“Fucking hell!” Malcom clutches at his chest. “What the—how the fuck did you get in here?”
“Your guy let me in,” I say, fighting to keep my voice casual and mask the storm of turmoil raging just beneath the surface. “Your security sucks.”
Calming himself, Malcom’s eyes narrow as thin as a blade. “How’d you get here?”
“Bus. Wasn’t hard to find. Did you really think I wouldn’t recognize my childhood home?”
Malcom scoffs. “Didn’t think anyone gave a shit about this place anymore.”
“Dad didn’t. But I did. Until high school, but I never forgot.” The yellow wallpaper with faded green leaves brings back countless memories of playing tea parties with my mom when she most likely was supposed to be working.
“Hmm. Clever.”
“I am clever,” I say, trying to mimic how I saw Dean act when facing down Ryan. He was so calm and collected. “I’m insulted you’re surprised.”
“Given how you snagged Dean, I’m not fully in disbelief. Speaking of… is he dead?”
I meet his gaze. “You know he is,” I say calmly. “You were watching on the camera, right? Surely, you knew I’d come here afterward.”
Malcom swallows. “I was testing you.”
So I was right. There truly was no camera. I feared his text was a bluff to lure me into a false sense of security, but he definitely doesn’t know I chased Dean away. He’ll survive this and that’s all that matters.
“I did what you asked,” I state coldly. “And I’m sickened by it so unless you want me to attack you the same way, where the fuck is my sister?”
“Alright, alright, calm down. I honestly didn’t expect you to choose so quickly.”
“It was an easy choice.”
“That’s why you and I are the same.” Malcom smirks and he motions for me to follow him. “We both value family. And we’re both willing to do anything to get what we want.”
“We’re not the same,” I snap while following him out of the office and leaving behind the very faintly comforting scent of my mother’s perfume.
“Don’t sound so sure. Look at you.” Malcom glances over his shoulder and leads me into the dining room. “You’ve got blood on your hands for your own gain. You’re exactly like me.”
“Mmm!!” Hailey, bound and gagged to one of the dining chairs, starts yelling and whimpering behind her gag as soon as she sees me. Her pretty face is bruised and beaten, blood trickles from her nose, and her hair is like a wild nest.
It takes every last ounce of strength I have not to cry the moment I see her. The guilt is overwhelming. She’s in this position because of me. I did this.
“See?” Malcom waves casually at her. “She’s fine.”
“Hardly,” I mutter bitterly. “Now let her go.”
“You know, it’s funny how history repeats itself. You killed your husband for your sister, I killed a woman because of my brother… They tell you that you’ll see yourself in the youth of your family, and I never believed it until now.”
“Let her go!” I repeat. “I did what you asked.”
“Fine,” he groans and his phone appears in his hand. “Hey, it’s me. Come get the bitch. Time to go.”
“And I’m nothinglikeyou,” I repeat, unable to keep the quaver out of my voice. “Youforced me to kill. I highly doubt Dad forced you to kill.”
“He did,” Malcom snaps. “He forced me because he didn’t listen when I told him that bitch was mine.”
“So you were jealous?” I sneer. “Sounds like you killed because you couldn’t control yourself. I killed Dean tosavemy sister. We’re not the same.”
“Are you sure?” Malcom’s brow lifts as his guard enters the room and starts untying Hailey. “We both killed for a sibling who hates us. We’re exactly the same. Think about it. Your father hated me and I killed that woman. Hailey hates you so much she fled the country for four years, and now you’ve killed your husband to save her. Do you think she’s grateful?”
Hailey gasps as the gag is removed and her tear-filled eyes lock onto mine. “Clover, I’m sorry! I’m so sorry, I was wrong. I was wrong! I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Please forgive me. Clover! Clover!” She’s dragged from the room, and I’m about to follow when the black metal barrel of a gun glints in Malcom’s hand.
