Chapter 31 #2
“If you had told him that there were twenty people on Chokecherry at all times, that would have been a discussion. Zeph asked for your help, Lanzo. Not for you to get involved. Like it or not, you’re not the king of this family.
You don’t make decisions that everyone falls into line for.
Because you refuse to accept that, now you can keep your brothers alive, but you’ve also made one resent you. Congratulations.”
I’m fascinated when Lanzo looks almost… concerned. It’s swallowed by his frustration.
“You also don’t get to force him to accept you’re right.
Because you’re not this time, which is something you need to accept.
However, none of that matters right now,” Erez says and turns his attention to the Van Doren twins.
“The discussion of Matty is off the table. No one cares that you two also think you’re kings and get to determine where someone belongs, but like Lan, you’re not, so take a step off your high horses.
The fact of the matter is, Chokecherry has sent what, a dozen people to break in?
Matty is the only reason we know that. Darwin was nearly murdered.
These are the facts that you’re concerned with and nothing else. Am I clear?”
I’m impressed when silence settles over the room.
It’s clear that Erez has dealt with Lanzo his entire life.
Herding him. I’m a little surprised when Lanzo looks at him with respect.
He is the older brother, after all. I have a feeling this is a dance that happens often between Lanzo and Zephyr.
Erez might wait to see if they can work it out, but when he steps in, everything ends.
“Yes,” Lanzo says. “I just want to say that my brothers won’t die in this.”
“The goal is no one dies, asshat,” Zephyr grits. “Expand your fucking net and know that if you let even a single one of these men die, I will never forgive you, Lanzo. Is that clear? Have I said it in such a way that you fucking understand? If something happens to them, I won’t forgive you.”
Lanzo stares. It’s a blank expression, but I can practically see him gauging whether Zephyr is serious. He looks at me, and I nearly jump. He studies my face. Then he looks at Liam and Matty.
“Both of them?” he asks, eyebrows knitting together.
“Liam, Matty, and Darwin. I don’t give a shit about the Van Doren pricks at the moment.”
Orev immediately bristles.
“Your presence wasn’t asked for. As far as I’m concerned, if you don’t come back, you were never here,” Zephyr says, shrugging.
Arek’s eyes flash dangerously.
“Stop already,” Erez says. “The goal that everyone needs to agree with is that no one in this fucking castle dies. If that isn’t something we can agree on, I will call the rest of No Face. You’re acting like petulant children, and I’m over it.”
“No one dies,” Lanzo says into the tension-filled room. “I will…” He glances at Matty. “Respectfully… question whether everyone needs to be involved in this. It is my impression that not everyone is fully, uh, capable of readily killing someone who needs to die.”
Zephyr rolls his eyes.
“Actually, yes,” I answer. “But not in the way you’re asking. We have a big advantage over Chokecherry. Matty can talk to their dead.”
All eyes turn to Matty, and his eyes go wide.
“Matty doesn’t have to be armed with a knife, but he needs to be close enough to talk to them. Then he can relay what they’re saying,” I say.
“You really talk to the ghosts?” Lanzo asks.
Matty nods. “I actually don’t talk to them. They’re insufferable and don’t shut up the way it is. But I listen.”
Lanzo snorts. The corner of his mouth rises in amusement. He’s not convinced, though.
“They say that Orev got that scar from falling off his bike when he was six. He was riding on the dock on the lake at his estate and got dizzy. He fell off, hitting his face on the edge of the dock when he did, and fell into the water. He almost drowned. He was dead for three minutes before the dead were able to push him out of the water,” Matty says.
We all look at the Van Dorens. No one has ever been told the story of how Orev got the scar. Not a single person has repeated it. To my knowledge, not a single person knows that story.
“They say that Arek was taking a nap, and he woke up screaming that his brother was dead,” Matty informs. “They say that the dead in the water went to find someone to save you, but no one was listening. You almost joined them that day. But your great-great-great-grandmother came to you, and she made you cough up the water in your lungs so you’d live.
She told you that you couldn’t die or your brother would be inconsolable; he’d lose his mind.
He’d set the whole estate on fire. He’d do whatever he could until he joined you. ”
Chills run along my spine. Holy fucking shit.
Arek and Orev stare at Matty for a long time. Silence fills the room. I’m not sure anyone breathes. Simultaneously, they turn to look at each other, and once again, the room is as still as a picture. Arek’s hand touches Orev’s jaw. It rests on his scar.
There’s very little expression on either of their faces, but I think they may be reliving that moment. Arek’s hand falls, and together, they look back at Matty.
“No one but the two of you knows how you got that scar. Orev told Arek, but they didn’t tell anyone else.
No one knows anything except that you wandered back to the house, dripping wet and bleeding from your jaw.
The bike is still at the bottom of the lake.
Isn’t it? No one knows it’s there, do they? ”
Orev nods. A single curt incline of his head.
“Do you believe me now?” Matty asks. “Now that I know the secret that you haven’t told another soul since the moment it happened? The truth that you didn’t even tell your parents or sisters? Do you believe that the dead talk to me?”
“Yes,” Orev says.
“We believe you,” Arek answers.
“Do you need me to tell you one of your secrets, Lanzo?” Matty asks.
Lanzo frowns.
“I know that you want to kill the man Orev is sleeping with right now. You’re the reason he got into the accident last month. Isn’t it?” Matty asks.
Lanzo’s lips part, but otherwise, the only movement is Orev looking at Lanzo with an eyebrow raised.
“How did you do that?” Orev asks.
Not why. How.
“He cut the brakes just enough that after hitting them a couple times, they’d come loose and he’d lose control of the car. He wanted the man to die,” Matty says.
Lanzo licks his lips. “Alright. I believe you.”
“Just so you know, that guy’s dead cousin is very angry at you.”
“Indeed,” Lanzo says, eyes hooding.
More silence. Heavy silence.
“Okay…” Erez says. “I think we’re done sharing secrets for now.”
Matty crosses the room and takes his hand. “She’s not among the dead. Just so you know.”
Erez inhales sharply and turns away. “Thanks,” he whispers.
Wow! This went wildly to the left.