Liam
It’s been a few days since Jessica moved into the house, and we are getting ready to return to New York.
Nate is on the phone arranging everything so our apartment will be ready, while Mike and Jessica are being sneaky about something on Mike’s laptop.
I’m surprised the thing even works with the screen shattered like that.
I’m on my own laptop, trying to set up ads to sell our bikes and van a few towns over.
We aren't taking them with us to New York. The rule is that if we return to base, everything needs to reset—which also means changing vehicles. I’m actually kind of excited about that.
This van is starting to smell like death; maybe we should just burn it.
It would be less risky than someone buying it and figuring out why that lingering stench exists.
After far too long of Mike and Jessica whispering to each other, I decide to check on them.
“What are you doing?” I ask, sneaking up behind them.
Mike slams the screen shut in a hurry, the laptop almost falling apart in the process, while Jessica pretends to inspect her nails. I circle the couch and stand in front of her, cupping her chin to tilt her face toward mine.
“Sweetheart, I asked you a question,” I press.
A sinister smile forms on her lips—a perfect match to my brother’s, who is now turning the laptop so I can see what they were looking at. I regret it the moment my eyes register the image.
It’s a photo of a woman. She doesn’t look like any of our usual victims, luckily, yet I get the feeling that detail doesn't matter this time.
“Her name is Lindsay,” Jessica states, her voice bubbly and excited. “We thought we should do one last hunt before leaving. I want to join.”
She sounds like she’s asking to go on a movie date—a little girl excited for ice cream, not a grown woman asking to add murder to the itinerary.
“You’re joking, right?” I ask in disbelief.
Both of them look back at me, eyes filled with excitement.
Mike gives a ‘don’t look at me’ shrug while Jessica hits me with puppy-dog eyes, as if she’s asking me to buy her jewelry rather than murder a woman.
I wonder whose karma I’m paying off to end up surrounded by bloodthirsty animals.
I severely need to reconsider my company.
“Nate, get the fuck in here! These two are planning to kidnap a woman!” I yell. It’s rich, acting like we haven’t done far worse, but Jessica isn't supposed to be like us. We are a terrible influence on this girl.
Nate bursts into the living room, confusion written across his face. “Say what now?”
I turn Mike’s laptop toward him, letting the photo of the fiery redhead—and the two idiots planning to abduct her—do the talking. The color drains from Nathan’s face. He looks at me, then at them, then back at me, as if trying to figure out if we’re all collectively pranking him.
“I thought we agreed on a break.” Nate rubs his temples like he’s coming down with a headache—or having a stroke. I’m honestly hoping for a stroke, because a medical emergency might actually derail whatever crazy idea those two have conjured.
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry, but the situation is so twisted it’s almost funny.
Mike and Jessica want to hunt, I’m on the verge of a mental breakdown, and Nathan looks ready to drop dead on the spot just to escape whatever his boyfriend and our shared girlfriend have planned. I might join him. Death sounds better.
“Fine,” Nate finally agrees. Now I’m certain I’m the only sane person in this group of heathens. “One last hunt.”
“Come on, darling. Let's find you a motorcycle to ride,” Nate says, pulling Jessica off the couch.
They head down the hallway, likely to get her ready so they can hit the town and lease or buy a bike.
Nathan loves spending money, especially on those he holds dear—and this woman somehow earned a spot in our bizarre family the moment we laid eyes on her.
This is my fault. I should have stayed away.