No! Just NO!
Max
What did Fiona just say?
If she thinks she’s getting anywhere near The Spider—
No.
Just NO!
It’s never going to happen. I’ll lock her in my bedroom if I need to.
“Even though I’m not sure Sweetums is still alive.”
“WHAT?” The kids can probably hear Vex’s roar down the block.
Payne loses the battle, holding Vex back as he storms towards Fiona. Dad is by my left, and Maddox is at my right. Hopefully, the four of us can hold him back without bloodshed.
“Is she alive or dead? Answer me, woman.”
I should just knock him out, not strain every muscle in my body trying to hold him back.
Mom walks up holding a phone in her hand. Like there isn’t a wild man set to destroy anything in his way right here. “Vex, I know you’re angry, but this isn’t helping. Fiona is innocent in all of this. She’s trying to help your sister. And you’re scaring her.”
Nothing scares Fiona.
The door opens up, and Louisella strides right in. “Did I miss the invitation to a fight?”
Vex groans.
“I didn’t think so. Now you boys sit down and behave yourselves like gentlemen before I get irritated.” Lulu walks over and whispers in my ear, “Emilia thought you might need a little help.”
Nonna wasn’t wrong.
Lulu takes a seat near Fiona but across from Vex, like she’s watching him…daring him to try something while she’s here.
No sane man would try anything. On the other hand, only a fool would think that Vex is sane.
Fiona steps around me and back into the center of attention.
She clears her throat and stands up straight.
“I thought Sweetums was dead because no one survives a fight with The Spider. But I was wrong. And I know I was wrong because her daughter Gemma showed up. Gemma claims to be five years old even though she looks closer to three due to malnutrition.” Fiona pauses to stare at Vex in the eyes.
My woman is brave. A little crazy standing up to a man like Vex, but brave.
“The doctors said she’ll be fine in time.
Gemma is Sweetums’ daughter. She even confirmed that her mother told her about a fairy princess named Fiona who saved her Aunt Daria from the monster.
” Fiona’s eyes fill with tears, and I want to tell her to stop.
“I should have saved Sweetums. I should have been brave.”
You are brave. Pride wells up inside of me.
“Gemma said her mother went away a year ago, and a woman named Trixie was supposed to be her new momma.”
“Went away? Where did she go?” Vex keeps his hand on the bar even though he clearly wants to run across the room and demand answers.
“Gemma didn’t know. But if The Spider followed his same pattern, she was either sold, or…” Fiona shakes her head.
“Did the child tell you where they were holding her?”
“All she knew was it was a big building with a lot of cages in it. She asked if she’d have to go in a cage now.”
“My niece will never be in a cage again.” Vex steps forward, and I brace myself, but he doesn’t come racing forward like a crazed bull.
“The reason I showed up ready to kill someone is because ten years ago, I found out that The Spider was holding my sister. You weren’t alone in failing to rescue her.
I could only watch as the ship I thought she was on sank with her on it.
Now you’re telling me that she could possibly be alive.
Even if there’s a chance, we need to try to find her. ”
Fiona nods. “The Spider hides. He’s excellent at it. But what he doesn’t do is let one of his possessions go.”
She isn’t saying what I think she is.
“My escape has probably been driving him crazy all these years. If I were to—”
“No. You’re not using yourself as bait. There is no way.” How could she even suggest that? “You know what he does to women.”
“Yeah, Max, I do. I know exactly what he’s been doing to my best friend for more than sixteen years.
Could you just walk away and let someone else figure it out if you knew the fastest way to find your best friend?
I can guarantee The Spider will come after me.
His need for vengeance is stronger than his need to inflict pain.
If I walk out there and let myself be seen, he won’t be able to stop himself from having me picked up.
He won’t leave my punishment to a minion. The Spider will want to do it himself.”
Punishment…She means torture. She wants to walk into a torture chamber. My brain is going to explode. “No.”
“You have to have a gadget that will allow you to track me at all times. This is what we need to do.”
It doesn’t matter what gadgets I have. “No. That is out of the question. We’ll find him another way.
Everett got us information from both the police department and the FBI.
We will use that and every contact available to us.
What we won’t do is turn you over to that monster.
” I stare her in the eyes until she nods, acknowledging that isn’t an option.
“Everett, why don’t you share with the group what you’ve found so far. ”
***
We’ve been at it for two hours, and it feels like we aren’t getting anywhere with a plan to move forward.
The room has filled up with every person who could possibly help.
And yet it still feels like we’re searching for a puff of smoke or a ghost. That makes for two ghosts we need to hunt down.
If anyone even thinks of suggesting using Fiona…
I might kill them myself. “Kamenev, you’ve got to know something. ”
“He didn’t work with my father. And I’ve never run across anyone that mentioned him. But I can put out some feelers. It will probably take a few weeks.”
A few weeks? Vex isn’t going to wait a few days. I’m kind of surprised that he’s been this patient.
Where is Vex? I scan the room searching for him. He’s gone, and so is Payne. Guys don’t go to the bathroom in pairs like women. Where could he have gone? Vex wouldn’t have wanted to miss any important information.
My gut starts to sink…but he wouldn’t mind cornering Fiona and trying to get more from her. She wouldn’t have left. Fiona is completely invested in finding her friend.
I search the room even though I know she isn’t here. My heart doesn’t like where my mind is going. She’s probably just in the bathroom. People have to use the facilities.
Mom would know. I lean over and whisper, “Have you seen Fiona?”
She shakes her head and starts looking around. “Do you want me to go check the bathroom?”
“Don’t bother,” Lulu chimes in. She doesn’t bother to whisper. “Fiona snuck out about twenty minutes ago with Vex and Payne. They’re probably long gone by now.”
She wouldn’t have left. She knew I didn’t want her to get hurt. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“Because that girl was going to help her friend regardless of what you said. Better she goes with someone like Vex than she tries it on her own.”
No. NO. It’s not better. “You’ve heard what that man has done.”
“And you listened to what your woman went through, but you didn’t hear her.
She needs to do everything she can to find her friend.
And if you try to stop her and her friend dies, you’ll lose Fiona forever.
You need to stop assuming women are delicate creatures incapable of protecting themselves and listen to what they actually need.
” She stands up. “I suggest all of you men gather every weapon and gas up all your helicopters. When Vex calls, you’re going to need to hop to it.
Now, I’m going to go see that cute little boy of yours. ”
All I can do is stare at her as she sashays out of there, imagining all the ways I’m going to kill Vex if he lives through this thing.