Page 55 of Mercy & Malice

MICAH

The flashing lights are blinding. There’s personnel everywhere between law enforcement and EMS. But all I can focus on is her as she gets examined by a medic, Ivy beside her. My brother remains standing next to me.

I finally speak. “I need you to stay with her. Protect her. Please. Just keep her safe no matter what. Swear to me that you will.”

He immediately replies, “Yes. But I need you to tell me what the fuck is going on. We’ve been looking for Brooke for days. Ivy kept insisting something was wrong when Brooke wouldn’t take her calls Christmas Day.”

I don’t think I’ve ever appreciated Ivy more than I do in this moment. At least she knew something wasn’t right.

“Micah, talk to me. You trust me or you wouldn’t have called me first.”

“It was our father. I can’t explain. But I need to find him before he realizes we’ve escaped. And I need to kill him for what he did to her.” For what we did to her.

Luca goes to say something but stops as a medic approaches me. “Let me get your arm cleaned up and make sure all else is well.”

“No,” I reply. My arm isn’t bleeding anymore. The rest I can handle later.

Luca tries to reason as he suggests, “Let them at least check you out.”

We’re the same in more ways than just appearance. “Would you stop for a Band-Aid or go find him?”

He says, “You’re right.” Then tells the medic, “He’ll get seen later.”

Once she’s out of earshot, Luca continues. “I’ve got Brooke. You don’t have to worry about her.”

She’s safe. “Just don’t let her out of your sight.”

Leaving her feels wrong, but I have to find my father. There’s no part of me that can let this go.

My brother assures me, “I won’t. But I don’t get why he’d do this to either of you.”

“I’ll explain more later, but he’s punishing me for being weak. And he knew she was the way to do it.”

Luca glances over to Ivy and Brooke. “I’m going to kill the motherfucker.”

“No, he’s mine to punish.” And I’ll enjoy every second of it. My only regret, just as with the last bastard, is I won’t have the restraint to make it as slow and painful as he deserves.

When I walk away, Luca calls my name as I turn back. He passes me his key fob. “I’m here if you need backup.”

I know. Finally. We’ve battled and fought each other—literally and figuratively—our entire lives. And yet I can distinguish he’s not going to cross me like my father did.

Every second I get closer to my house, the more I want to end him and get my sight back on her. By the time I get to the driveway, I’m ready to shoot him between the eyes and get back to her. Though I vow to not make it that quick for him.

I pull into the driveway and go inside. When I get in the kitchen, Tara is at the table, her phone in her hand until she drops it as she spots me. “Oh my God, Micah. Are you okay? Have you seen Brooke? We haven’t been able to reach her.”

Her mom keeps a panicked stare on me until I say, “Brooke is okay.”

“Where is she? We’ve been trying to reach you both for days.” She grabs her phone. “Your father will be relieved to know you’re all right.”

Of course he’s not here. “Where’s he at?”

“He had to go on a last-minute business trip. He was so torn up having to leave when we couldn’t find you all, but he kept reassuring me that everything would be fine and I just needed to give Brooke her space.” Her face turns away and clicks on her screen as she explains, “We had an argument before she took off.”

The phone is next to her ear as she says, “Great news, the kids are okay. Micah just walked in.” Her eyes nervously scan over me.

“Let me talk to him.” I take the phone, knowing the coward won’t speak to me any other way. Putting the phone by my ear, I state, “Convenient time to skip town.”

Tara gives me a puzzled look before she walks away.