“You are not old. Though the gray hair is a good look.”
He chuckled and reached over, pulling me into arms. It had been so long since I’d last hugged my father. So long that I could not remember when the last time really was. He patted the back of my head.
“Missed you, too, kid.”
I hugged him back, and when we broke apart, he turned. He held his arms open wide. “Come on, Mel, we should hug the one who wants to hug us.”
“Ethan will come to his senses.” She glared at him before looking to me and grabbing my face between her palms, before hugging me. “Good thing you are still sensible…at least when you are not in a bloody shoot out! Was that last year? You almost died! Why didn’t you get back up? If your brother isn’t there, you always need someone watching your back—”
“Mom,” I laughed. How did she make me feel like a kid all over again? “Dad said to hug me, not lecture me to death.”
And so, she did. And honestly…I had forgotten how good her hugs were, even after a lecture.
“I…I thought we lost you back then.” She said, concern laced her voice.
“I’m too stubborn to die.”
“Good.” Her voice broke, and she pulled away.
I noticed her lips lip shook. But she pushed passed it and dusted off my shoulders.
“We don’t have much time. Your father and I need your help to help your brother. Can you do this with us?”
“Gladly.”
WYATT—PRESENT
“You are really bold to come back like this,” I muttered. “How did you get in?”
“It’s my house. Even if she changes parts of it and replaces the people inside, it will always be my house, and I can find a way.”
“You shouldn’t have,” I said, pulling out the garage.
“Why should I be afraid of someone who is bedridden?”
“She not bedridden. She’s going to make it through the night. Now please lie down,” I said, and thankfully, she did, as the guards opened the iron gates for me.
“She’s going to make it?” she said as she sat back up again. “Well, I’d be disappointed if she died before I could kill her myself.”
“Then why did you send those texts and information to Helen, exposing that Calliope killed Aunt Cora?” I snapped, annoyed.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
I gripped the steering wheel tightly. “To spare her from becoming reckless! Luckily, Ethan thinks it’s you and not Helen!”
“Luckily?” she snapped. “You think it is lucky that my son thinks I’m the villain in his life story? You think it’s lucky that I am in this position, fighting my son?”
I bit the inside of my cheek as I moved to get onto the highway.
“I gave my heart and soul to this family, Wyatt,” she said, breathing slowly. “I gave him everything on a gold platter, and now he throws it back in my face because of that stupid little bitch who is being used for another little bitch’s revenge? What was the point of it all? All the people we crushed, all the blood and violence, the drugs and power, what was the point if this was how it ends?”
“We are not ending this way.” I would not allow it.
“That is why I sent those text messages to Helen,” Mother stated. “So she’d show it to you. And you’d know it was me who sent them even if she didn’t. You are the one your father and I are counting on to save Ethan.”
“Mother, there is no saving Ethan.” Could she not see that? “He’s in love with her.”
“Then he can love the dead her and get over it. Like he did with the other one.”