Page 101 of Mercy & Malice

Micah looks to Luca, “Are we really going to just let him walk around and get away with everything?”

Luca replies, “The end goal is her safety. I don’t see how else this concludes without him causing her more harm or us drawing more suspicion onto ourselves.”

Micah gradually moves a few feet in front of his father. “And how do you know we won’t go back on our deal?”

“I have some insurance.” Donald takes a step closer to Micah. “I have proof of Julian’s murder. So, all I have to do is hand it over to the authorities, and you have a permanent cage all lined up. It only takes a word from me or a missed check-in, and the evidence is sent.”

Luca moves to stand shoulder to shoulder with Micah. “And what’s our guarantee that you won’t go rogue?”

“You could easily prove I was involved in the kidnapping. So, if I renege on my end, confess all my sins to the world. We each have blackmail to implicate the other. And neither of us want to end up in prison or dead. So again, we all want the same thing. Let’s pretend this never happened.”

How the hell can I just pretend this never happened? The guy must think I have one hell of an imagination.

Donald turns to me. “And you want your mother safe and sound, so we all have something to lose. Don’t cross me, and I’ll extend the same courtesy.”

I keep a sneer on him. “Little late for courtesy. And I have the scars to prove it.”

He bows his head to me. “My apologies.”

Micah asks, “What if we say no?”

“Then we can have a shootout, see who’s left standing and who ends up stuck in the cage.” Donald motions to me.

Luca and Micah say something that I can’t hear. I see the rigidness in Micah spread as he moves nose to nose with his father. “If you ever go near her again, I swear to God, I’ll kill you myself and sit in prison for the rest of my life without an ounce of regret.”

“You have my word.” Donald takes a step back and claps once. “I just want to move past this. I have a lot of pressing business that has fallen by the wayside, and I need to focus on things of significance, not battling my own flesh and blood.”

Donald extends his arm.

Micah doesn’t accept the handshake before he seethes, “Let. Her. Out.”

Donald glances to me over his shoulder. “She hasn’t made her choice.”

Micah walks past him as he begs me, “Please trust me. This is the only way that we all can get out of here.”

It takes every bit of my strength to look at Donald and nod. “Yes.”

He signals Vincent to lower his pistol then walks over and unlocks the door of the cage. Micah reaches for me, but I tuck my arms to my chest and pass him to stand next to Luca as Troy moves on my other side.

Donald states, “There’s one more minor detail to clear up. The police will probably be at your grandparents. You need to agree that you just left to clear your head.”

I clench my jaw as I grit out, “Fine.”

Donald gives me what I assume is his intimidation gape. “Don’t test me, young lady. Everyone will pay.”

“They already have.” I should be scared. I’m just tired and want to leave this nightmare. “But I’ll keep your revolting secrets if you stay away from my mother.”

“I’ll break it off within the next few months.” Donald speaks like we’re just making a deal for a used car he no longer wants instead of covering up murders, kidnapping, and ending an engagement.

As we walk out of the building, Micah goes to say something, but I cut him off. “I can’t right now.”

I’m barely holding it together as it is. If I let reality sink in, I’ll fall to pieces. And he’s usually the one who puts me together best. I need to get through this day on my own. I just need to lie about Vincent grabbing me from Mawmaw’s and pretend Donald isn’t a creep. Then pretend none of this ever happened. All of it. Even Micah and me.

Troy drapes his jacket over my shoulders. When he helps me into the passenger seat of his truck, he hesitates to shut the door before he says, “I’m so sorry, Brooke. I should’ve gone inside with you.”

“It’s not your fault. It’s his.” I don’t specify whom I blame. Because right now, I don’t know. Though I definitely blame myself for being so stupid, naive, and gullible.

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