“Come here, sweetie.” She pulled me into the warmest hug, and it felt so foreign, but at the same time…I swear, closing my eyes…I feel my mother. It’s like being held by her for the first time. I broke into body-wracking sobs over her shoulder. “You always have a place here. I hope you know I’ll never try to replace them…but I don’t ever want you to think that you’re not a part of us just bec—”
Her body went so stiff and still. I sniffled and pulled back to look at her. Her eyes were wide, and her jaw quivering as I looked at her in utter confusion.
“Ruth? What’s…” We both looked down and I spotted it. Red blood blooming over her side. Panic overtook me and my head flew in all directions. I saw shadows…several of themstarting to emerge from hedges, down the driveway and around the corners.
“Oh, my God…no. No, no, no…”
CHAPTER 12
The Pawn
To be fair…I forgot about this money too. I heard what she’d said to the teller at the bank that day, but I’ll be honest…when we sat down at this table, this was the last thing I expected. The gesture alone was kind on Bridget’s part, if not completely out of character, but I don’t think she ever expected to hear anything more about it. And then to also hear words that mean everything she’s been running from—andgenuinely? I can only imagine the conversation going on out on that porch right now between my lonely lassie and Seven’s sugary mother.
Table chatter carried on, likely in respect for whatever Bridget’s going through, and Malek slid over into Bridget’s chair, leaning in to talk to me. I reached for my sweet tea and took a careful sip.
“Give it to me straight, brother. Is this doting husband, nine-to-five, dad life gonna be catastrophically damaging to my image?”
Fuck, he really doesn’t suspect. I read that completely wrong.
“Adding owner of a rutting stiff factory to that growing list? Yeah, I’d say you’re pretty fucked, mate.”
Emmaline jolted forward. “Wait…you’re having a baby?!” The entire table went silent. That kid is way too observant. Cute…but a fucking sponge. The color drained out of Mal’s face and Seven dropped her mouth open, looking at him in pure, undiluted terror.
“Sev?” Greg stuttered, everybody waiting for her to speak like it was a prize-winning answer.
“I—we’re—”
“DECLAN! MALEK!”Every head darted towards the main part of the house. That’s Bridget…and something’s fucking wrong.“DECLAN! HELP!”
I all but flipped my chair, tripping over it to get to her. I wasn’t prepared for what I saw. None of us were. Ruth was slumped against the wall in the foyer, shaking while her bloody hands covered her side—her entire blouse soaked in red. Bridget pulled shades, locked windows and dead-bolted doors in all-out panic.
“Ruth!Ruthie!”
Vern hit his knees next to his wife. Seven and Greg followed suit, and Maggie…trained for this exact pressure, took control. I pointed at Mal. “Get the girls out. Now.”
“The house is fucking surrounded! They’ve gotta have a silencer, I didn’t hear a shot. We gotta do something!” Bridget was frantic. I stalked over to where Seven and Maggie were moving Ruth towards the basement.
“In the morgue, Malek! Take them downstairs, we’re right behind you.” Seven was eerily calm next to her sister-in-law, likely for the girls’ sake. Vernon shook all over with nerves.
“Vern…we gotta secure every exit. Show me.” His eyes went distant…he’s starting to lose it. I shook him back to the present. “Vernon!Look at me…exits. Points of entry. Show me where.”
Faint knocking started sounding all over the house.
They’re toying with us.
“Back door,” Greg answered. His face is full of rage.Good. That’s exactly how I need him to be. “There’s a garage door on the west side of the house for casket delivery too.”
“Go. Lock everything down.” I yanked a knife from my waist and held it towards him. “Take this with you.” Greg smirked and pulled up his shirt.
“No need. My whole family is in this house. If you don’t fucking kill them…I’ll killyou. Understand?”
“More than you know, mate.”
Ten points for Greg.
He took off down a hallway; Bridget went back towards the living area…Vernon shook under my hands. He’s in shock. I’m gonna get nowhere with this. I pulled his arm around myself and hoisted him over my shoulder, barreling towards the basement.
I’ve never been in here before. Malek swore it was full of kink and now I see why. There really is something wrong with him. Ruth is laying across a metal table, now unconscious, Maggie working relentlessly on her. I guess I’m just gonna continue to be surprised at every turn. Malek had Vivian in a back corner near a set of steel sinks, cooing her like he’s done it all his life. Seven asked the little sponge for surgical tools…and this unbelievable child stood like a soldier, handing her the right shit.
