Just like their mom.
His stomach lurched at the image that popped into his mind, but he tamped it down. He had to get through this. “He was just really mad I couldn’t do it. Or maybe he was mad I made it home alive. Usually, he doesn’t tie my hands and he lets me have some padding sometimes. I can usually try to get out of the way. But this time…”
Levi looked like he might actually throw up.
“But this time…” Jericho pushed.
“But this time, he had me stand on a chair next to the edge. Not close enough that I would fall over the edge, but close enough to make me think I would, that it was possible. Micahneeds me to believe it, needs me to think death is a possibility. It’s no fun if I’m just hurting. He needs me afraid. And he knows how much I hate the rooftop.”
“You’re afraid of heights?” Levi asked.
Shiloh shrugged, then shook his head. “Not all heights. My mom…when she killed herself…she jumped off the roof. She took Mal and I up there, too. She was going to…take us with her. But Mal fought her off. Saved us.”
“She…” Levi trailed off like he didn’t even know what to say. How could he? What did someone say when faced with this?
Shiloh couldn’t stop himself from trying to explain, to defend his mom’s actions. “She wasn’t well mentally. She was schizophrenic. Heard voices. Micah…exploited that. Tormented her constantly even as a kid. One day, she decided death was the only way to save us—all of us—from Micah. Luckily, Mal realized why we were up there and managed to get me away from her before she…you know. He saved me but there was no way to save her. She jumped as soon as she knew she couldn’t overpower Mal.”
Had he ever told anyone this?
Levi fumed, fists clenched at his side, his face a storm cloud. “Seriously, Jericho. Let’s just kill this fucking guy.”
“What? No! You can’t,” Shiloh cried, looking back and forth between them. His pulse skyrocketed. “You can’t. Please. If you kill him, Mal will never get out of jail. Ever. And he can’t be in there much longer. It’s not good for him. It makes him…worse.”
“What does that mean?” Jericho asked.
Shiloh let his eyes fall shut, the tears he’d fought finally breaking free and trailing down his cheeks. “The thing about Malachi. He’s…not normal.”
“What does that even mean?” Levi asked, confused.
“Remember I told you Mal isn’t like Micah?” Levi nodded. “I meant it. He would never hurt anyone who didn’t deserve it. But my brother…”
“Your brother…” Jericho urged.
“Malachi is…pretty. Innocent looking. Almost feminine sometimes. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you the type of attention he gets.”
“You think people will hurt him,” Jericho said, voice sympathetic.
Shiloh barked out a laugh. “No. You’re not listening. Malachi isn’t like other people. He has no fear. He never hesitates. If someone comes after him, he will defend himself, and that personwilldie. And then Mal goes to jail for life. People don’t hurt Mal—not more than once, anyway. He will defend himself by any means necessary. That’s why I have to go back to Micah. He’ll never let Malachi out if I run.”
“Youcan’tgo back there,” Levi said. “He’s gonna kill you.”
“I have to,” Shiloh said simply, not willing to have the same conversation again. “I-I just have to. There’s no other choice.”
“Jericho, tell him he can’t go back,” Levi said, eyes pleading. But Jericho only stared at Shiloh. “Jericho. Tell him. Tell him he can’t go back.”
Jericho ignored him, telling Shiloh, “Text your brother. Tell him I invited you to my house for dinner, along with all the other kids. Tell him you might not be home until morning.”
Shiloh frowned. “What?”
Jericho shrugged. “Your brother wants you to get in tight with me, right? An invite into my home—around mychildren—will be irresistible to him. He’ll want all the details.”
“You want me to tell him where you live? About your family?” Shiloh asked, eyes wide.
Jericho’s expression was grim as he laced his hands behind his head and leaned back in his office chair. “Do you know what a double agent is, kid?”
“Yeah, I think so,” Shiloh said.
“Well, congratulations. You are one. You work for me now. You tell your brother only what I tell you to. If he thinks you’re making in-roads, he’ll cut you some slack. In the meantime, I need to get some information on your brother, Malachi. I’ll look into this case myself.”
