“They didn’t get the drop on me,” I say. My ego still stings from that fucking mace spray. “I fought them off.”

  “Did you see his face?” Dad replies.

  “Are you okay, honey?” Mom asks, concern etched across her face.

  A long time ago, I would’ve been easily softened by this expression of hers. But I’ve learned that she can be a convincingly good actress when she needs to be. In old age, they’ve both learned to really milk the most out of their “friendly neighborly pensioner” vibe, particularly in the eyes of the law.

  “I’m okay. And so is Kellan. He had it way worse,” I say.

  Kellan cuts in. “We’re here to ask you some questions because there are one too many coincidences already, and we need to clear the air.”

  “Son, you can ask us whatever questions you want,” Dad replies, shaking his head slowly. “We’ve got nothing to hide.”

  My brother chuckles dryly. “We all know that’s not true but okay, we’ll go with that. Let’s start with the simplest one. Have you had any contact with Charlene Maddox since she got out of prison and moved back to Hershey?”

  Mom and Dad exchange curious glances. “No,” Mom declares. “Absolutely not. We know not to associate with criminal elements these days.”

  If the situation weren’t so fucking serious, I’d be rolling on the ground at her response, laughing my ass off. But I keep my emotions to myself and watch my brother as he continues with his brief but surprisingly efficient interview.

  “Alright. Have you heard from her at all? Has she tried reaching out to you?”

  “No,” Mom says.

  That’s a bald-faced lie. They’d be the first ones Charlene would call. Kellan just doesn’t have a warrant to scour through their communications—yet. He gives me a quick look, as if to quietly assure me that he knows they’re not being truthful, then continues his focus back on our parents.

  “You would tell us if she does reach out, right?”

  “Of course,” Dad says.

  “Do you know any of her associates? Can you give us a couple of names to look into?” Kellan asks.

  Mom frowns slightly. “Honey, do you think Charlene had something to do with the attacks on you and your brother?”

  “I have my suspicions.”

  “We don’t know who she’s hanging out with these days,” Dad says. “But I can certainly look through my email archive and give you a couple of names she might’ve dropped from years ago.”

  “You need to understand something,” Mom feels the need to add. “We may have our differences, the four of us. Legal and personal differences. Arguments. You can even call them conflicts, though you two are the ones who are constantly trying to go to war with us.” Ah, there it was, the victim card I didn’t miss. “But there is one thing that your father and I would never do, and that is hurt our own children. The buck stops there, okay? You are our sons. Our flesh and blood. What happened to you is awful, and we would never allow nor condone such actions.”

  Kellan gives me another brief look, and Dad notices.

  “Boys, you’re both pigheaded and stupid as hell sometimes, but your mother and I raised you. We brought you into this world, dammit. I have accepted that you’ve both decided to be ungrateful and defiant, I have. I would never in a million years allow anyone to hurt you, though. And for what it’s worth, I’ve already started asking around regarding your attacks. Once I find out who it was, they’d better hope you get to them first. No one hurts a Cassidy and lives to brag about it.”

  “That’s mighty noble of you, Pop,” I reply with a wry smirk.

  “I mean it,” he snaps, throwing an angry glare back at me. “I could smack you myself. I could curse you out. I could do plenty of things to still make your life miserable if I wanted, but I would never pay someone to hurt you. Get it through your thick head, Fallon.”

  Kellan nods slowly. “Good. I’m glad we’ve cleared that up. And I’m also glad to know you feel this way. Regardless of our legal skirmishes, I wouldn’t want to have to look at you as suspects for the attacks on us. Dad, please, do send me whatever names you can think of which I may be able to connect to Charlene. I’m hoping I won’t have to go after her again, but if I do, I’ll need all the intel I can get.”

  “Of course,” he says.

  “Don’t you two want to come inside, though?” Mom insists. “It’s been so long since the four of us have been together like this.”

  I can’t help but smile. “Together like this? You mean like you two playing the innocents while we suspect you of potentially being involved in attempts made on our lives?”

