It’s hard seeing her this way. Of all the things I can do to protect her, this is the best one. She’ll be with her mother and with a family that isn’t wrapped up in the drama of Macedon’s vicious underworld. As long as she stays close to Cynthia and Evelyn Welles, she’ll have a better chance of surviving this ridiculous life.
“Addie.” I try to sound positive, but I just feel exasperated at this point. “I can’t explain it any better to you. It’s something you’ll understand later. And you’ll thank me for it.”
“I don’t know about that, Tommy.”
She can’t be that mad if she’s using my nickname. She reaches under her bed, takes out a small safe, and produces her handgun. As she packs that away in one of her suitcases, she sighs.
“This is stupid,” she claims. “I don’t want to go.”
“Well, you don’t have to go until I graduate.”
She groans. “That’s coming up so soon!”
“Yeah, May sort of snuck up on us, didn’t it?” I rub my chin, feeling the stubble growing there. As I shrug my shoulders, I focus on Addie, managing to wear a reassuring grin. “Aren’t you excited to see your big brother graduate high school?”
“I suppose so.”
I chortle while taking her hands, squeezing them. “Come on. Give me a smile.”
She pouts. “No.”
“Princess Adelaide of the highest tower in the greatest country known to elves,” I state as regally as possible. A smirk tugs at her lips that she attempts to quell. My smile widens as I continue, “Won’t you please allow the kingdom to witness the beauty of your smile?”
“It won’t work.” Her lips quiver as she tries to turn her face away. “I’m not ten years old anymore, Tommy.”
I shrug. “But you’re still Princess Adelaide. You’ll always be the most gorgeous princess who ever lived.”
“Even prettier than Alex?” She looks at me, eyes free of insecurity. She’s more curious than anything. “You look at her like she’s a treasure or something.”
“You can’t possibly compare yourself to Alex.”
She hums thoughtfully, bowing her head as she whispers, “No, but you’re choosing her.”
“Is that what this is about?”
“Tommy, I don’t understand why you’re going with her and not taking me, too. I can shoot, and I’m learning self-defense.”
My shoulders slump. It doesn’t matter what I say to soothe her. She’ll be upset regardless of how much I emphasize the importance of her safety. “Those things are great, Addie. But they won’t be enough.”
“I’ll be with you.”
I shake my head, knowing it’s just not good enough. She withdraws to her dresser and lifts a brush, mindfully running the bristles through her hair. Not another word passes between us. I set her full suitcases near the door and study my surroundings, a feeling of regret sliding through my system.
“I promise you’ll understand,” I tell her. “Eventually.”
She looks at me in the dresser mirror, holding my gaze for a moment as she continues to brush her hair. But as I drift to the door, she turns away, ignoring my exit as though I’m just another maid cleaning up after her.
My sister is strong. She’ll be fine without me while I build an empire of my own on the West Coast. Once the others agreed it was the best course of action, I put my own plans into effect, squaring away my sister’s safety as soon as I could speak to Cynthia. Mother is doing well under her care. I don’t see why Adelaide can’t benefit from it, too.
When I make it to my bedroom, I consider my plans for the rest of the day. Homework sits untouched on my desk. I can just pay someone else to do it. I might not pass with flying colors, but I’ll fucking pass and get my diploma. At this point, my grades seem so superfluous compared to everything else I must face.
Who cares about school when there’s a murderer on the loose?
* * *
When I text Alex, I use the encryption app that Adelaide recommended after her silent treatment concluded. Alex gives me her location—in the pool house on the Moretti estate—and I head in that direction, using an old dirt road to head toward the property. I park under a heavy canopy, lock up my truck, and walk the rest of the way through thick bushes and towering trees.
Alex waits for me at the rear door, standing on her toes to kiss my cheek. “Thanks for coming.”