Chapter 28
Cage
I gently rub my hand over my mouth as I sit on Joel's couch, scrolling through listings of empty buildings in Hill Crest that the realtor sent me. My girl hasn’t said much since last night, ever since her sister had an outburst.
After Drew cried herself to asleep in her old bed last night in my arms, I was ready for fucking murder, but when Mary confided to an unsuspecting Joel that Elizabeth had always taken her sister's things growing up. She felt they belonged to her and Mary never said anything then because she thought it was normal childlike behavior. She made Elizabeth feel invincible and after Elizabeth had a meltdown screaming the baby my girl is carrying shouldn’t exist because she apparently shouldn’t exist, Joel had no choice but to commit her.
The woman believes she’s an only child and Drew stole her life. She is clearly whacked, now my girl is struggling because she can’t understand her sister’s hate when she’s done nothing but put her first her entire life at her mother’s insistence.
“According to Dr. Paul, Mary made Elizabeth feel superior to her sister, always telling her that she will come first no matter what. She felt she should get more than her sister because she was a miracle,” Joel says as he storms into the house, a tearful Mary walking in behind him looking sorrowful, and I sigh as I shake my head.
“So basically, because of your guilt in losing one child and fear of losing the other, you made her think she should have been the only child. Which caused her to have an unhealthy obsession with ruining her sister’s life?” I say and Mary flinches but nods.
What the actual fuck?
I shake my head, then look back at the screen and scroll through the listings, knowing I’ll say something to upset her otherwise or worse, shoot her in the fucking head.
"I didn’t mean to," Mary whispers and Joel scoffs, "You told her that whatever money Drew earned would always be hers because she nearly died."
Son of a…
“Fuck’s sake,” I grunt, and Mary sobs, “I’m sorry, I just…”
"Elizabeth was your favorite," I say, turning her way, "You hated that Drew chose ballet, that she resisted your matchmaking, that you couldn't reach her. So you poured yourself into the daughter who joined your church and allowed you to control her life. You chose Elizabeth—who tried to kill my baby!"
Mary looks away, and Joel sighs, “Where is Drew?”
I turn back to the screen and scroll as I admit, “Handing the keys to Caty and showing her where everything is, Blade is with her while the Dark Angels are loading everything into vans.”
A building with a large glass window catches my attention and I quickly click on it, recognizing it instantly.
It’s the old bakery next door to Carnage Tats, the building I originally wanted but the owner refused to sell…
Fuck me, it is perfect.
“I’ve found the perfect one,” I mutter before feeling Joel and Mary crowd around me.
“The large window is too exposed,” Mary instantly says but I ignore her, scrolling through the pictures, pausing to note the hardwood floors and how the sunlight stretches across the room.
“It’s perfect,” Joel states, causing Mary to gasp because he’s going against her wishes, but we both ignore her and continue to look at the property.
This is about my girl, not her.
"It’s right next door to the tattoo shop," I admit as my stomach tightens.
Joel chuckles, "Scratch that—it’s fucking perfect," and I grin widely and mutter, “Yes, it really is.”
“I just said it's too exposed,” Mary snaps.
“And I said it’s fucking perfect, so give it a rest, Mary, because right now you don’t have a leg to stand on,” Joel snaps, and I wince.
Shit.
I clear my throat and ask Mary, “Have you managed to find a church in Hill Crest?” hoping to divert the anger.
She hums in agreement but continues to scowl just as the door opens and I look up to see Blade stroll through like he owns the place.
“Okay, your girl's apartment is completely empty, and keys have been handed over. She’s currently saying bye to some of her students who came to plead with her not to leave, Viper is with her,” Blade says.