  “Fallon,” Mom exhales sharply, her shoulders dropping in defeat.

  “Thank you for the invitation,” Kellan politely interjects. “But we need to be on our way. I have to warn you both, though—stay away from Charlene. Don’t buy anything she might be selling. Keep your noses clean. You’ve got plenty of suits already breathing down your necks.”

  “You don’t need to remind us of that,” Dad grumbles and waves us away as he turns and walks back to the ranch house. “Come on, Lizzie. I’m hungry, and these two ungrateful bastards aren’t sticking around.”

  “Nice to see you again, too, Dad,” I quip and get into my brother’s car.

  Mom lingers, watching, as Kellan slips into the driver’s seat and starts the engine. The shadow of a smile flutters across her face. I catch a glimpse of it in the sideview mirror just as we drive out and leave the ranch house behind us.

  Minutes pass in silence while Kellan keeps his eyes firmly on the road. I can see the muscle flexing in his jaw.

  “Did you believe them?” he asks me.

  “Maybe. They made a valid point back there,” I concede with a frustrated groan. “But then that would mean Charlene did this without their consent or knowledge.”

  “If she did it. We can’t prove anything yet.”

  “I know. But whether she did it or not, Mom and Dad have her in their sights, now.”

  He briefly looks at me. “Do you reckon they’ll confront her about it?”

  “Oh, I’m sure they’ve already spoken. I didn’t buy the whole no-contact nonsense,” I say. “I don’t know if they addressed this issue in particular, but—”

  “If they haven’t, they will absolutely address it now,” he says. “Dad’s honor compels him.”

  “Honor,” I scoff. “There’s not a single honorable bone in that old bastard’s body.”

  “Okay, his ego. His ego compels him.” Kellan lets a heavy sigh roll out from the bottom of his chest. “I wish they’d done things differently. I wish they’d listened to us when we first came back. You know we’re gonna have to put them both away, eventually.”

  “I know.”

  But let’s take our problems out one at a time. Mom and Dad will still be here when we’re done with Charlene or whoever it is behind these attacks.”

  “One problem at a time,” I echo his words, my mind slowly drifting back into the cold and dark arms of the past. I always feel so ambiguous after I see my parents. It’s so damn uncomfortable.

  My stomach feels heavy, and so does my heart. We were kids. We deserved better. And that is something our parents will never be able to fix or undo. The damage they did is everlasting, but we’ve grown better and stronger despite their abuse, despite their toxic manipulation tactics and narcissism. And we’ve started building a better and stronger family of our own. A family that we will go to the ends of the earth in order to protect.

  I will burn everything down. Every fucking bridge. Every fucking person that stands in our way. There’s not a single doubt in my mind about it. And there isn’t a single doubt in Kellan or Luke’s minds, either. We’re on the same page. Avery, the girls, and our unborn child must be protected at all costs. Whoever came after us will more than likely try to get to them, too.

  But they’ll have to go through me first.

  21

  Avery

  Seeing Kellan in that hospital bed did one hell of a number on me. There are things happening around us, things that the guys are doing their damned best not to tell me about. I don’t like the secrecy, but I think I finally understand why they’re so keen to protect me by keeping me in the dark. Just knowing that somebody wanted Kellan hurt or worse is enough to have me living every day on a razor-sharp edge. My existence would be easier if I didn’t know. I guess ignorance really is bliss.

  But the downside to ignorance is not seeing the trouble when it’s headed my way. It’s better to be aware, prepared, and understandably scared than completely unaware and unprepared when tragedy inevitably strikes.

  With that in mind, I let my men handle their affairs and the ensuing investigation into Kellan’s assault. All I can do is focus on my life, my work, and most importantly, the two wonderful little girls I’m raising. Besides, I’ve got a third bundle of joy on the way. There simply isn’t enough bandwidth in my brain to deal with everything that is going on. Armed with patience and deep breaths, I leave the house and get behind the wheel, checking the time on my phone.

