Bridget teared up and nodded, hugging herself. “There was a big merge gathering with four of the Irish houses. A really big, uppity shindig, and…I didn’t really understand all of what was going on at the time. But Malek lost his mind. They announced Shavonn’s engagement to Braughton O’Dell. Shit went sideways. He killed three people that tried to restrain him that night. A week later…she was married. Malek did everything he could to keep it from happening. But it happened.”
So…that’s why he wears another man’s wedding band.
The finger. The savagery in that kill. The name carved into Braughton’s head. It’s all making sense. I feel like I’m gonna hurl.
“A couple months went by, and we all tried to fly under the radar, thinking of ways to break Shavonn out. But none of us knew what was happening on the other end. Nolan O’Dell, Braughton’s father, he started pushing them for a kid. Shavonn risked it all to send word to Malek. We got her message too late.”
“What happened to her, Bridget?”
She pushed off the door and turned to look back down the hallway. It was like she couldn’t look at me when she talked about it. Like she could see this girl all over me. It only made me feel worse. “One morning, I woke up to screaming. I was hungover as fuck. Honestly…still drunk, if you want the truth. Nothin’ sobers you up like the sound of your own brother, slowly dying inside. I knew it was him before my feet hit the floor. I made it to the top of the stairs and Finley and Declan had Mal by the shoulders. He was screaming at the top of his lungs in the main foyer, on his knees. I’d seen him torn up before…but not like that. Never like that. It was like his soul bled right out of him. They carried him to his room, and I tried to go, but Daddy pulled me back. He told me Shavonn had hung herself.”
“Did they kill her, Malek?”
“No…I did.”
“He took something that didn’t belong to him.”
“He disrespected me. Disrespected her. Disrespected you.”
“Mal is always gonna blame himself, Sev. He hasn’t been the same since Shavonn died. He’s more reckless. More bloodthirsty. He deals with his grief by covering it in blood and humor you’d be better suited to find in a nuthouse.” She smiled softly when she tipped her chin over her shoulder at me. “But then he metyou. And I see how beautiful that broken part of him is now that it allowed some light back in. There wouldn’t be any way for him to feel that without what any of us have to go through before it. I can see little pieces of my brother again.”
This is very un-Bridget-like, considering the short time I’ve spent with her and getting to know her a bit better. For once, she doesn’t sound like a kid. She sounds like someone that’s had to grow up way too fast. And I know she means well…but I let my guard down. It has a lot to do with Malek’s charm…and a lot to do with my softness for a misunderstood young girl. A young girl I’ve seen too much of myself in. That’s where I got caught up, and that’s where I let my mask slip completely off. I did this to myself. My decision’s made.
If we make it outta this. It’s over. It has to be.
It isn’t real. Not for him, anyway. It’s just a lingering need of a heartsick lover. And I’m always gonna be that girl that nobody understands. The one that’s unlovable because of who I am. It’s okay. It’s all I’ve ever known. I’m just gonna have to be smarter about it once I get out from under this fucking train wreck.
“You’re gonna break it off in there. This isn’t a spy movie. Have you ever even done this shit before?”
I grit my teeth, holding my breath while I turned one of Bridget’s bobby pins in a jagged lock. It looks rusted out and probably hard enough to open with an actual key, let alone this stupid shit. “No, but I’m pretty sure it could work if I sit here and do it long enough.”
“Don’t you need two pins? Isn’t that the way theydoit in movies?”
“How the hell am I supposed to know? I pump dead people full of embalming fluid, Bridge.”
She shrugged. “Fair point.”
“Well, this has been entertaining, but it’s getting rather boring now.”
I jerked back, the bent metal pin clinging to the dirty floor as Jonas strode through the shadows of the hallway and made his way towards the door. Bridget didn’t flinch. Didn’tmove. I wish I had a little bit of that confidence right now.
“All this trouble to stick your bride in a torture chamber? Bit much, Jonas…even for you.”
“A bride by name only. Have a nice nap, did you?” He smirked coyly at her, and she gave it right back. She doesn’t look like the terrified prisoner she should be…and it’s making me nervous.
“Not nice enough. I saw your throat split wide open from ear to ear, and your pretty shirt all red and ruined…just to wake up and find it all a dream.” She clicked her tongue. “Shame. Guess it could be worse though. Could have been like your poor baby brother. Last I saw him, he had his own dick in his mouth.”
“Tell me where he is. I’m gettin’ real impatient, wifey.” His eyes shot towards me, and I tried to remember who the fuck I am. That’s Bridget’s trick. If she’s going down, she’s doing it with some dignity. That’s something she knows well…herself.That’swhat I’m forgetting.
“Unbecoming quality of a man that’s supposed to eventually lead his own house. Didn’t you give us twelve hours?” I said…with a surprisingly solid voice. Jonas cocked his head.
“I gaveyoutwelve hours, little witch. I didn’t say shit about this one.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you, prick. Might as well off me right here. I’m not fuckin’ scared. Canyousay that?” Bridget took a bold step towards the door and Jonas smiled.
“And why would I be scared? I’m not the one that’s about as good as a dollar bill. Or a slave. Which is what you’ll soon be. How’s it feel to know you were just as easy a trade as mybrother…and by your own father. We’re not much different after all, are we, pet?”
“If you’re so pissed about your Daddy’s dirty deals with mine, why are you blowing a gasket over Kendall?”
