“I didn’t walk them in. I parked the hearse a little ways up the street and told them my mom was in here. That I couldn’t have anybody noticing that I’m invisible. They must’ve applied it to all of us. I didn’t leave until I knew every one of them made it inside, and then I took the car back to Leviticus.” She dragged a hand through her gray hair. “When I got back, I knew the wordhad spread. There were patrol cars everywhere with the lights on.”
The amount of shit these girls have probably been through is unreal. Made me wonder how many more didn’t make it out, and if Dan will be able to peg where their bodies are hidden. I didn’t even realize I was grinding my teeth.
“Romanov’s son got picked up in Russia. McKinley’s are toast, too. It’s over.”
She sighed as we made our way to the elevator. “I hope you’re right.” We stepped in when it opened and waited for the doors to close before speaking again. “She’s strong. We’re all gonna make it through this. Oh, and the money they took? It’s back in Dad’s bank account.”
“I know,” I smirked. Sev rolled her eyes.
“Course you do.” She hung her head and toed the floor with her shoe. “I don’t know how to say it without sounding some type of way, Dec. You know I’m popular because I’m so fucking nice and have a way with people.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Out with it.”
“Dad doesn’t want the money. He needs her to take it back. It’s tainted now, you know? Any joy it would have brought is—”
“I understand, Sev. I’ll take care of it.”
“…Thank you. I’m sorry.”
I slung an arm around her shoulders as the elevator opened. “Don’t be. None of this shite was supposed to turn out this way. Where we headed?”
“Sorry for this too…but Malek’s nuts are strung a little tight, waitin’ on us to get to the hospital courtyard. Greg brought Desiree’s. We’re having a sit-down with Dad.”
Ohhhhh shite.
Okay, so she’s always been right. No wonder Mal sports this joint for more than his milkshakes. Chicken salad is gonna be a new thing for me, I just feel it. I’m not even hungry…but let’s be honest…when the fuck hasthatever mattered? We all pretended not to see the elephant in the courtyard while we ate, and Greg finally broke the sound of scraping plastic forks and obnoxious smacking.
“So, I have it on good authority that Dad’s theory about the Batmobile being a transformer is probably legit.”
Seven stabbed her container with her fork and shot a look at her brother. “I hope you choke on pickle relish.”
Vernon tried not to smirk, but his face is just as hard as it’s been since that bullet entered Ruth’s body. “We need to talk about it, Beans. The longer we wait, the more it seems to build. I’ll just take a whack at it and assume that the three of you were responsible for the mysterious deaths of people I could have sworn shot up our house and apparently kidnapped several women.”
Malek puckered his lips, staring down into his food. I found myself a nice leaf on the cobblestone patio.
“Dad…I know that you—”
Vernon held up a palm. “I’m not finished. I’ve decided that, for all intents and purposes…what I think I’ve pieced together about everything…needs to remain a mystery if I wanna keep my sanity. I just need you all to swear to me…that this isover.”
Silence.
“Mr. Grey,” Malek started, clearing his throat. “If I may.”
We all lifted our heads.
“What you’ve pieced together is probably close to accurate, sir. And I’m sorry for that. I’ve made vows in the name of family when I didn’t have another choice. I made different ones the day I wed yourdaughter.”
Whoa, mate…full body chills.
Malek reached his left hand over, his wedding band glinting in the sunlight as he gripped Seven’s knee. She laid hers over it and pressed her mouth tighter while she looked at Vernon. Greg ate his chicken salad like it was popcorn.
“Bridget and I weren’t brought up in a house that recognizes love as anything but a weakness. It’s been used against me more times than I can count. I’ve had to do some very bad things for love. I’ve had to do some very bad things tokeepit. But I meant every word I said to her in the chapel of that house that day, and I swear to you…our wish for her and everybody that shares blood with her…it’s the same. That means you. That means Ruth…Greg. Those girls…”
“And thebaby?” Greg interjected.
I guess Sev was hoping everybody forgot about the conversation we were all having at the table right before Ruth nearly met her maker.
“When and if there is one, Greg,” she sighed. “We’re not pregnant. And we didn’t want everybody knowing about any of it until there was something to tell.”
