Page 62 of Mercy & Malice

Her shoulders relax as she says, “I’d rather stay at Ivy’s before I go back to the house. My mom has been constantly questioning me and wanting to know every detail. And I don’t know how to tell her everything that happened until I can wrap my head around it and be okay with it.”

She’ll never be okay with it. “Then that’s where we’ll go.”

Brooke gives me a soft smile in response. “I realize my mawmaw is all right. I need to see her with my own eyes so I can get the horrible images out of my mind that filled my head while I spent a week thinking she was murdered. But the last time I was driving that route was when they …”

Abducted her and her nightmare began. “I’ll take you.” I’ll do anything if it alleviates just a morsel of the torment from her.

32

BROOKE

Walking out of the hospital was great. I felt calm, thankful, and free. But now that we’re on the road, driving to Mawmaw’s, that calmness has vanished. Even though we’ve passed the spot where I was rear-ended, I can’t seem to chill the heck out. Glancing in the rearview, I study the black SUV behind us.

I’m so deep in thought, I flinch when Micah states, “It’s Troy. He’ll be with you until the person responsible is captured.”

“Persons. There’re still two out there.” I pry my eyes off the vehicle tailing us and look to Micah.

He grips the steering wheel, his eyes on the road, driving without a word, so I don’t fill the empty space with conversation. The thought of even trying feels so draining, and I’m already exhausted. I could sleep for the next month, and it wouldn’t be enough to catch up.

When we pull into the driveway, I take in the tranquil, peaceful scene. Everything I was looking for a week ago. How different I’d feel in this moment if I’d made it here and not been taken. Things hadn’t been perfect then—Micah was still furious and not speaking to me, though my biggest frustration was my mom manipulating my academic pathway.

“Are we going in?” Micah asks after a solid five minutes of silence.

His we hits me more than it should. “Are you really going to stay at Ivy’s with me? You’re aware Luca will be there too, right?” That’s what kept me from immediately agreeing to her offer. I wanted to be where I know I could just exist in peace without questions or expectations. But I never thought Micah would agree to sharing the same space as his brother.

“Yes, I am, and yes, I’m aware.” His reply is quick, but there’s no anger or animosity in his tone.

“I know you’re on speaking terms now, but I didn’t think you’d be comfortable staying with him.”

He responds, “I meant it, I’m staying wherever you are. I don’t give a damn who else is there.”

There’s still no anger in his voice, just determination. Like he wants me to believe him more than anything else. “A week ago you hated me. Are you doing this because you feel sorry for me?”

Micah pauses before he turns to me. “I’m sorry for what happened and what I did to you. But no, I’m not doing this because I feel sorry for you.” His voice drops when he adds, “And I never hated you.”

It felt like he did. I saw it in his eyes the night of the masquerade. Will the pity wear off and anger replace it again?

We don’t have time to discuss it any further because Mawmaw steps onto the porch.

As soon as I get out of the car, she smiles and waves her hand to signal for us to come inside.

She really is all right. Just the sight of her is such a relief.

When I get to the top step, she wraps me in a tight hug. “You had me worried.”

Ditto. The images of her bleeding out and lying dead on the floor are still way too vivid in my mind. They could’ve hurt her all because of some stupid, reckless decision I made to play a game. “I’m sorry,” I say, unable to stop the sob from escaping as I cling to her a little longer.

Once she releases me, her hands move to cup my face as she wipes the tears from my cheeks. “Come on inside. I’ll make us some hot tea and get your pawpaw to grab us some satsumas. He’s been obsessing about those dang trees all season. Thankfully we haven’t had a hard freeze yet or he’d be even more gosh darn uptight.”

“Sounds good.” I take in what feels like the first deep breath I’ve managed since all this began. And the longer we’re there, the more I relax and put a smile on my face and play the part. I’m fine. I can do this. They didn’t break me. Everything really will be okay.

Hours later when I look over at Micah sitting with my grandpa, he gives me a reassuring smile and no presence of bitterness or pity in his eyes.

Yes, I can do this. I’ve pretended to be okay my entire life. And I am okay. I should be grateful for the good things in life. We made it out. My mawmaw is alive and well. What more could I hope for?

My mom hurries in and pulls me into a hug. “Why didn’t you come straight home? I didn’t even know you were being released. I went to the hospital to find your room empty.”

She thinks I’m going home with her. “I meant to call. I’m going to hang out at Ivy’s for a few nights.”