Page 182 of Deceived Wrath

The door closes behind him with a quiet click, and I exhale, but not with relief.

I glance over at Brennan, who is hovering in the doorway to the living room where Scout is playing.

He is the only obstacle left in my way. His body is angled toward Scout, but I’m not stupid enough to think he’s completely engrossed in his nephew. He is a Sullivan after all, which means he’s hyper-vigilant. Even without looking at me, I know he’s tuned in to my every move, listening to my every footstep.

Scout suddenly appears, his face lit up with excitement at the prospect of having Brennan’s undivided attention. He doesn’t seem to notice how tense everyone has been, but that’s how it should be. I’d hate for him to be stripped of that childhood innocence because of this.

“Uncle Brennan, do you know how to play the floor is lava?”

“No, but I really hope it doesn’t involve setting anything on fire. Your uncle Kieran doesn’t need a reason not to invite me to his house.”

“Why wouldn’t Uncle Kieran want you at his house? You’re way more fun than him!”

“Preaching to the choir, kid.”

I’m only half-listening to their conversation as my thoughts race a thousand miles a minute, trying to come up with a plan that will allow me to go search through Kieran’s office without being noticed. Even if I do manage to sneak away from Brennan, this place is riddled with cameras.

“All you have to do is not touch the floor,” Scout explains. “Because it’s lava, and it will burn your feet off.”

“Why do I have a horrible feeling that this means jumping all over the furniture?”

I smile. “Because it does. Scout, I don't think you should be jumping all over the furniture. This isn’t your house, remember?”

“But that’s how you play the game! You’re not allowed to touch the floor,” he whines.

I shrug. “Then I think you need to play another game.”

“I might have to agree with Fiona on that one,” Brennan says.

“But what? All the toys in this house are forbabies.And I’m not a baby.”

Both Brennan and Scout look at me as if I can somehow magic up some toys that Scout won’t get bored of in five minutes.

Even if I could, I have a feeling they wouldn’t hold Scout’s attention, not when he’s been cooped up in this house for days on end.

Suddenly, an idea forms. Maybe if I could get Brennan and Scout outside, I could sneak away and try to find the laptop…

I cross my arms over my chest to hide how badly my hands are shaking. “Why don’t you go and play in the yard?”

Scout tugs at Brennan’s sleeve. “Oh, please, can we go outside, Uncle Brennan,please!”

Brennan frowns. “Uh…”

Brennan is very hesitant. I can see on his face that he’s weighing the risks.

Scout is bouncing. “We can race!”

When he sees how excited Scout is, Brennan lets out a sigh.

“Fine, but you need to stay close at all times, okay, Scout? I know I’m the fun uncle and all, but this is one rule I can’t let you break.”

Scout groans. “You sound like Dad.”

“I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that. But if something happens, your dad is going to chop off a very important body part.”

“What, your hand?”

Brennan scoffs. “Yeah, something like that…”