“Kingston, you can come in and meet me in my office. Otis, you can stay right where the fuck you are and hang out with my man Bryce here,” I call over my shoulder.
Otis’s words stop me in my tracks. “I’m going to be looking for my sister. I know I saw her go into the house as we were pulling up.”
I spin, gun raised. “I don’t give a fuck who you are or who your goddamn family is. I will put a bullet in your head if you ever disrespect me ever again. If you want to have an in-person meeting and speak about your concerns and your sister, it will do you well to keep him in check.”
Kingston stands there with a glare on his face. “Otis, you’re going to stay here. Do not do a damn thing.”
“Fuck you, Kingston. You're fucking weak, just like our fucking father. I should’ve killed you along with him and our mother. That way I would be running things, and my doll would never have gotten away,” Otis shouts, glaring at Kingston, and pacing in front of him.
Kingston stands there with a look of complete shock at his words. “Otis, what the fuck are you talking about? It was an accident.”
Otis lets out a humorless laugh. “Are you fucking blind and stupid? Do you really believe that?”
The door behind me bursts open, and before any of us can react, Tinsley has blown past us all and is down the stairs, in Kingston’s face.
“I fucking told you he killed them,” she screams. “You told me I was crazy and making things up because I was a child. I tried to warn all of you he was going to hurt everyone if he got sent to away to school.I fucking told you.”
I take the steps two at a time to reach her before she slaps him. Both Otis and Kingston are so stunned by her sudden appearance that neither of them moves, giving me the time I need to get Tinsley behind me and Bryce in front of us both with two guns, one each, pointed at the men.
Otis moves towards us, screaming, “Do not fucking touch her, you disgusting motherfucker. She is mine, and I’m going to kill you for touching her like that.”
“I’ve never been yours. I’m his damn sister, and it's fucking nasty,” Tinsley’s tone is so quiet and deadly that even I pause. “Why Otis? Why did you take them away from me?”
Otis stops moving, and a satisfied look crosses his face. “I told you if you defied me and locked your bedroom door or told father anything that I would. Have I not always done exactly what I told you I would?”
Tinsley presses her front to my back before she speaks. “You’re right. You did exactly what you told me you would. Now it’s time for me to return the favor.”
She moves with such ease and efficiency, pulling the gun from the holster at my back and shooting Otis right between the eyes. His eyes go wide right before he drops to the ground dead. I turn, pulling the gun from her hand, passing it to Bryce before I sweep her up in my arms as she sobs into my chest.
“I’m going to get her settled and then I’ll meet you in my office,” I drawl over my shoulder as I walk away.
“Andre, can I say something to my sister?” Kingston calls at my back.
I stop walking and look down at Tinsley, who just nods her head. “You have a single minute.”
Kingston comes around me and places a hand on her head. “I’m sorry, Tins. I don’t know if you’ll ever be able to forgive me, but I will work every day to earn your forgiveness. I’m so fucking sorry.”
Tinsley just nods against my chest, then I walk away, taking her up to my bed. I lay her in it, pulling the throw off the end and over her.
“I’m going to meet with Kingston, but I’ll send the new nurse up to check on you and bring you some food.” I whisper against the side of her head.
“Where did you bring me?” she murmurs, her eyes nearly closed.
“You're inourbed—inourbedroom,” I state matter-of-factly.
A small smile spreads across her lips. “We still have so much to talk about and decide on.”
“We will. Rest for now, and then once I’m done talking with Kingston we can talk about things.” I kiss the side of her head before I make my way across the room to leave.
“Andre?” she calls out.
I stop walking and turn to look at her. “Yes, Tesoro?”
“I want to talk with Kingston before he leaves,” I tell him.
“You got it. Now rest. You’ve had an eventful couple of days.” I turn, leaving to get some fucking answers, finally.
Ten
