Page 98 of Mercy & Malice

“The Judge, he’s here,” I whisper. “I know who the third person is.”

My chest tightens by the second as I try to figure out how to tell Micah it’s his father. I almost think the call disconnected from the silence until Micah asks, “My father is there right now?”

I didn’t say who. And he didn’t have to ask. “You knew.”

Micah rattles off questions that I can’t decipher. His words jumbling together as I hear him shout his brother’s name and some instructions or something. All I can focus on is one thing. He knew. Micah was aware that Judge was his father.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” My own voice sounds like it’s coming from someone else as I clutch the phone to my ear.

54

MICAH

“You knew.” The words slice through me. I want to explain and beg for her forgiveness, but more than anything want her away from him.

“Where are you? Where’s Troy?” I ask. When she doesn’t respond, I yell to Luca, “Get Troy to her now.” Focusing back on Brooke, I concentrate on the only thing that matters—her safety. “Baby, talk to me. Please. Tell me where you are,” I beg.

My only answer is her pained sob. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You’re still at your grandparents’, right?” I’m already in my car and on the road when I hear racket in the background, and her muffled crying ends abruptly. “Brooke, what was that? Answer me.”

Every time I scream her name, I get nothing in response.

When I look to Luca in the passenger seat, he puts his phone on speaker and asks, “Are you sure?”

Troy’s rattled tone comes through as he says, “Yes. Her phone is here. She’s not.”

She’s gone. He has her.

“My father has her. He’s there,” I yell, my foot pressing the accelerator to the floorboard. “Find her. Don’t let him leave.”

I hear a voice that sounds like Tara. “What’s going on?”

Troy asks, “Where’s Brooke?”

Tara responds, “She’s in the restroom. Is she in danger?”

Troy states, “I’m looking at your father sitting here at the table. Brooke is nowhere around.”

“Do. Not. Let. Him. Leave.”

It feels like an eternity has passed by the time I steer into the driveway. When I enter the house and go to the kitchen, Dad is at the table while Tara paces around, clicking her phone screen. And Brooke’s grandparents are standing near the counter, watching the scene unfold. And there’s no sign of Brooke.

Walking straight to my father, I haul him out of the chair by his collar. “Where is she?”

Tara moves towards us. “Micah, what is going on?”

Dad ignores her as he tells me. “Son, nice to see you also.”

Luca pulls me back as Dad adjust his jacket. “Brooke stepped away to use the restroom. Maybe she left. But I was seated at the table the entire time.”

Tara quickly speaks, “He’s been sitting with us, yes. We were all here, and she was fine. What’s going on? Will someone tell me where my daughter is?”

I keep a hard stare on Dad as he smiles to Tara. “We just announced our engagement. Even good, exciting news can bring out the rawest emotions. I’m sure Brooke was just upset over the prospect of change and expanding family and needed some time to herself.”

Tara says, “She already knew about it.”

Dad’s shoulder slump forward. “Maybe the reality of it just sank in.”