Death Wish (Deception Duet 2)

Leo rolls his eyes. Lucian doesn’t even flinch.

“I see.” Lucian steeples his fingers, his sharp stare darting between me and Sparrow before landing on his brother. “What is it Scout told you when you visited him, Leo?”

“That our father has incriminating proof of him committing felonies,” Leo offers, crossing his arms over his chest and staring down Sparrow. “We can take care of it.”

“Well, do it already,” I exclaim, ready to get this damn meeting over with. “We’ll be your goons or whatever for payment. Just tell us who we need to rough up and we’ll take care of it as long as our brother goes free.”

Lucian smirks and drums his fingers on his desk. When I chance a look at Leo, he’s fighting a smile.

What the fuck?

“Something funny?” Sparrow grits out.

“We don’t need you two hotheads to ‘rough up’ anyone,” Leo says, shaking his head. “Just keep out of trouble, avoid my father, and you’ll be fine. We’ll have Scout free soon enough.”

“Perhaps,” Lucian offers, “you should find something to focus on until that time. Something productive and legal.”

“Like what?” I ask, frowning.

“What do you want to do?” Leo asks.

“Go to Harvard,” I grumble, trying not to let hope trickle in. “Don’t suppose you could make that happen.”

“And here I thought you’d demand something impossible. I know some people. I’ll make some calls.”

“For real?” I gape at him, waiting for him to say he’s fucking with me. He doesn’t. In fact, he seems pretty confident about knowing some people and actually being capable of making this happen.

Holy shit. We’re going back to college. For real this time.

* * *

“We should go on a trip,” Landry says, taking my hand in hers, dragging me to the present. “Get away for awhile.” She frowns. “When Scout gets out, of course.”

I hear the if in her voice. If he gets out.

He will. It’s just taking longer than we want.

“I always wanted to go camping,” I tell her. “A cabin in the mountains. We could go hiking and shit.”

“Sparrow is too precious to camp,” Landry teases. “He’s a city boy through and through.”

He flips her off. “You’re an asshole, Laundry.”

“Learned it from you, baby.” She blows him a kiss.

Their banter is cut short by a knock on the door. Sparrow shoots me a questioning look and I deposit Landry onto her own cushion on the couch and out of my lap to go answer the door. We’re not expecting anyone which means it could be Ty since he’s the only one who shows up unannounced.

I peek through the hole and am confused to see a woman.

“Who is it?” Sparrow demands.

“Not sure.” I open the door and take in the woman before me. “Sandra?”

She’s still the severe, cold woman I remember, her bun so tight, her eyes are pulled in a strange, inhuman shape. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she was an alien. Fucking creepy to be honest.

“Can I help you?” I demand, anger flashing hot in my veins.

This woman lived with these girls for years and never did anything to stop that man. Why is she at our apartment right now? To threaten us? Ask for money? What the fuck.

“I need to speak to Miss Croft,” she says in a tight voice. “Please.”

“Nah,” I grind out, crossing my arms over my chest. “You can speak to me. I’ll relay the message.”

She darts her stare into the apartment, trying to catch a peek of Landry. I step in front of her line of vision, blocking her attempt. A huff of frustration escapes her.

“Please,” she begs. “It’s important. I have to give her something. Something I should have given her a long time ago.” Her eyes tear up, humanizing her for a split second. She quickly blinks them away and affixes me with a firm stare. “I won’t leave until I’ve spoken to her.”

For fuck’s sake.

“Honey,” I call out. “You want to talk to Sandra?”

“Sandra?” Landry’s feet pad across the wood floors until she’s behind me. “What are you doing here?”

“Can we talk?” Sandra asks.

I step out of the way, letting Landry see the woman.

“Yes,” Landry says. “But out here. I don’t want Della to wake. She’s already confused about everything enough as it is. Seeing you will upset her.”

Sandra nods in understanding. “It’ll be quick. I just need to give you this.” She pulls open her purse, fishes something out, and hands it to Landry. “Everything you’ll need is on there.”

Landry takes the USB drive and frowns at it. “What do you mean?”

Sandra pales and tears fill her eyes once more. “I was scared too, you know. Terrified of what he might do to the both of you.” A tear streaks down her cheek and she absently swipes it away. “I thought if I was there, keeping an eye on things, I could control it. That he wouldn’t take it as far as he took things with your mother.”