Page 194 of Brutal Savage

A COUPLE OF HOURS EARLIER

While Tynan is out at his meeting, Brody and I watch a movie, sharing popcorn, giggling at characters on screen who play practical jokes on each other. Kinda reminds me of Tynan and me, except a lot less inappropriate.

I wonder when he’ll be done with his meeting. I was hoping we could take Brody to get some ice cream at the café in town.

Curling my arms around him, I kiss the top of his head. He laughs when one of the characters falls. I love hearing his laughter. It’s a beautiful sound, one I’ll never get sick of.

“Elara?” Ruby calls as she approaches from the kitchen. “You just got a delivery. Looks like a wedding present.”

She holds out a white shimmery box with a big white bow on top.

“Does it say who it’s from?”

She glances at the tag. “Just says from friends. Wish you a happy marriage, Ev.”

A hand flies to my chest.

Jerry.

Oh, God.

Her brows crease. “That’s a weird nickname for Elara. Is that something your friends call you?”

I rush to my feet, taking the box from her. Brody glances at me but I feign a smile.

“Yeah,” I tell her, laughing nervously, hoping she doesn’t suspect anything. “I had this friend who liked to call me that on purpose. Anyway, thank you.”

I start back toward Brody, hoping she leaves so I can open this somewhere private.

“Sure. I’ll be in the kitchen if you two need me.”

Curiously, she peers at me over her shoulder before she disappears.

I attempt to keep my cool, all the while terrified of what could be in this box.

“Hey, buddy?” I call to Brody. “I’ll be right back, okay? Just need to put this box away.”

He nods, throwing some popcorn into his mouth, while I head toward an empty den.

Placing the box down, my hands tingle as I pop it open, and when I do, nausea fills my gut.

An icy shiver races down my arms, my expression of shock frozen for a moment until tears spring in my eyes.

“No, no, no!” With shaky hands, I grab the small white envelope beside the severed finger.

Gran’s finger.

“Please, please, it can’t be.”

He must be messing with me.

But it’s hers. I know it.

Staring at the black sapphire ring still attached to Gran, I start to sob silently. It’s the ring Grandpa gave her on their fiftieth anniversary. She never takes it off.

Is she alive? Did Jerry kill her to punish me?

Not Gran. Please not her. I can’t lose another person.

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