  It'll be another twenty minutes before Annie and Miley get out of school, so I take the longer route through Hershey in order to get there. Yet there’s still this constant, nagging feeling that I’m being followed, so I consistently check the rearview mirror. Before long, two cars behind me, I see it. That same dark green sedan. A few more turns, and I look again. Still there.

  “Who the hell are you?” I whisper. Given what happened to Kellan, I can’t help but make unpleasant connections. What if this green sedan is linked to the attack at that stash house? What if there’s some sort of conspiracy unraveling against us? What if I’m simply losing my mind?

  It’s shameless to hound somebody like this. But then again, it could just be a coincidence. It could be another Hershey resident and I have no proof that it isn’t. Shaking the thoughts away, I decide to be careful nonetheless, so I give Helen a call and ask her to meet me outside the school.

  I pull up and check the rearview mirror again. The sedan isn’t there anymore. Either I lost them or they simply went on with their day, paying no mind to a raving lunatic like me.

  “You’re lucky I was just down the road, running some errands,” Helen quips upon seeing me.

  I give her a long, tight hug, and try to think of a way to make myself appear less rattled while I figure out another way to prove one or more of my theories wrong. “I need a favor,” I tell her. “Can you take the girls out for ice cream and have them stay with you at the house for the night? I’ll pay double for the night hours.”

  “Honey, is everything okay?” Helen asks, visibly worried as she carefully analyzes my face.

  “Yes. Yes, I promise. I just need some time to myself, and you’re the only one I trust with Annie and Miley. I need to clear my head, think things through.”

  “Are you sure, Avery?”

  “Yes. Just for the night, and I’ll be by in the morning to pick them up. They have an overnight bag always ready in the trunk of my car, I’ll give it to you.”

  She nods slowly. “Okay. Leave them with me, no problem at all. I’m always happy to spend time with those two firecrackers, anyway.”

  “Thank you, Helen. I’ll buy you a Greek dinner at Niko’s Tavern when I get a bigger paycheck,” I reply, laughing lightly.

  “Don’t worry about that, Avery. Do your thing, clear your head, and please patch things up with the boys. They are utterly miserable without you at the house.” Helen sighs deeply, and I can only respond by lowering my gaze for a long second. I know they’re miserable, as am I. But I made a decision and I need to enforce it, otherwise I lose respect for myself.

  “We will figure things out,” I tell her. “We’re just going through a phase, working on some issues, as you already know. But we will find our way back to each other.”

  “I sure hope so. What the four of you have is unique, I’ll say that much.”

  “I got lucky, yes,” I reply. “But they also need to understand that I have boundaries. Boundaries I can never let anyone cross again. They need to trust me enough to tell me certain things, and I need to know that I can trust them to be fully honest with me. I’ve already lived with a lying narcissist, Helen. I can’t go through those motions again.”

  “Oh, honey, believe me, I get it,” Helen reaches out and hugs me tightly for a long, sweet moment. I welcome the embrace and the affection that comes with it.

  Once I make sure she has my girls in tow along with their overnight bag, I kiss the three of them goodbye and go on another drive around town to clear my head—and to see if that green sedan shows up again.

  But my ride through Hershey is lonesome and quiet. There’s a little bit of traffic as people are coming from their jobs and kids are getting out of school. The streets are narrow and congested, yet I don’t spot the sedan anywhere. Content that I may have simply overthought the situation again, I head back home with Kellan, Fallon, and Luke swirling through my mind.

  It’s strange that we don’t live together anymore. It only took a few months for me to become so hopelessly addicted to them. Only a few months for my heart and my body to become irreversibly bonded to theirs. Even with their nightly visits, I still feel like a baby bird that has just fallen out of the nest, bare and lonely out on the sidewalk. I get out of my car and my body involuntarily freezes for a second.

