Page 26 of Pretty Lethal
I don’t feel the relief I thought I would, possibly because it’s not the definitive 'yes, we are one hundred percent free from any backlash’answer I’d been hoping for, although it’s something.
“I can dig further, see if I can find anything else, but given who we’re dealing with, it’s risky,” West explains.
“Nah, man.” Hawk claps him on the shoulder. “You’ve done enough. Thanks for this.”
“Any time.” West gathers his things. However, before he leaves, he glances my way. “I hope what I found helps you put this all behind you.”
I give him a soft smile, muttering my thanks as he heads out.
When he’s gone, Wilder drops into his empty chair, pulling me down with him and threading his fingers through mine. “So, are we thinking Mel got kicked to the curb by her powerful, criminal family and left town? Then ran into Em, and her obsessive tendencies started up again, and what? Decided if her family didn’t want her that she’d start a new one with Emilia?”
“I think so,” Kai says with a shrug. “It’s the only theory we’ve got. We know Em and this Rebecca look a lot alike.”
“And Mel knew Emilia was working at the cafe the summer prior to her starting college,” Hawk adds. “If she was running from Boston, she might have been passing through and stopped for coffee, seen Emilia, and it would have reminded her of Rebecca. If she had no destination in mind, then she could have decided to stay in town. Discovered Emilia was a student at Halston and chose to enroll to get close to her.”
A shiver snakes down my spine. I had kind of figured that was the case, but hearing it out loud just adds a whole new ick factor to it all.
Noticing, Wilder pulls me in closer to his chest.
“At least this kind of explains how skilled she was at computers and her inclination toward murder,” Kai states.
“Does it?” I question with a frown.
“If she was trying to impress Daddy Dearest and maybe prove her worth to her family, she could have taught herself the computer stuff—or just because her father ignored her doesn’t mean someone else in the family didn’t take her under their wing. Still, her obsession with Rebecca would have gotten in the way, and no matter how much of an asset she maybe could have been, her father would always have seen her as a liability.”
“I almost feel a little sad for her,” I confess quietly. “She never stood a chance with a family like that.”
Wilder scoffs, clearly not agreeing with me. Staring me dead in the eyes, he states, “She was an ice-cold psychopath. Her daddy not loving her didn’t turn her into that, so don’t feel too sorry for the bitch.”
He has a point, and I sigh as I rub at the headache forming in my temples.
“At least we know now,” Hawk says. “We don’t need to worry about anyone coming after us, and we can move the fuck on from that bitch.”
We all agree, and depositing me back in Kai’s lap, Wilder bounces over to the fridge, grabbing a bottle of champagne from inside before reaching for some glasses.
“What are we celebrating?” I ask in confusion.
“Ehh, because we’re in the clear? The fact that we don’t have to spend another minute thinking about that psychotic bitch? Because it’s a Tuesday?” He shrugs, popping the cork. “Take your pick.” He pours each of us a glass before holding his in the air. “Here’s to taking down bitches and assholes.” He smirks at Hawk, and my eyes flick back and forth between them.
Hawk rolls his eyes but holds his glass up too. “And to questioning our decisions to forgive our friends.”
“Awh, did you two finally kiss and make up?” Kai teases.
Smiling at Kai, Wilder slings his arm over Hawk’s shoulder, much to Hawk’s annoyance.
“Pussy bros for life, man. Don’t worry, I’ve got a t-shirt for you, too.”
“Pussy bros?” I ask in confusion, looking first at Wilder, then Hawk and expecting him to provide some kind of clarity. I notice Kai sporting a similar puzzled expression, not quite sure what to make of Wilder’s statement.
“Ignore him,” Hawk drawls. He clinks his glass against mine and smirks. “Here’s to a lifetime of putting up with Wilder’s brand of crazy.”
“Assuming we don’t dispose of him in the back yard,” Kai jokes.
Wilder gapes at him in horror. “Continue like that, and there will be no t-shirt for you.”
I burst out laughing, a lightness settling into my bones as they bicker back and forth.Thisis what family is, and it feels so good to have everyone finally on the same page.
Chapter8
