, and I decide to leave before this gets any weirder.
“What the fuck is going on here?”
We turn toward the house, where Preston Whitaker is stalking toward us from the open garage door, his face red.
Dad holds up his hands, stepping in front of us. “Apologies. A complete misunderstanding.”
Preston draws himself up as if unaware that he’s in the presence of absolute malice. “What kind of misunderstanding?”
Dad taps his forehead, then steps forward, subtly maneuvering until he’s up in Preston’s face. The smile he gives Whitaker would cause greater men to piss themselves.
“They came by to kill you for murdering your son and kidnapping my son’s boyfriend, but I explained to them that you’re a necessary evil.” Dad’s grin widens, and his eyes flash with intent. “At least until Seth Wakefield says you’re not.”
“And if that happens?”
Preston is still acting as though he’s not in mortal danger.
Dad turns to Sy. “Hedy usually sends you on solo missions. Are you okay with partnering up every once in a while?”
Silas rubs his hands together, the move showing off his disturbing tattoos.
“She sends me on solo missions because”—he points to his head—“but I like to mix it up. Regardless, for Mr. Whitaker, I’d happily make an exception.”
“Excellent.” Dad then snaps his teeth at Preston, like a dogfighting the end of his leash. “If Wakefield ever sets me loose, me and baby psycho here will have a field day with you.”
Sy leans in and whispers something in Dad’s ear.
Dad’s grin lights up the night. “Me either!” He winks at me, thumbing a gesture between him and Sy. “Those tests could never capture the entirety of our essence.”
Yep. My dad is never not my dad.Dork.
He returns his attention to Brantley’s dad, who seems to have finally figured out he’s very much in the presence of an irregular sort of danger. Like maybe he realizes that these men are capable of keeping him alive in ways he will not enjoy.