  There’s that tingling sensation again, chills running down my spine as an unseen presence looms somewhere nearby. The evening falls in shades of blue and purple across the sky, stars shyly twinkling as they emerge into the growing night. There are people around—neighbors walking their dogs, a couple of joggers darting down the street, the next-door kids riding their bikes—yet it doesn’t feel safe. I’m definitely being watched.

  I look around, over and over again. I make eye contact with passersby, but none rattle me as much as the unseen presence insists on rattling me. Tension gathers between my shoulder blades as I clutch my phone and keys tightly, the keychain jingling as I make my way up the front steps of the house. The sooner I get inside, the better I will feel.

  “Avery.”

  A woman’s voice startles me, prompting me to stop and spin on my heels as she approaches. I don’t even recognize her at first, but then it dawns on me. The red hair, the bold blue eyes, the crimson lipstick, the tall and thin physique. “Charlene,” I breathe, my heart skipping a beat. “What are you doing here?”

  “I’m so sorry,” she says, her shoulders dropping underneath her brown leather coat. Only then do I see the gift basket she’s holding filled with French tarts, a bottle of French wine, and a selection of hors d’oeuvres in fancy packaging. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “It’s okay. I just wasn’t expecting you.”

  “I know, and it doesn’t help that I came out of nowhere,” Charlene laughs nervously. “My car is parked down the street. I wasn’t sure you even wanted to see me.”

  “Why wouldn’t I want to see you?”

  She shrugs and hands me the basket. “Please, accept this token of my gratitude and appreciation, Avery. You deserve it and much, much more.”

  “Oh, Charlene, you shouldn’t have,” I reply, my cheeks flushed as I take the gift basket and set it on the porch. “What’s going on?”

  Charlene comes closer, a shy smile resting on her pretty face. My stomach tightens in her presence, which is something that has never happened before. But ever since Kellan’s incident, I’ve had an increasingly harder time trusting people—especially her—whom my men have already and persistently labeled as potentially dangerous. I can only roll with the punches and be cautious.

  “Avery, I think we got off on the wrong foot,” Charlene says. “Or, on a foot neither of us knew was there. Thing is, I didn’t know who you were when I approached you for the remodeling project. And my business with Kellan, Fallon, and Luke ended years ago in every sense. I need you to understand that. I would never do anything to cause you or the guys any sort of trouble or discomfort.”

  “Thank you for saying that” I reply, my gaze never leaving hers.

  “I also needed to clarify something. Yes, I have a criminal record. And yes, I served time in prison, but I promise none of my wrongdoings were of a violent nature,” she says, frowning slightly. “I had nothing to do with what happened to Kellan. I didn’t have any reason to do such a horrendous thing in the first place. I know they suspect me, but I can’t live another day like this. Another day with you thinking the worst about me.”

  “Charlene, I don’t think anybody suspects you, per se,” I try to appease her. “I think it’s more about looking at everybody with a criminal record who might have a bone to pick with Kellan. In your case, he did help put you away.”

  “That he most certainly did. I had it coming, though. Avery, I was out of control. Selfish, unkind, greedy, ruthless. I got in with the wrong people, and I did terrible things just to fill my bank accounts with money I didn’t even need,” she says, lowering her gaze. I’m sure it’s genuine shame that I see in her eyes, and I can’t ignore the tinge of sorrow currently staining my soul, either. I feel for Charlene, for the reformed criminal who seems sincere in her regrets. How painful it must be to see yourself in the mirror and realize how many people you’ve hurt with your actions, with your selfishness. “I did wrong, Avery. And I didn’t care who got in the way until I met Kellan and his brother. Luke, too. They must’ve told you awful things about me.”

  “Nothing that can’t be verified,” I reply bluntly.

  “Yes, well, they have other suspicions, too. Things I can’t prove that I didn’t do, things they can’t prove that I did. But at the end of the day, I need you to understand something, Avery. I’m not a bad person. I’ve done some bad things, yes, but I am trying to do better, to rebuild my life and to make a decent living. My criminal record does not, and should not define me, and I would really like to keep working with you.”

 

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