Death Wish (Deception Duet 2)

Oh, how I miss her bird, Shrimp.

Heathen would love to play with little Shrimp. Too bad we can’t coordinate a playdate.

“Ash couldn’t handle our games and made her precious Prince Charming rescue her.”

“What games?”

“Ash was ours. She was our stepsister and we wanted her. But Winston swooped in and distracted her. Stole her. He had everything but he had to take the one thing we wanted.”

Ty’s eyes widen and his mouth gapes. “This is really fucked up, man.”

“She thought she could leave us, so we did everything we could to make her stay. Humiliated her, robbed her of every penny to her name, photographed her and exploited her any chance we got. All to prove a point.”

“That you’re all fucking insane?”

I flash him a sinister smile. “That she belonged to us.” My smile falls and anger pulsates through me. “But he laid claim too. And since he’s got more money than fucking God, he won the war between us. He didn’t stop there, though. He had to also take away our mother, our cars, our future. Hell, he nearly took away our ability to walk. Me and my brothers have been aching to make him pay ever since.”

Ty swallows, his hand slightly shaking. He sets the coffee down on the counter. “You’re telling me all this even though I’m a Constantine. Aren’t you afraid I’m going to tell?”

“Nah, man,” I say with a shrug. “Your hands are tied.”

“How so?”

“You aided in getting me—a Morelli for all intents and purposes—information that led to Landry’s escape. Your assistance in helping the wrong side won’t be taken as a little oopsie and easily forgiven. Trust me. Your cousin will do what he can to destroy you too. Maybe not as bad as he did us, but rest assured, he will disown you, strip you of any connections you have because of your last name, and make sure that you’re not tied to one cent of his money.”

“Fuck.”

“Yeah, fuck,” I agree. “Plus, if you tattle, to anyone for that matter, they’ll show up here and take those two girls right back to their monstrous father. Do you think he’s the forgiving type or do you think he’s also like your douchebag cousin?”

He scrubs a palm over his face, his blue eyes wild with indecision. “She doesn’t look unhappy here,” he admits. “But you’re not exactly someone safe. I mean, this is seriously fucked up.”

I take a long swallow of coffee before setting it on the counter. My eyes bore into his. Shoving my hand into my pocket, I produce the gun and set it next to my coffee.

“I will shoot anyone, and I do mean anyone”—I pause so he understands that means him too—“who tries to take Landry away. We only thought we wanted Ash. With Landry, we know we want her. Indefinitely.”

“You won’t hurt her.”

“Oh, I’ll hurt her, but she’ll enjoy it. The good kind of hurt.”

“That’s supposed to reassure me?”

“You don’t have a choice.” I gesture with my hand for him to leave. “Time to go, friend. I’m no longer feeling very hospitable.”

He shakes his head, his eyes darting back and forth. “You can’t hide out forever, man. You said it yourself. My cousin is too powerful. If you think he’s forgotten all about you and your brothers’ transgressions, you’re an idiot. He’s teamed up with Alexander already. After you three fall off the grid at the same time the Croft girls do, how long do you think it’ll be before he puts two and two together? You know he still keeps tabs on you guys. If I were him, I would.”

Hell, I would, too.

The uneasiness is back.

He’s right. We can’t hide forever, though that’s absolutely my wish. Winston is too smart for that.

“What do you propose, then?”

“Fuck if I know.” He runs his fingers through his hair, messing it all up. “A public appearance? To show all is well?”

I mull over his words for a second and then nod. “Find something public. We’ll send Sparrow. He’s like you and your people.”

“And what exactly am I like?”

“A spoiled prince in an expensive suit.” I give Ty a two-fingered salute. “Bye, little Constantine prince.”

Chapter Twelve

Landry

Anxiety claws at my throat and infects my every thought. Ever since I learned Ty dropped by this morning, and Scout told him everything, my mind has been a mess.

What if he tells my dad?

I have to believe he wouldn’t. Ty is my friend. He was going to help me escape until Scout hijacked our whole plan, injecting himself into the equation instead.

Still, I’m worried and I can’t stop.

If I was smart, I would leave. Sneak out the front door when the guys are all asleep, carrying Della far, far away from here.

And then what?

Get stopped by the first cop I see only for them to haul me back home, depositing us both back into the hands of a monster?