Killer (Bastard Brothers of Carnage #3)

Prologue

AMORETTE

T he harsh summer sun was high in the sky, glaring down at me with an anger that matched my heart. I shouldn’t be angry. There wasn’t any point to it. I knew, as Grace knew, this was life. Neither of us could have made any difference or caused another outcome.

We’d already lost Louis.

Now Maman .

I plucked a few blades of grass, the sharp edges sliding against the pad of my thumb. If they slipped through my fingers just right, they could cut me. I almost wish they had.

They floated in the air when I tossed them away from me, and I huffed. It was quiet today. The breeze was the only sound, and that at least was comforting. It kissed my face, making me painfully aware of my too-tight skin and my stuffy nose.

There were no tears, however. Over the last few weeks, I’d learned there was a point where they dried up, leaving my body hollow and numb.

“I thought I’d find you here.” Grace sat next to me, wholly ignoring the grass stains on her butt when she stood up. Not that I ever cared about that kind of thing, but she did.

We trained our gazes on the beautiful white marble headstone. Maman had made sure she’d be buried next to Louis. She’d also bought a double plot at her feet in case we wanted to be buried next to them.

“That’s morbid, Maman . Why are you buying graves for us? We’re barely in high school,” I asked one day as I rummaged through the cupboard, looking for a snack.

Her soft touch fluttered across my shoulders as she spun around the kitchen making dinner. She was a great cook. Funny to watch because she flowed through the kitchen with so much life and grace; she was practically a Disney princess.

“Humor an old woman, Amorette.” She huffed out a quiet laugh.

“After Louis—” Maman paused. “After Louis, I realized I needed to think of these things. I hope you outlive me by many, many decades, and you both will probably have your own families by then–with your own blended traditions. You’ll probably want to be buried with your husbands.

That will be okay, mon bébé . But if you want to use them, they’re yours.

And I selfishly would love to be surrounded by my children, even in death. ”

“Fourteen days, Grace,” I sniffled. That rebellious snot threatening to come out of my nose made me angry too. “What are we going to do without her?” Dammit. Irritation coated my words.

The dirt was still fresh on her grave, but it was barely the beginning of summer. How long before it was entirely claimed by vibrant green grass?

She sighed, leaning over to rest her head on my shoulder. “This is life. A freak issue with her heart that was undetectable. There wasn’t anything we could have done differently.” Her strong voice wobbled by the end, and a warm tear dripped onto my shoulder.

“It’s not fair. We’re alone now. She barely got to see our graduation. She’s going to miss our college graduations, our weddings. Everything a mother is supposed to be there for.” I ripped more grass out and crushed it in my fist. The scent of fresh-cut grass dominated the air.

“Don’t be mad at her,” she whispered.

“I’m not mad at her. I’m mad at the universe! It was too soon. It’s not fair.” A sob caught in my throat. I guess tears never really did dry up. My eyes just needed a break before they could produce any more.

“Ah, Am. That’s so important to you, isn’t it.

” I could picture her wry grin. No one had as much allure or spunk as my twin.

We were identical but couldn’t be more different.

“What’s fair, what’s just. What’s right and what’s wrong.

You’re so predictable. You have to liven up a little. Maman would want you to.”

“What do you mean? Maman supports my goals like she supports your modeling.” Maman had been able to watch Grace be discovered. The money Grace had already made would take care of her for the rest of her life if she wanted to live a modest one. Though, that wasn’t her at all.

“You’re right. You’ve wanted to be an attorney since that twat Evan.” She rolled her eyes, and we shared a wet laugh. “All I’m saying, twin, is don’t be so uptight. Maman was proud of you. She used to say you’d change the world one day. You know that?”

Tingles spread over my body, and my eyes brimmed with tears. I hated crying. Every time, it felt like my body was so light, like I was about to float away.

“I didn’t know that.” I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, and before I knew it, she’d turned into me, and we gripped each other as we let all our grief out.

“She’d say that all the time. But she also said she hoped you would figure out what you could change and what you couldn’t, not to let your pride and anger get in the way.

” She half-laughed and half-cried. “Don’t be angry that she’s gone.

Be sad. Remember her. Mourn her, but don’t be angry.

We can’t change it. We can only hold onto the ones we love for as long as we can. ”

“I’m going to miss her so fucking much.” I buried my face in her neck.

“Me too. Me too, Am.”

We held each other for over an hour, talking about Maman and all the good she brought to the world. All that was lost with her.

I’d do anything. Everything—if it would bring her back.

And to keep her with us.