“You good?” he asks.
“So good,” I reply. “You?” I am beyond excited about what the next chapter of our lives will bring.
“Perfect,” he says just as there is a brisk knock at the door. The door opens, and the doctor sticks her head in the door.
“Hello, Brynn, dear. I just wanted to let you know that the baby is registering a little bit bigger than normal for this stage at twelve weeks,” Doctor Patel says.
“What causes that?” I ask, worried.
“It’s nothing to be concerned about. Conception probably happened a week or two before we thought.”
“Oh, okay,” I reply lamely. Of course, that would be the reason. I am so stupid. Why do I not know things like that?
“Go ahead and get dressed and stop by the front desk to schedule your next appointment. About a month from now unless something comes up.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Brendan says, helping me sit up.
On the way out, we make our next appointment. Brendan kisses me before heading back to work. Joel, my bodyguard for the last few weeks, drives my car, and we make our way to Brooklyn. I am helping Colleen organize a guest room. Joel waits in the car, as the O’Neal house is checked daily by one of my dad’s foot soldiers. While Colleen and James aren’t in the circle of trust yet, they are outliers that need protection because I am in their lives.
When I get to the house there is a box on the porch addressed to me, with no return address or postage. Someone was at the house. I take it off the porch and away from the front door. I shake the box but do not hear anything, nor do I hear any ticking. Joel bursts out of the car.
“What is it, Mrs. O’Neal?” he asks, skidding to a stop next to me. I know I should wait for literally anyone else in my family to come and get the package, but no one even knows that I am here. How and why is this box here? It makes no sense.
“I don’t know,” I reply, ripping the box open. Inside, I find a doll that I had as a child nestled in tissue paper. Attached to her leg is a note that reads: Last chance. Come to me willingly or suffer the consequences. Divorce your husband, or he will be the first person I kill while you watch.
First of all, I threw this doll in the garbage probably fifteen years ago, maybe more. To think that someone dug around in the trash at my house to find this, and then kept it for fifteen years, makes me sick. I turn and throw up in the yard. My stomach was already queasy, but this sent me over the edge. Secondly, how the hell can I come to him willingly if I have no idea who he is? It does not make sense, but it probably never will. That’s the thing about crazy. It defies all logic. Joel takes the box and puts it in the trunk of my car. Next, I text Bart and Brendan, while Joel makes some calls as well. The immediate response from Brendan makes me wish I had not included him. He tells me to stay there. He will be here soon. He doesn’t sound happy, and I don’t know what that means exactly.
What have I gotten myself into?
Chapter 19
Brendan
I arrive at my parents’ house as quickly as possible, but because of rush hour traffic, I get there two hours later than I wanted to.
“Joel,” I say, coming up to her bodyguard. He’s with the package, by the car. Brynn went inside with my mom earlier.
“What is the situation?” I ask, calmer than I thought I would be. At least she wasn’t alone, and it wasn’t worse than it was. There could have been anything in that damn box. God knows what could have happened, and I wasn’t with her. Guilt claws at my insides.
“The package was on the porch when we arrived. Brynn thought it was a package for your parents. She picked it up, saw it was for her, brought it away from the house immediately. Thinking that was weird, I got out of the car quickly. I was with her when she opened it. It’s a toy. Apparently, a doll from her childhood. She threw it in the trash years ago.”
“She’s sure it’s the same one?” I ask, looking at the toy.
“Yes, sir. Positive. It’s the same one. It’s missing an eye and an arm.”
“I better go check on her,” I say, shaking his hand.
“Of course.”
“Bart will be here soon. You guys can check it out for bugs or anything like that.”
“No problem,” he says.
Inside the house, I hear music playing and find Brynn and Mom drinking tea in the fancy living room I wasn’t allowed in as a child.