Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
SILAS
She scurried past Gabe like a goddamn mouse and disappeared inside.
All I wanted to do was to go after her, to grab her and her fucking bags, and drive her against the wall.
I wanted answers. But it wasn’t just answers I wanted now.
I wanted that look…that piercing goddamn stare from the recording as she looked up at me on her knees… the one now etched into my head.
“Hey.” Gabe called, striding toward me ever the white fucking knight when it came to his sister.
Our sister remember?
I strode around the car, but he was in front of me blocking my way.
I stopped, lifting my gaze to him. Jesus, how the fuck did he get so tall all of a sudden?
He was supposed to be my little brother.
But the pissed off male scowling in front of me wasn’t so little not anymore.
But he didn’t understand what was going on here…
and he needed to stay the fuck out of it.
“Leave it, Gabe.” I moved around him.
“No.” He stepped at the same time, stopping me.
“I said leave it.” I forced the words through clenched teeth.
“If you think she had anything to do with any of this, then you’re an even bigger asshole than I already thought.”
His words hit me hard. “What did you say to me?”
He sucked in a hard breath, his eyes widening with a flare of panic. Still he stood his ground. “She didn’t write the will. She asked for nothing, only to ever be included in the family. But you and the others have never wanted that, and now you’re making that clearer than ever.”
The will?
That’s what he thought this was all about?
The lying bitch could stay here all she wanted. In fact, I wanted her here…right where I could control her.
I shook my head. “Think what you want.”
“Then tell me otherwise. What is your problem with her?”
He wasn’t going to leave it, was he? I met that flicker of panic. Maybe I should tell him what he wanted to hear. I saw it in my head. I’d get my phone out, replay the recording. Let’s see what he thinks of his innocent little sister when he watches her sucking some motherfucker off.
My pulse raced at the thought. What would he think of her?
Not what I was thinking that was for sure.
“Maybe she didn’t have a hand in the will, but that doesn’t mean she’s entitled to a goddamn thing.”
“She is our sister by law. That means she does. It’s about time you and the others realised that. Maybe you think the same about me?”
“What? No.” I barked, running my fingers through my hair. “Of course not!”
He gave a slow nod as Theo strode out of the rear door and headed for us. But Gabe was done, that panic now turned to pain. “You know one day you might not have all of us around, maybe then you might appreciate those we have left.”
He turned and strode away, passing Theo as he headed back inside.
“What was that about?”
“The same thing as always.” I murmured watching Gabe stride after her. “Her.”
“Speaking of. Are we doing this tonight?”
I glanced his way, scowled then remembered Lincoln. “Give me a second.” I grabbed my cell, typed out a message.
Are we on for tonight?
I hadn’t heard from him all morning. Sending him the recording still didn’t sit right. The second he had it he was gone, what the fuck was he doing with it anyway? Those thoughts crowded in and a flicker of anger followed. I bet I knew what the bastard was doing with it…the same thing I was.
Beep.
I looked down.
Lincoln: No. Not yet.
“What the fuck do you mean, not yet?” I snarled, finding Theo. “Who does this motherfucker think he is?”
He gave a shrug. “The one calling the shots by the sounds of it.”
“The fuck he is .” I typed back a response.
This is happening tonight, be here or don’t be here. I don’t give a fuck.
Send.
Rage moved deeper. First it was him pushing into the business, now he wanted to push into our life. He was trying to take it all. That’s what he was doing. I glanced toward the house. I wasn’t waiting anymore. I wanted the truth about what happened to our parents…and I wanted it tonight.
“It’s happening tonight.”
“Good.” Theo nodded. “Then the little bitch is ours. I’m going to make her life a living hell.”
“You do anyway.” The last words were a murmur. I didn’t mean to say them out loud.
Theo cut me a glare. “You’re one to talk,” he snapped before he walked toward his grey Audi RS7, hit the button and climbed in.
I didn’t wait for him to leave, just strode toward the house. I wasn’t waiting for anyone when it came to the truth about what happened to my parents. My father was the one I focused on, how he must’ve felt finding out just how our mother betrayed him.
Did he find the recording?
How far did he realise their betrayal went?
Who the fuck killed him?
I strode along the hallway and turned into my room.
There was no way he killed himself, not after finding out what mom did and there’s no way in Hell he killed her.
I closed the bedroom door and turned, dragging my fingers through my hair.
He’d be enraged, there was no doubt about that. He’d be dangerous. But not to her.
No.
Never to her.
Only for everyone else.
“He would’ve found out the truth. That’s what he would’ve done. He would’ve found out who this guy was and he would’ve killed him.” That was my father. Not a man missing the entire side of his face by a shotgun blast to his head.
I didn’t even think we owned a shotgun.
I spent the rest of the day researching, finding out as much as I could about Hale Halestrom and the Order. But there was very little to find and by the time Theo strode in later that day I was done waiting. I pushed up from my chair and walked into his room. “Get the others together.”
One brow rose. “Is it time?”
“I’m not waiting any longer.”
“You letting Lincoln know?”
I held Theo’s stare. “No. I don’t think I will.”
Beep.
I grabbed my cell and looked down.
Lincoln: Don’t approach her. Wait until I get there. “Speak of the Devil. He wants me to hold off.”
“I say go for it.” He pushed up. “Corner her, force her to tell us the truth. This has got nothing to do with Lincoln, he can fuck off.”
The truth, that’s all we ever wanted. One slow nod and I turned.
