Page 70 of Puck Blocked
We never made it to the supermarket. Luke decided I’d worn myself out enough for today and should be resting. I tried to argue that I was fine, but really I’m glad to be curled up on the sofa next to him right now, and not out at the shops. This is my favorite place to be, when it’s just him and me in our bubble. A bubble no one can pop.
Luke’s phone rings. He ignores it but I notice the name on the screen.
“It’s Liliana. You should answer it,” I tell him.
He squints at the phone and then leans forward to pick it up. “Lil, what’s up?” I don’t hear what she says but he holds the phone to me. “It’s for you.”
I take it out of his hand. “Hello?”
“Hey, I tried your phone first, but it kept ringing out,” Liliana says.
“Sorry. I left it upstairs. Is everything okay?” I ask, my eyebrows drawn down in concern. She doesn’t usually call me.
“Yeah, I have some information for you. Is it okay if I pop over?”
“Of course,” I say and then look at Luke. “Wait. Hold on a sec.” I cover the receiver with my hand. “Liliana wants to come over. Is that okay?”
“Tanna, it’s your house. If you want her to come over, then have her over,” Luke says.
“Thank you.” I uncover the phone. “Yes, it’s okay,” I tell Liliana.
“Great, because I’m at your front door now,” she says and then the doorbell rings.
The phone cuts off and I set it back down on the table. “I’ll get the door. Stay here,” Luke says, kissing the top of my head as he gets up off the sofa.
A few minutes later, Luke walks back into the living room, followed by Liliana, Travis, and two of her cousins. Enzo and Dante. My brows knit together. I didn’t realize they were all coming with her.
“Hey.” I sit up straighter.
“Sorry to barge in, but I thought you’d want to see this,” Liliana says before handing me a manilla folder.
“What is it?” I question while taking the folder.
“It’s a dossier on Kristy Baker,” Enzo answers for her.
“Her mother?” Luke lowers himself down next to me. He looks at the folder like he wants to tear it out of my hands. He doesn’t though.
“It’s… um… It might not be what you’re expecting, Montana,” Dante says.
“Why?” I’m already opening the file, sifting through the numerous pages of information and photos. Pictures of my mom. I haven’t seen her in years, but I’d recognize her anywhere. You never forget the face of the woman who abandoned you.
Then I notice her clothes. “What’s she wearing?” I flip through the photos. “And what is she doing?”
“She married Brenton Glenn, the leader of the Brent Brothers Brethren.” Enzo sits down on the sofa in front of me.
I look up at him, confused. “What’s the Brent Brothers Brethren?”
“It’s a cult,” he says. “Not your average I’m going to be a hippie and get stoned every day kind of cult either.”
“What?” I look at Luke and quickly hand him the folder. I don’t want to read it. “Why would my brother tell me not to look for her?”
“Because I bet he found out what she was planning. What they were planning,” Dante says.
“What was she planning?” Luke chimes in, picking up my hand and covering it with his.
“Ah, it’s not… Well, there’s no easy way to say it.”
I can see the pity in Enzo’s eyes and I don’t like it.
