Page 50 of Obsessed Fox

"I'm only going to say this once." Hendrix's voice was the opposite of my brother's. It was low and deadly and kinda scared me a bit. "If you don't want me to shoot your ass, I suggest you check your attitude when talking to your sister."

Matty must've realized the threat was real because the next time words came out of his mouth, they weren't nearly as loud but they were accusatory. "You had to keep looking, didn't you? You couldn't just leave it well enough alone."

"Why don't you come to the kitchen and tell me what you're talking about?"

I didn't understand why he was so upset.

Matty pushed past Hendrix with a bump to the shoulder and stormed straight to the back of the house where the kitchenwas located. I merely shrugged my shoulders at Hendrix since I didn't understand what my brother’s problem was.

As soon as we entered the kitchen, Matty started on Hendrix. "Are you going to put that away?" He nodded to where Hendrix kept the gun down at his side.

"That depends on your attitude. I don't need it to do some damage but it's a hell of a lot quicker."

I tried to bring the tension down in the room. "There will be no shooting anyone tonight. I've seen enough blood spilling from a person to last me a lifetime."

"I warned you to stop looking and you didn't. Now everything is going to shit," my brother repeated for the umpteenth time.

"You keep saying that but you're not making any sense," I argued back. "What's gone to shit?"

"Everything I've worked toward the last twelve years."

I stumbled back like he physically slapped me and that was exactly how hearing him say that felt. "You mean your position within The New Beginning? I didn't want to believe it. Irefusedto believe it. Hell, I argued in your defense!"

"It's not what you think," he was quick to reply.

"Oh really, Matthew? Then tell me what it is because from what I've been told, you took over for Atlas after he died."

"Yes, I did."

Hearing his confession was so much worse than hearing it from Hendrix or Nolen. At least with them I could bury my head in the sand. Now I had to face the truth.

"Unbelievable. I thought you were better than that, Matthew."

This time, when I turned away from my brother, it wasn't because I was being forced to. This time I wanted to be as far away from him as possible.

"Marmar, wait!"

"No!" I swung back around and stomped over to him, jabbing my finger in his chest. "We talked repeatedly about how bad Atlas and his followers were. We talked about stopping them for what they were doing to women and now I find out you spent the last twelve years being one of them? Excuse me if I’m having a hard time grasping things despite what I’ve learned the past few days."

I once again spun away to leave. I was over this conversation and didn't care if I never saw my brother again. He wasn't the man I thought he was.

"I didn't have a choice but to take over for Atlas after you killed him."

I skidded to a stop. I couldn't turn around to face him and my voice shook when I asked, "So this is my fault?"

"No." I could hear the desperation in his voice. "Please just let me explain. I promise you it's not what you think."

"Maisie, I think you should hear him out."

I was so used to Hendrix calling me “sweetheart” that it jarred me when he used my real name. Or at least, the name I assumed when I came to Willow Creek.

"Fine." I turned on my heel, my arms crossed over my chest because I needed the added protection. "I'm listening but only because Hendrix asked me to."

"Thank you." Matthew took a deep breath. "Do you remember when I got arrested the week before you left?"

I nodded by head. Words escaped me. I remember how scared I was thinking he was going away to prison and I wouldn't get to see him every day. Little did I know, a worse fate would happen instead.

"I should've gone to jail that day. I thought for sure I was going to, but while I was sitting in the interrogation room, an FBI agent came in to speak to me. He offered me a deal. No jail time if I agreed to help the FBI to bring down Atlas and his silentpartner. At first I wasn't going to agree but then Sarah confessed she was pregnant and practically begged me to take the deal."

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