Theo was right behind me as we made for her room.
I didn’t knock. I didn’t need to. This was my goddamn house, wasn’t it?
Anyone who wanted to live here was under my goddamn rule.
I owned her…and it was about time she realised that fact.
I pushed her door inward, glanced at the shopping still unpacked on the end of her bed, but she wasn’t here.
“The kitchen.” Theo turned around and strode away.
We hunted like a pack, making our way into the kitchen. Victor, the cook lifted his head from packing pans away. “Can I get you anything?”
I shook my head and scowled. “Angelica?”
“I saw her earlier, made her a sandwich and wrapped it up for her trip.”
“Trip?” My blood ran cold.
“Yeah.” Victor looked from Theo to me. “She was leaving for a while. She said you guys knew…”
But we didn’t know, did we? I spun around and raced for her bedroom once more and barked. “Check the garage!”
Shit!
SHIT!
Did Lincoln tip her off? Did that motherfucker stab me in the goddamn back? Rage rippled through me as I stride back along the hallway and into her room, throwing her door open with a bang!
Where the fuck was she? I scanned her bedroom once more and lunged into her walk in robe, finding a small gap in her clothes. She was gone. I strode forward, throwing her nun-like dresses aside. FUCK!
Then I spied the bag at the bottom of the cupboard. It looked like a hiking bag, stuffed to the brim. I bent down, flicked open the flap and opened it. The tuff of fur from her jacket sprang free. I pulled it aside and rummaged through the rest of her belongings.
It was a go bag, that was easy to see. That meant she hadn’t left…yet.
“What are you doing?”
I lifted my head to Gabe standing in the doorway.
“Where is she?” I rose.
He scowled. “Why, so you can make her feel like shit even more?”
I strode toward my little brother who wasn’t so little anymore. “I said, where is she?”
He scowled. “She’s gone to the cemetery.”
I stilled. “Why?’
“Why do you think?” He snapped.
To say goodbye, that’s why…
Theo strode in. “She’s not here and the driver is gone.”
I held Gabe’s stare. “It’s okay. I know exactly where she is.”
Gabe looked from me to Theo and back again. “Does someone want to tell me what the fuck is going on?”
I didn’t want to, not yet at least. But if I didn’t give our brother something, then this was going to get out of hand. “She lied.” I said carefully. “About mom and dad. She knows more than she’s told us and the police.”
He shook his head, scowling.
“It’s true, little brother.” Theo urged softly. “She isn’t who you thought she was. She’s a liar and she knows what happened to mom and dad.”
“No.” Gabe croaked, but he looked desperate.
“It’s true.” I said carefully as the faint sound of tires crunching on the asphalt sounded. I lifted my gaze and turned my head.
“What is it?” Theo asked.
“Not sure.” I made for the door.
The engine didn’t sound like the town car, maybe I hoped it was.
I strode along the hallway and pushed through the rear door.
Lincoln climbed out of the backseat of his Audi, his driver rounding the rear of the car to hold the door.
It was later than I thought. The sun was sinking fast, casting deep pinks and sultry blues across the evening sky.
Tailored suit and a sleek ride. My uncle looked like a very different man than I saw in the lawyers office. He was stepping up in the world by the looks of it, and using our backs to get himself there.
“Silas.” He called and strode forward, casting a glance at my brothers behind me.
“Why are you here?” I cut his driver a glare.
There was a careful smile. “Now, how is that anyway to greet family?”
“If it’s what they deserved.” Theo snapped behind me.
Lincoln’s smile faltered until the flare of headlights cut across all of us.
Slowly the town car drew closer, blinding us.
In the piercing glare I remembered her backpack tucked away in the corner of her wardrobe.
The one where she hid her fur-lined jacket and all her things.
She was running, desperate to get as far away from us as possible.
Not a goddamn chance, not while she held the truth of what happened to my parents and as the car pulled up to a stop in front of us, Lincoln moved striding toward the rear door before the rest of us. Theo cut me a savage glare, his lips curled, rage detonating in his eyes.
I strode forward as Lincoln opened the rear door and reached out his hand. “It’s okay.” He said quietly. “We were just worried, that’s all.”
Just worried?
No , I was fucking furious.
I stepped around Lincoln, grabbed her arm as she stepped out and pulled her against me. “Inside.” It wasn’t a request.
“Stop.” Angelica pulled against me. “Silas stop , you’re hurting me.”
I didn’t care. I couldn’t care. Even as Jude pushed through the rear door of the house, watching me drag her toward him, then pushed her inside.
“Get off me!” She screamed.
“Move.” I wasn’t nice, pushing her through the door and inside. “The den now.”
She spun and stumbled backwards. “No. Not until you tell me what the hell is going on.”
“You know you lying little bitch.” Theo snarled behind me.
The color drained instantly out of her face, leaving her pale and ashen. Her eyes widened as her steps stuttered, sending her crashing against the wall.
“What did you say?” She pushed back against the wall, looking up as Theo flanked me and pushed in.
“You heard me, you’re a fucking liar and we know it.”
There was a tiny shake of her head as though she didn’t believe what we were saying. But she would…soon enough.
“Now move.” Theo dragged her from the wall and shoved her hard.
She stumbled sideways, frantically scanning my brothers behind me. “Gabe…please.”
“He’s not going to help you.” I stepped into her line of sight and jerked my gaze toward the den. “Not anymore.”