Page 6 of Deadly Little Hearts

“I wasn’t allowed to.When they banished us, that was part of the reason.Dominic made it very clear that Alec wasn’t part of The Brotherhood anymore, even though he had Fox blood running through his veins.”

“Why didn’t you at least tell me when he went missing?Did you wonder if they’d killed him, thinking someone had spilled the truth about his father?”Dominic was the ultimate villain in Alec’s death, but surely information like that could have helped us find him.

Mom shakes her head.“I called George—he swore it wasn’t him.”A sad sheen glasses her eyes.“And I know he wouldn’t lie to me.We may not have made it as a couple, but once, he loved me.That’s the only reason I was allowed to leave with my life.”

“Why?Why were you asked to leave?”I know full well that we were banished because of her habit, but I want to hear it from her mouth.To see if she takes responsibility for her actions.

“Because ...because ...I—” She sighs, dropping her head into her hands.“Don’t make me say it, Freya.I know I fucked up.I’ve been fucking up every day since, and it kills me that now Alec has paid the price for my mistakes.They took him from us, just like they said they would.I want to kill that bitch—everything is her fault.”

“She’s dead,” I say, and Mom whirls around, staring at me.She smiles, and I’m taken aback.I haven’t seen her beam like this for years.

“Thank fuck for that, and the world is good again.”She leans back in her seat, and I don’t want to ask anything more today.I don’t want to push her any further, because I’m afraid she’ll turn back to the one thing that fucked everything up for us.

I don’t feel good about killing Nadine.Hell, I wish I could go back and undo what I’ve done.But I can’t.Besides, she ruined my family, enabled my mother’s drug habit, and took my brother from me.

Lucas shared a brother with me, and we never knew.Lucas never had the privilege of really knowing Alec, and that’s a shame.All because The Brotherhood believed they could do what they like, take what they like, without consequence.

Yeah.Now that the boys are in charge, something has to change.And if they’re not up for it, maybe I can help convince them.

Mom and I stay outside in a comfortable silence, finishing our coffees and listening to the birds sing.Somewhere in the trailer park, a man is yelling at his son, arguing over who’ll take the trash out.Stupid shit.I check my phone and curse.

“I’ve gotta get to work.You good?”I ask, standing and collecting our dishes.

“Yep, I’m just going to stay out here for a bit.Think Jessie is coming over later to keep me company,” she answers, closing her eyes, and before I can think twice, I press a kiss against her cheek.My heart thumps against my rib cage, waiting for her to shove me away, but she doesn’t.I haven’t kissed my mother like that for years.

I move back into the house.A tear slides down my cheek, and I quickly place the dishes into the sink, wiping the tear away.If only Alec was here to see her.

It feels like someone reaches into my chest and pulls my heart out, squeezing it until it pops.It’s been almost two months now since I found him, and I thought, with time, it would be less painful, but it isn’t.Everything that’s been happening makes me wish Alec was here with me, like he should be.

Resting my arms on my knees, I lean forward, waiting for Amirah to show up.Being around my mother this past week has reminded me how much I’ve missed her.It’s also made me realize what our life could be like if we had more freedom—something I need to get the guys on board with.We need change around here, and now that they are leaders, they have that kind of power.

Amirah’s pink Bentley Bacalar pulls up in front of me, and I stand up off the sidewalk in front of the diner, brushing the dirt from my ass.Opening the passenger door, I slide in, and Amirah leans over the console, crushing me in a hug.

“I fucking missed you, girl.Next time you’re gone for a week, I’m coming to drag your ass home,” she declares, before pulling back, and I laugh.

“I missed you too.”I click my seat belt into place and fall back against the plush leather seat.

“Now, I want all the details about what you’ve been doing every hour, minute, and second since you’ve been gone,” she demands, and for the car ride back to her place, I do just that.

She pulls into her driveway and parks in the front of their house.“Holy shit, babe.I can’t believe your mom is sober.That’s so good!”

“Yeah, I just hope it lasts this time.You know how many times she’s tried before, but she hasn’t ever gotten this far.Now that she’s through the worst of the withdrawals, hopefully she can keep going.”

I don’t think I can handle another day of cleaning up her vomit and changing the sheets from her excessive sweating.

I follow Amirah into the Ledger mansion, and she moves through the foyer, heading for the kitchen.

“My fingers are crossed, and if I can do anything to help, just let me know.That’s what best friends are for.”She wraps her arm over my shoulder, and I lean into her.I’ve missed her this past week.I feel closer to her than ever after the fight with Lucas.Not being around my friends has been hard.

“I was thinking we could watch a movie, eat until our tummies are sore, then pass out?”Her face beams.

“Sounds perfect, but I do need to see the guys first to run some things past them.Is that okay?”

Amirah huffs.“Fine, that’ll give me time to get everything ready for our slumber party.”She disappears into the pantry.

“Do you know where they are?”I ask.

“When I last saw Gage, he was in his bedroom.”

---