Page 80 of The One Before

“That girl was paid handsomely for the little yarn she told you.”

She’s enjoying this, revealing just how involved she’s been with everything from the start. Celia. Laura. My job in the city. I never realized how crucial a role she played in all these scenarios; I’m not sure Coop knew the measures his mother took to keep things on her terms.

“Can we leave?” Roman asks, scratching the back of his neck. He’s antsy, growing tired of hearing us talk. He must have some idea of what gruesome fate I’m about to meet, and he’s sick of stalling.

“You don’t have to do this, Roman,” I tell him, shifting my body to face him. “She can’t control you like this.”

“She’s not controlling me,” he bellows, but it’s unconvincing. His eyes bounce between us. “I’m sorry, Madison.”

“Don’t apologize to her,” Josephine says. “Besides, we’d never be in this mess if it weren’t for you. Haven’t you betrayed your brother enough?”

I’m not sure what this comment means, but it’s enough to wrestle Roman back into submission. He turns from both of us, waiting for his mother’s next order.

Sixty-Five

Helena

There are cars in the driveway, but in the dark, I don’t immediately recognize who they belong to. I park by the main road and walk toward Madison’s house. Old habits from spying on her. I can’t imagine who she might have enlisted to console her at this hour, but I don’t want to interrupt if it’s anyone important.

I mount the porch step, peering through the window to see who is inside. Madison is sitting on the couch. Across from her sits Josephine. Pacing between them is Roman, Cooper’s brother. A pang of sympathy breaks through for Josephine; some people might expect me to gloat in a moment like this, but I know how painful it is to lose a child. Cooper’s gone now, and although punishment is what he deserves, it’s no doubt a difficult conclusion for his mother to accept.

It’s best not to intrude on this family meeting. I slink down the steps but jerk my head back to the window when I hear a scream. Madison has fallen over the cushions. Roman jerks her to a standing position, keeping one hand on her shoulder. When she turns, I see her wrists are bound together in front of her body. Josephine remains seated, her back to the window. I’m not sure what I’m witnessing, but it can’t be good.

I skate back to my vehicle and retrieve my weapon from the glove compartment. I rush back to the porch, looking through the window. Now all three are standing. Josephine is poking at the fireplace, extinguishing the flames. Roman’s hands are still on Madison’s shoulders. She’s crying.

I flatten my body along the house.Think, I tell myself. I’m unsure what’s happening inside, but clearly Madison is distraught. Footsteps on the other side of the wall pound closer, approaching the front door.

Roman is the first outside. My arms are extended, so that when he steps on the porch, the tip of my gun aligns perfectly with his head. He jumps back.

“What the hell?”

“Back inside,” I say, stepping one foot inside the house.

Josephine’s pupils dilate when she sees the gun. Whatever they had planned for tonight, they weren’t expecting me to intrude with a weapon. I wasn’t expecting it either. My arms begin to shake, but my confidence builds when I see the frightened look on Madison’s face.

“Get back,” I say, using my gun to herd everyone away from the door. I reach behind and pull the knob, locking me inside with my terrified captives.

“Helena,” Madison shrieks. “You need to call the police.”

Is she frightened for me? Relieved I’m here? It’s hard to tell. All I can take in are her terrified eyes and bound wrists.

“What’s going on here?” I ask, utterly clueless as to what situation I’ve found myself in.

“Who are you?” Josephine asks. She meets me with that pious stare I memorized years ago. In the adrenaline-packed chaos, she doesn’t remember who I am. After a few moments, recognition sinks in and now Josephine’s terror matches that of Madison’s.

“They’re going to kill me for turning on Coop,” Madison says.

“Shut it,” Roman says, sinking his fingers into her shoulder blade. Madison writhes in pain. He looks to his mother. “Mom, who is this?”

“It’s Helena Price,” she answers, never taking her eyes off me. “Laura’s mother.”

Hearing my daughter’s name wilts the poor boy. He lets go of Madison and starts running toward the kitchen.

“Stop,” I shout, still unsure of what threat might exist if he leaves. Will he run away? Return with a weapon? Right now, my only advantage is the gun in my hand. I need to keep control of the situation, even if I’m unsure what that situation is. When he won’t stop retreating, I close my eyes and shoot.

The pop is loud and jarring, followed only a second later by the sound of Roman’s body hitting the floor. Josephine shrieks, pushing past me and Madison to reach her son. Madison falls back on the sofa, her mouth open as she stares ahead. I step forward, trying to assess what damage I’ve done. My body fills with relief when I hear Roman moaning and see I’ve only clipped his shoulder. He’s hurting, but he’s alive.

Josephine, kneeling beside her son, looks at me with tears in her eyes. “What have you done?”

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