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With a swift turn, I took my leave of him.
Levi’s eyes burned into my back as I moved towards a table where the Chief of Police sat with his wife. They smiled as I approached, and I plastered a welcoming smile on my face.
It was three a.m. when we arrived home. Tami had someone opening the shop for her in the morning so we could easily sleep in. As we climbed out of Brandy’s car, I saw a shadow on the porch and frowned. It was low to the ground, and I realised it was a package.
“Bit late for a delivery,” Brandy stated, puzzled.
“Yeah, can’t disagree there,” Cami replied tiredly. We stumbled up the steps to our porch, and I picked up the box. A funny smell drifted from it, and I quickly placed it back down.
“Tami, Cami, go inside,” I ordered, eying it and suddenly alert. A scent wafted from it that was unpleasant, and I had a horrid feeling I knew what was in the box.
Cami went to argue.
“Inside, now. Madisen runs our family. Do it,” Brandy snapped.
My eyes shot to her in shock. We never organised ourselves like that. We’d bonded out of desperation and a need for love. None of us had ever tried to rule to roost, but Brandy clearly thought I was in charge. I studied the other two as they sent Brandy a shocked glance, and then, to my surprise, they walked into the house.
“What the fuck, Brandy?” I hissed.
“I think we both know there’s something dead and nasty in that. Cami would have nightmares, and Tami would break down. They’re still soft despite the life we lived. I’d rather keep them that way, wouldn’t you?” Brandy replied and pulled a flick knife from her ankle.
I set the box down on a small table we had on the porch as Brandy approached.
“You don’t need to see this shit either,” I reminded her.
Brandy sent me a long look.
“You forget. Oscar was far worse to me than any of the three of you. He broke something inside me, but Cami heals it. I’d rather keep the love of my life the way she is. Yeah, Cami is jaded and experienced, but she’s also naïve and cute. Cami and Tami kept their innocence because you and I protected them, Madisen; let them keep it now. They’re strong, but there’s still that part of them that will get excited at Christmas and birthdays.”
I couldn’t deny Brandy’s words. How Oscar had treated her was awful. He’d made sure Brandy knew she was a burden, and without him, she’d have been in care. Oscar informed her that she wasn’t worthy of his love and attention. He’d rarely allowed Brandy to buy new clothes, and she wore my hand-me-downs, which often didn’t fit her as she was taller. I grew wise and began buying bigger sizes and then claiming to have lost weight, so Brandy got new clothes.
Despite his money, Oscar was a nasty fucker, with no shame in how he treated his nieces. I’d even consider agreeing to the fact that Oscar thought he owed the very air they breathed. Brandy slid the box towards her as I jolted and cut it open. The smell was far worse when she peeled the flaps, and we both stepped back, gagging.
“Is that…?” Brandy asked, horrified.
“A heart? Yes,” I answered grimly, grabbing my phone. I dialled 911 without thinking and reported what was on my porch. The dispatcher said to get inside the house and wait for the police to arrive.
As we stepped inside, Cami and Tami both pounced.
“What was in it?” Tami demanded.
“A heart,” I replied, still shocked.
“A human one?” Cami asked.
“Cami, I did not study the damn thing! It was a heart!” I snapped, and Cami looked abashed.
“Sorry, didn’t mean it like that. But who the hell would send us that?”
“Not us. Me. The parcel was addressed to me,” I said.
“You think it’s Millar or someone from the past?” Tami demanded, her mind making the same connections as mine was. This was something one of Father’s allies would have done. Shit, it was something Oscar would have easily done.
My hand twitched towards my phone. How convenient was it that Derek was in town and this bloody, decomposing heart had been sent to me? Could this be a warning from Derek? Keep my mouth shut about my parentage, or else? But that didn’t make sense. Derek had seemed to embrace our relationship and had only wanted to protect me.
“I need some privacy,” I whispered as I walked towards my study. “Call me when the police get here.”
I dashed to the desk and pulled out my old phone. Turning it on, I sent Derek a text and waited. Moments later, a reply came, despite the time of morning.
