I chuckled. “A’right. I can’t argue with that. Just…if he seems like he’s gonna crash out again, let me know. We don’t know who’s coming after us and everyone needs to be focused. If Lucas starts his shit again, that can put us all in jeopardy.”
“You have nothing to worry about. If it gets bad, I’ll tell you.”
I nodded and checked my phone. “Good. Now thanks for this.” I lifted the folder. It was why I’d come here originally and the blog just happened to be posted while I was here. I had Emmet look up everything he could about The Queen Of Hearts, not to mention Cashlynn’s parents. Now, knowing who she was, I wanted a thorough analysis on everything before she broke into my house. Thankfully my brother was efficient and already ahead of the game. Both me and my dad had him investigate Cashlynn so it was no shocker he’d gone deeper and kept what he learned for when it was useful.
Emmet went back to his computers, basically dismissing me. It didn’t bother me. I had more business to tend to once I left here.
____
“What is this?Why are we here? This better not be another sit down,” Cashlynn ranted as we climbed out of the car.
“Just follow me. I’m sure you won’t be upset once we get inside.” The barn in front of us was in the middle of the woods in an abandoned area on the outskirts of town. It was in the back of the family meeting house. The barn had been completely gutted and remodeled. It was where we brought special cases that needed time to be handled.
Cashlynn looked around the area then rested her focus on me. She squinted at me but followed me anyway. Since I’d learned her secret she’d been staying out the way. Things have been hectic for me. With my birthday approaching, and me officially being named the head of the family, not to mention someone coming for us, my plate was full.
We walked up the dirt walkway. The sun was covered by clouds, which brought a nice breeze, offsetting the heat in the air. The sounds of the trees rustling around us along with birds chirping filled my ears.
I pulled the steel doors open and we walked inside. I led her to the room in the back where we set up for Lucas when he needed to do his doctor thing. In the all-white room were both Lucas and Ezra, and in the middle, tied to the hospital bed, was Maddox. Both of his eyes were black and swollen shut. He had knots covering his forehead and his lips were swollen with drips of blood surrounding them. He had bruises all over his chest. Since I’d taken him off his porch five days ago, I’d come here and worked him over. Lucas had him attached to an IV to make sure I could fuck with him and keep him alive. He made sure I didn’t take it too far before the grand finale and used his doctor knowledge to help me torture him near death then bring him back.
“What are you doing here?” I asked Ezra.
“I’m offended! You have someone here, torturing them, and didn’t include me and Wilma.” He brought the hammer to his chest with an offended look on his face.
“This has nothing to do with you, that’s why.” Cashlynn stepped around me and slowly approached the table. The monitors attached to him beeped softly.
Maddox was unconscious but his chest rose and fell slowly. “Wake him up,” she demanded with that same look in her eyes I had grown to recognize when she was serious.
She turned to me. “When did you do this?”
I crossed my arms and nodded at Lucas. “The night of my dad’s retirement party.”
She squinted. “That’s why you were late?” The realization had her words coming out slower. My shoulders rose and my eyes shifted to Maddox.
Lucas walked over to the table and dug into his pocket. Cashlynn pulled the backpack she always wore off. She walked to the chair near the wall and tossed it aside. Her shoulders rolled back and she grabbed the ponytail holder off her wrist, pulling her hair up in a bun.
Maddox’s eyes fluttered open and he groaned. I knew his body had to be sore from the multiple beatings I’d given him.
“Wake up!” Cashlynn walked to the head of the bed and sent her hand across his face.
He grunted as his head whipped to the side.
“Cashlynn,” he coughed out and groaned.
“Shut up!” She hit him again. Her eyes were dark as coal. She leaned down and pulled something out of her sock. My eyes narrowed seeing it was her butterfly knife.
“What the fuck?” Ezra muttered. “You know your wife just walks around with knives hidden on her body?”
“Remind me what vital points I should avoid, to keep him alive, besides the heart,” she said, turning to Lucas.
“There’s a couple of other spots to avoid too.” He stepped closer. He started pointing out areas. Lucas then walked to the table and picked up a pouch, then went to the IV stand and messed with it. “He’s hooked up to an IV drip giving him fluids, so he’ll last awhile.”
“Wa-wai-waiitttt.” Maddox’s words were slurred. I was sure it was from whatever my brother gave him.
“What did you just give him? I don’t want him numb to the pain.”
“The medication will paralyze him but he can feel everything happening. ”
A bone-chilling smile formed on her face. “Good.” She looked around. “Can I get some gloves?”
