Page 72 of Mercy & Malice

She whispers, “They’re getting married, Micah. I just can’t wrap my head around it.” Her face tilts up as she stares at me. “You’d be my brother. It’s too weird.”

“Stepbrother.”

“Still. It’d be so awkward.” She exhales as she snuggles back against me.

Nothing will change. But I don’t tell her that. The marriage won’t ever come to pass. But my father’s arrival in hell will.

39

BROOKE

Even when I pull my Belgrave blazer on and complete my school uniform, I still feel off-kilter. Like there’s something missing. Something I’ll never be able to put my finger on, and even if I do, I’ll never be able to remedy it.

A knock sounds on the door before it opens, and Mom is in the doorway. After she notices my uniform, she says, “You can take a few days off if you’d like.”

“No, I’m good.” She had no problem with me going yesterday, asking if I’d help her out on in-service day. I passed since I’d already committed to working at Sweet Fleur. When Edmund asked me about working, I knew Mom would want me to help her, so it made me want to say yes even more to serving ice cream. Everything between us since she told me about the engagement and finding Micah in my bed has been awkward and tense. I don’t like it, but I also don’t want to go out of my way to fix it.

“I’m about to head out in a few minutes. You can ride with me,” she offers.

Being trapped in the car with her is the last thing I want. Besides, I have a legit reason for this one too. “I’m staying late for student council then I have a shift after school.”

“Okay.” She lingers and doesn’t speak until I glance her way. “I thought we’d stop by the station this evening and see if there’re any updates on the case.”

The suggestion alone makes me cringe. They’ll want to ask more questions and go over things I don’t want to recount again. Then I’ll just hear that they’re working on it, and we’ll know something as soon as they do.

“Detective Bowers said he’d let us know if there were any updates, and we haven’t heard anything. So stopping by would be pointless.” I grab my bag and move towards the door.

“Brooke, I think you should talk to a mental health professional about it.” She pulls a card out of her pocket and holds it out to me. “I called yesterday, and they have an afternoon appointment available, but you’ll have to schedule it since you’re eighteen now.” Her mouth points down in a frown as she adds, “It’s the first time I couldn’t make an appointment for you. My baby girl has grown up way too fast.”

She’s saying I’m grown up one second then still controlling my life in the next. I stare at the card for a few seconds before I grab it and tuck it in my bag. “I’ll see you at school.” What must it feel like to be a student whose mom isn’t around every corner at every part of the day.

When she says my name, I stop and turn back to face her. “Please call them and schedule the appointment. You should have someone you can confide in.”

“I do. Who better than the person who lived it with me?”

Mom says, “You both should consider speaking with a psychiatrist. And I’m suggesting you do since I’m your mother.”

“Well, soon enough you’ll be his too. But I doubt he’d ever see a shrink.” And even though I have no plans on following through, I finally say the words I know she wants to hear before she’ll let me walk away. “I’ll call them.”

She smiles then wraps me in a tight hug. “I just want what’s best for you. That’s all I ever tried to do.”

The remark hits wrong, because there’s no way in the world she thought keeping me in an abusive household was best for me. But I bite my tongue just to be done with this conversation.

As soon as I back out of the garage, I spot Micah sitting in his car in the driveway and Troy in his truck. The man isn’t really going to shadow me at school, right?

When I pull up next to Troy and roll down my window, he does the same. “You really don’t have to follow me today. I’m just going to school.”

“I’m heading there too. My instructions are to stay nearby at all times. Your mother approved it and I already have my visitor credentials and all.” He must see my shock or disbelief because he adds, “I’ll blend in. You won’t even know I’m there.”

Yeah, a guy who isn’t school-aged and dressed in all black won’t stand out in a sea of Belgrave uniforms. “It’s really not necessary.”

“Yes, it is.” Micah’s arrival at my car window makes me jump as he walks up between the two vehicles. “It’s Troy on campus or virtual classes from the house with Troy posted nearby.”

I was much happier with Micah when he was sneaking out of my bedroom earlier this morning. Right now, I want to argue with him, but I’m more than aware I won’t get any headway even if I have a valid reason. “Hope you like boring, Troy.”

“Sure do.” He grins as he rolls up his window. I don’t share his enthusiasm about attending classes. This is just another reminder of how far things are out of whack.

I try to put it out of my mind as I drive to school. There’s plenty I can focus on while pretending there’s not a bodyguard following me around campus. That vacation Micah mentioned is more appealing by the second … Instead, I head into Belgrave. As soon as I see the school mascot engraved in the wall, the hooded figures appear in my mind. Grabbing a sour candy, I pop it in my mouth and take a few breaths while heading to my locker. This is going to be a freaking disaster.