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The last one I took is of Conner.
He was standing beside the pool and having an animated conversation with Lita. He said something that made her laugh. In that moment I was overwhelmed with love for him. I raised the phone and he looked over in time to see that I was about to snap a photo. He smiled.
Oh, how I adore him. He’s the center of my universe. A dream I never dared to hope for.
And I am getting the FUCK out of this shithole and going home to my man.
Sophie’s suitcase is shoved aside and I explore the small hole in the floor. The edges of the hole are jagged, like something ate through sections of the wood. But when I pull a few pieces away there’s enough space for me to stick my arm through the opening. There’s nothing underneath except slightly cooler air. As I shine the phone’s flashlight, I can see enough to confirm that directly beneath where I’m sitting is an empty basement. The floor isn’t that far down. If I jump I likely won’t even get hurt.
Clawing away chunks of the floor turns out to be harder than it sounds. The planks are nailed together and glued. I’m helped by the fact that they are also rotting but it means pulling free one scant inch at a time. My fingers get scratched and savaged by splinters but fuck it. If I’m alive later, I’ll get a tetanus shot.
I’ve been so intent on my task that I’m not keeping track of time. I don’t know how long I’ve been at this before the voices start.
“What difference does it make? You’ve already fucked everything up.” That’s Jared.
Talon’s deep cackle chills me to the bone. “I did what had to be done. You know it.”
“It was only supposed to be the old man. You werenevergiven permission to go after the boy.”
“Fuck your fit. In the old days it was a given that you need to take out the next one in the line of succession. That’s the boy.”
The boy?
THE BOY!
“Robert,” I whisper.
I’m going to vomit. I’m going to kill.
My hand reaches frantically for the only weapon I can find; a shard of decaying wood that I just pulled out of the floor.
Sophie, however, is cheerful. “Guys, I need to show you what I have for you. Move aside, little snakes.” She pushes the container of snakes away from the door.
“What the hell are we even doing here?” Jared sounds weary. “I’m up to my eyeballs in fucking problems today. What was the life and death situation that couldn’t wait?”
“This!” Sophie has a tough time opening the door but finally she manages to unlock it.
My plan to go on the attack with a piece of rotten wood is cut short when I’m faced with the view of Sophie pointing my own gun at my head.
“I lied.” She’s practically giddy as she pulls back the hammer. “My father used to make me go to the gun range all the time. I knew how to shoot long before I knew how to drive.”
Behind her, my two cousins gather closer to see what all the fuss is about inside the closet.
Jared’s eyes bug out when he sees me. “Shit,” he says.
His brother has no comment.
Talon simply smiles.
Chapter37
Haven
Sophie gets immediately impatient. “You’re welcome!” She waves the gun for emphasis. “Didn’t think I could do it, did you?”
Jared recovers from his shock and glares at his wife. “What the fuck?”
Sophie scrunches up her face in a pout. “Try being grateful for once. Now you can finish off the job you started. She’s the last piece, right? WE are the family now. The three of us. Out with the old, in with the new. I know what has to be done.”
