Page 92 of My Darling Mayhem

“How do you know it’s not a trap, you agreeing to come meet us…what makes you assume I just won’t let my boys kill you?”

I had no assurances whatsoever, but it wouldn’t make a difference at this point. I had to try for the sake of Wren.

“I plan to ask your sister to marry me. I plan to have a child with her. I plan to buy your mother earrings for Christmas next year. I plan to meet whoever else is over in North Carolina. I think that means something to you, and because Wren means something to you, you’ll make sure I stay alive.”

Juan was quiet, and then he let out a small laugh.

“Get my mother pearls.”

“Why?”

His voice sounded light as if he were amused. “Because she hates them, but she’ll feel obligated to wear them. I would pay money to see her put on an act for an entire evening just because she wouldn’t want to offend you.”

I was curious if perhaps his wife had made that mistake once, remembering what his mother had said about treating her poorly.

“What else?” I asked, hoping this was a negotiation.

Juan waited, then added, “I want to attend your wedding. It’s non-negotiable. I want to see my baby sister walk down the aisle.”

“Deal, but I’m on the fence regarding your spawn.”

“Fair,” Juan chuckled, “I’ll text you a meeting location.”

Urgency raced through me, along with panic and a little bit of fear. “It needs to be this Kyle person.”

“He headed this way the second I told him King and Gio had gone off book.”

My brows caved in as I processed that, and while I knew he probably wouldn’t answer, I asked anyway.

“Why would he do that?”

Juan was stoic as he replied, “Because they fear him.”

A text message from Buck came through on my phone, but my mind must have run away with me because while I pulled the phone away from my ear to check the text, I asked.

“Why fear him and not you?”

Juan was quiet for so long that I assumed he had hung up. Then he finally said, “We’ll just say they gave Kyle a good enough reason to be feared.”

Something about his tone told me it was a painful story, which I’d imagine would be hard for any parent to tell. I hadn’t known Juan for more than two seconds, so I understood that.

“I’ll text you the address.”

TWENTY-TWO

WREN

The small townof Rake Forge, where my brother lived in North Carolina, was a few hours from Atlas. We had to stop and switch drivers by hour four because I was falling asleep. By morning, the boys were hungry and ready to stretch their legs. We ate, we walked, and then we got back into the car. All while we drove, not once did my mother speak of the twins.

She didn’t speak negatively of their behavior or try to justify it. She kept a stern hold on the wheel while she remained focused on the road, but she didn’t bring up what had happened or how much she’d seen or heard.

My nervous system needed the quiet and the peaceful drive to process what had happened. My heart throbbed with pain from that look in my brother’s eyes when I mentioned that his sons were nothing to me.

Why did I feel torn regarding those boys?

They’d come into my home, where my son lived, and threatened the man I loved. They even said they didn’t exactly care for me…

But they looked so much like Juan.

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