Sabrina
“Istill don’t understand why the hell you went to the Howlers?” my brother snapped as we walked into his kitchen.
“Because they can do more than you can.”
“Jesus Christ, Sabrina. You put yourself in danger because you hoped they might help you?”
“Well, no. I had a letter I promised Maria I’d send if anything ever happened to her. I didn’t because I didn’t want someone to take Fox away. It was selfish and totally not cool, so I took the letter to Stoney. Maria never told him he was Felix’s father.”
He sighed and I studied him.
“You knew, didn’t you?” He nodded and I threw my hands in the air. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”
“Ria made me promise,” he said. “You were in the middle of finals and she didn’t want your focus interrupted.”
“Okay, but that was six years ago! You didn’t think to say something, oh, I don’t know, when she died?” I bellowed. “Or in my kitchen after Stoney left earlier?”
“Well, had I known you were going to do something as colossally idiotic as walking into the Howlers’ fuckin’ compound, I would have!” he yelled back. “Jesus, Bree, they’re criminals. Murderers, among other things. You could have been raped right there on the spot.”
“No one there even attempted anything untoward, and if theyaremurderers, which I find hard to believe, then they’re obviously good at hiding bodies because none of them are in jail.”
He scowled. “We might not have evidence on them right now, but we will.”
“Well, for the love of god, wait until Felix is home safe. Outside of you and the police, they’re the only ones willing to step in and help.”
Luca shook his head. “I’m not letting some law-breaking assholes deal with this, Bree.”
“Why do you have to be so stubborn?” I was so angry with him I burst into tears.
“Fuck,” he whispered, pulling me against him.
I wrapped my arms around his waist and shook my head. “We have to find him, LuLu.”
“We will, sissy. Swear to god, I’m doing everything I can.”
“I know. It’s just been almost twenty-four hours and the clock’s ticking. I don’t know if he’s scared, or hungry, or hurt.” I sniffed. “And I don’t know how the hell I let this happen.”
He gave me a squeeze. “You didn’t let this happen, Bree. Some assholetookhim, and I promise you, he or they will be dealt with.”
I pulled away and slid onto one of his kitchen stools. “Is there anything I can do?”
“No. I need to find out why you were targeted, then I’m hoping we’ll have more to go on. Can you skip work for a couple of days?”
“I can work from home. Ellie knows what’s going on, so she can take on the new client intakes this week.”
“Good. I want you here until Felix is home.”
“Ah, no,” I said. “I’ll stay until my window’s fixed, but then I’m going home.”
“Bree, why do you always have to argue with everything?”
“Because I can,” I retorted. “Now, do I have to change the sheets on your spare bed, or are they clean.”
He rolled his eyes. “Cleaner came on Monday, you’re good to go.”
