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“I didn’t realize he’d ever gotten off. I thought we both had permanent spots from that time we put crickets in your sleeping bag.”
“Thank you for reminding me of that,” she said, and I heard what sounded like a pen moving across paper. “You’re both back on. In permanent red ink.”
“Hell, you put a snake in mine,” I protested, and she laughed. I hated those damn things, but my sister wasn’t afraid of them.
“Served you right. I’m sure you’ve done something worse to me.” I doubted that. Mulaney stirred up as much trouble as any of the rest of us ever did. “I gotta run before this place melts down. I’ll see you Sunday.”
“Thank you.”
“I love you, Stone.”
“Love you too, big sis.”
I hung up and tossed the phone on the bed. The distraction from my problems that talking to my sister provided vanished immediately.
Three days had passed since I’d moved back to the Four Seasons. I hadn’t seen or talked to Muriella in that time. It might as well have been centuries. Staying away from her was taking a super-human effort on my part. I hoped this taste of life apart was making her realize she couldn’t live without me.
I understood what she was doing, and in some warped way, I respected her for it.
She was terrified of her father hurting Vivian, Daniel, or me, and her concern was legitimate. That son of a bitch had been prepared to shoot his own daughter.
A knock on the door drew me out of my thoughts, and I dragged my feet to answer it. Vivian stood there with a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue.
“I come bearing gifts.” She barged straight into the living room, unscrewing the cap as she walked.
She was about as beautiful as a woman could be—it was natural, effortless—but she looked as tired as I felt, though markedly more determined. She took a swig from the bottle, passed it to me, and flung herself on the couch, tucking her yoga-pants-clad legs under her.
I took a long swallow and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. “Thanks.” After another pull, I sat beside her and hissed at the bite of pain from my wound.
“How’s it healing?”
For a second, I thought she was going to try to examine me again.
“It’s no big deal.”
She didn’t press despite the disbelieving look she shot me.
“She’s planning on going after her father.” Her lips closed around the mouth of the bottle, and she tipped it up, her throat working as she swallowed.
“Did I hear you right?” Like hell she’d ever face that son of a bitch on her own. If I had to go kill him myself, that’s what I’d do.
“I wish you hadn’t.”
“When did you find out?” I asked carefully.
“Just before I came over. Daniel found out she plans to leave Monday.”
“She told him?”
Vivian snorted and cut her eyes over to me. “Um, no.”
I don’t why that made me feel better, but it did. Stupid as it was, I wanted her to confide in me.
“Whatever we have to do, she isn’t taking that trip.” I took the bottle from her hands and gulped down the liquid fire.
“Hopefully the date will be enough to convince her.” She nudged me in the side.
If it wasn’t, all the whiskey in the world wouldn’t help.
