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“I don’t want to harm her, darling. But I need to see your father. So take me to him and make sure I get in to see him, and your girlfriend lives.”
“Don’t listen to her, Ryan,” Ruby said. “Don’t unleash her on your brothers and sister. They’ve been through enough. We can handle this right here and right now.”
Worry for Ruby rushed through me. She was good. A trained cop. But my mother was a psychopath.
“Give me the gun, Mother.”
“I can’t, my sweet son. I’m sorry.”
“If you love me the way you say you do, please give me that gun.”
“I do love you, Ryan. More than you’ll ever know.”
“Then take the gun off Ruby. This has nothing to do with her.”
“Wrong,” Wendy said. “This involves all of you as well as your father. And I can assure you this. Someone is going to die tonight. It’s up to you, Ryan, who.”
I gasp as I jerk forward and open my eyes.
“Stop, Daddy. Please.”
“Breathe, baby.”
I inhale, exhale. Three times. I won’t have another panic attack. I know this. In my soul, I know this. But this story… It’s incredible. My father, my mother…in so much danger.
“I’ll tell you the rest later,” Dad says.
“No. We’ve started this, and I’ve got to finish it. I’ve got to know the secrets to the family’s past. If I don’t, I won’t have a future.”
“Ava…”
“Please, Daddy. Just continue.” I grip the arms of the recliner once more.
Up to me? Perspiration dripped from my face, but I held myself rigid. “The only person who might die tonight is you, Mother. You will not hurt Ruby. Now hand that gun to me.” I extended one hand to her.
“I might very well be the one to die tonight. And after I have the closure I seek, I will not hesitate to accept my fate. But to get to that point, I need to see your father. You will take me to the main house and get me in to see him. Now go get dressed and bring her some pants.”
“Hell no. I’m not leaving her.”
“Have it your way.” She gestured to Ruby. “We’ll come along with you.”
Once Ruby and I were dressed, Wendy held the gun on me while I phoned my brothers and my sister, asking them to meet me at the main house where Talon and Jade lived. I can’t even remember the excuse I used, but I was desperate, and they all agreed to meet.
“I’m sorry,” I said to my father and my siblings once we’d gotten into the main house. “I had no choice.”
My esteemed mother was holding on to Ruby, the gun pressed into her side. Ruby was a trouper. She’d mouthed to me that she could overtake Wendy while we were walking to the main house, but I’d begged her with my eyes not to. She must have understood. I would not take a chance with Ruby’s life.
I couldn’t lose her. Not when happiness was finally within reach.
Ruby hadn’t flinched once, and though I knew she was nervous, no one could tell by her demeanor. This was far from the first time she’d been held at gunpoint…although perhaps the first time by someone as psychotic as my biological mother.
“We understand,” my father said, turning to Wendy. “How did you get out of lockup?”
“Come now, Brad,” she said. “You know me better than that. You know I could have gotten out at any time.”
My father nodded, clearing his throat. “Yes. I know.”
“Look,” I said. “I got you here. Now state your business. My family has been through enough these past several weeks. Let’s just get this over with.”
“I am part of your family too, Ryan,” she said. “Or have you forgotten?”
How I wished I could forget. But I didn’t voice the words. I couldn’t risk setting her off, not when she still had Ruby at gunpoint.
“Your business is with me,” my father said. “Let Ruby go.”
“My business is with all of you,” she said. “I came to finally get what’s coming to me.”
“You said you wanted closure,” I reminded her.
“Yes,” she said. “By the time I’m done here, we will all have closure.”
My brothers and sister had been uncharacteristically silent throughout this. They stood together on one side of the large office, Jade holding tight onto Talon’s hand. Thankfully, Melanie had gone to a doctor’s appointment and wasn’t available.
Joe’s eyes betrayed his thoughts. He was getting ready to strike.
I shook my head slightly at him, hoping I was conveying my message for him to stand down. I couldn’t risk Ruby being hurt. But I knew my big brother. Once he set his mind to something—
“Take that gun off my daughter, Wendy.”
Marjorie gasped as we all turned our gazes to the doorway. Theodore Mathias—your grandfather—stood there, gun in his hand, pointed at Wendy’s head.
I gasp again. “My grandfather? The one Mom never talks about?”
