“I have an idea.” Tatum says.
“Why are you here?” Zeke snaps at her.
“Come on.” I look over at him. “We were doing so well.”
“A momentary lapse in judgement.”
“Tatum, what’s your idea?”
“Well.” She smiles. “Let’s lure whoever it is out.”
“How?” Zeke asks from across the table. “In case you didn’t hear it. He’s after them.”
“So, give him,” I can see that Zeke is about to explode, as she’s saying it. I hope she can get it all out before he does, but knowing my brother, his brain has already exploded and he won’t hear the rest. “Who he thinks is Liza.”
“She’s not fucking going out there!” He shouts from across the table, standing up.
“Whoa.” I stand up, matching his stance and I see his fists ball up. “Calm down.”
“Calm down?!” He screams this time, finally all the years of resentment boiling over. “You want me to calm down? Your fuck buddy over here wants to send Liza out to get fucking taken.”
“You’re not listening.”
“Oh, I think I am listening pretty fucking well.”
“Brother, you’re being irrational.”
“Don’t fucking ‘brother’ me. I’m not one of your fuckingbrothas.” He air quotes the word ‘brothas’. “Oh, you just get to tell everyone what to do, right?” He shouts as he moves around the table. “When you’ve always been the fuck up.”
“Not this shit again.” I roll my eyes as he steps over, standing in front of me.
“ENOUGH!” Both of our eyes widen, merely inches apart, as we look over at Liza. “I’m sick of you two either fighting like this or just not speaking at all. Get your shit together, Fuck!” She screams. “You’re mad that he hasn’t found who killed them yet. But somehow you also blame him for you and Ash’s relationship.” She screams at Zeke and I look over at him, watching the shame wash over his face. “Yeah, I know. I know you well enough. And Z, you’re pissed because you feel abandoned by your brother to take care of everything else.” I drop my eyes this time, ashamed of how I feel. “Well, fucking talk, for once in your goddamn lives.” Zeke and I just look back at one another. But we both have some relief since this is the first time in years that Liza has been able to speak to anyone in this tone. “This, watching this bullshit that’s going on between you two, it would break their fucking hearts.” Liza looks back over at Zeke and starts again. “And if you would have paid attention more than a knee jerk reaction, you would have heard the plan for what it really was. She suggested that she pretends to be me.”
“No.” I look back at Tatum, shaking my head.
“I wasn’t asking for your permission.”
“She remind you of anyone?” I cut my eyes at Liza as she says it to Zeke and they both laugh.
“I’m sick of fucked-up men trying to push their ways on everyone.” Tatum snaps.
“You can’t get revenge on him by doing this.”
“Oh, that won’t even going to scratch the surface of the revenge I will get on him.” She seethes over the thought.
“Who?” Liza asks.
“My husband.”
I don’t have to look over. I can feel Zeke’s eyes on me, and I can feel his shitty grin.
“Zane, I’m not asking for your permission. I can and will go by myself or you can come with me. Those are your fucking options. Decide.” Tatum storms past me, hitting my shoulder as she does, just to prove a point.
“So, your girlfriend’s married?” Zeke smirks, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Fuck off.” I snap at my brother, causing Liza to groan as she follows passed Zeke after Tatum.
“I would love to hear this story.” He smiles condescendingly as he looks at me, leaning against the counter.
