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“What about Jimbo?”
“He’s like Marky. My brothers crave the goodness they naturally lack inside themselves. That’s why they’re attracted to women like Irina and your friend, Yazmin. They think they can consume the women’s goodness and make it their own. Of course, that’s ridiculous. They’re no more capable of a loving relationship than Lenny was at being a responsible bunny owner.”
“I get that reference.”
Fiona smiles at my words before her expression goes still and her breath hitches up.
“I know you’re a criminal. You break the law and do bad things. But you have a heart. Jimbo’s lack of one gives him the license to destroy whatever he wants. The only reason he hasn’t wrecked Irina is his fear of our father. Except Todd won’t kill his son to save Irina.”
Fiona opens her eyes a bit more and reaches for my hand as I imagine beating the life out of Jimbo Rogers. I’m startled by how tightly the tiny woman grips me.
“You have to put Jimbo down like you would a rabid dog. He’ll snap soon. I feel it whenever he’s around Irina. I also sense him in the woods around the guesthouse. He’s waiting for now, but it won’t be much longer.”
Tears spill down her face as she closes her eyes. “I have nightmares about him appearing from the woods and stealing Irina away. A few times a day, she travels from the guesthouse to the main one. Often, she’s alone. I suspect Jimbo will make his move when no one is around to see her disappear into the dark woods. I get so scared every time she leaves.”
“I’ll handle it.”
Fiona wipes her cheeks and tries to smile. “Jimbo wouldn’t kill her right away if he could keep her for a while. If they dated, he’d try to be nice. I remember how he faked it when we first moved to the estate. But now, he knows about you. He must see how happy Irina is. He’ll do something soon.”
I cradle her small hand and squeeze gently. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Your friend didn’t with Marky,” Fiona replies immediately. “I know what my brother almost did in that park. Jimbo’s smarter than Marky. He won’t attack Irina where others can help her. He’ll drag her into the darkness, and I’ll never be sure where she went.”
“I swear on my life that I’ll handle the problem.”
“You have to say the words,” Fiona insists, adjusting her hand so she’s now squeezing mine. “You have to promise you’ll kill him.”
“He’s already dead. He just doesn’t know it yet.”
Fiona exhales shakily. “I want to love my family like other people love theirs,” she explains and takes back her hand. “But we’re evil people who destroy others.”
“Irina couldn’t love you if you were evil.”
“I’m only nice because I have no power. If I grew up here like my brothers, I’d be a monster like them. I’m too weak to be a threat.”
“You can’t let assholes fill your head with garbage.”
Fiona smiles and strokes her dog’s head. “Irina loves you so much, Eagle.”
Her words are like a knife in my heart, acting as both a relief and a burden. I can’t let Irina suffer. She’s mine to protect. I feel unworthy of such a responsibility, yet I’ll never let her go.
“We’ll both take care of her,” I insist when I can’t find any other words.
“Don’t tell her what I said. She’ll worry about me or you. She might get so nervous about Jimbo that he’ll react before you can kill him. Let her think the world hasn’t changed. Moving to McMurdo Valley broke down her armor. I suspect that’s why she was able to fall for you. Back in Vermont, she might have admired you from afar but never had the courage to meet you.”
“She tells you about all that stuff, huh?”
Fiona smirks. “Yes. I know you’re good in bed and have ticklish feet.”
My chuckles echo in the pool room. Studying Fiona, I still don’t understand her. She seems very young and harmless, yet Todd Rogers’s blood runs through her veins. Maybe she really would be a pyscho like her brothers if she weren’t all broken inside.
What I do know is Fiona and I are on the same page regarding Jimbo.
“Tell Irina how I was giving my blessing. She worries her happiness will upset me. That I’ll get jealous and make it impossible for her to be with you,” Fiona says and starts to stand. “I admittedly considered doing that. She was mine first. But after twelve years of listening to her just getting by, I couldn’t deny she found someone special with you.”
“I’ll never take her from you. I get how you two are. It’s a package deal.”
Fiona gives me a little nod before peeking at the room through one partially open eye. “This is nice. Very romantic. I’m glad you’re helping Irina try new things. She missed out on a lot in life.”
