Page 127 of Vicious Sentiments

“I really didn’t want to believe what you told us about Dillon, but I guess you were right,” he continues. “I guess everyone was aware except for me,” his voice becomes husky. “I would never have left you alone if I had known Dillon wasn’t stable. I should have known.”

“It’s fine. I’m not afraid of Dillon,” I lie. Iamafraid of Dillon but I don’t think now is the time to be concerned about it. If anything, I’m still hoping I can be friends with him for Marney’s sake. I’ve endured worse. Maybe if I whispered that in her ear, she would wake up.

“Well, I’m glad you are at my house now.” He steps back around the bed and grasps my free hand. “And you are still okay staying, aren’t you? With everything going on? You aren’t afraid?”

I bite my lip and duck my head. “I am afraid… That Marney might…” Surprise tears spring to my eyes faster than I can stop them. “But I’m not going anywhere. The whole Tortellis family could invade the house and I still wouldn’t run.” I look up at him. “I know I should be afraid of all this but it barely crosses my mind because I’m more happy to have all of you than anything else.”

I sniffle to try and stop crying, but Julian pulls me against his chest and the tears become a full on flood as I sob into him.

“But I need Marney to wake up,” I say. “She can’t…” God, I can’t even say it. “She just can’t. I know I haven’t known her for long but I love her like a sister. I love her as much as I love you and Cape. I love Margo too and I can learn to love Dillon if Marney would just wake up.”

Julian wraps his strong arms around my back and grips me tightly, tucking his chin over my head.

“She’s going to wake up,” he hums. “And she thinks of you as a sister too.” He chuckles softly. “She was painfully outnumbered by the men in this family… and I don’t think she relates to her friends as much as she lets on.”

I think of the kids that came to the Halloween party and think Julian is probably right. Had any of them lost their parents? Did any of them have families that talk about getting rid of someone? She probably struggled having to hide what the Rossi’s actually do. Her preppy ballet friends would probably cry to their parents— their living parents—if she ever slipped up.

I vow to be her confidant, an avid listener. I’ll be her best friend, her sister and her safe place if she would just wake up.

I quickly reign in the tears and extract myself from Julian to straighten myself out. I need to be strong for Marney.

“She’s going to wake up,” I state, fiddling with the bracelet on my wrist.

“Yes.” Julian nods and leans over me. He places a kiss on Marney’s forehead. “But in the meantime, I think Cape is right that Margo is keeping secrets.”

As if my stomach isn’t already twisted and now I have to decide if I should mention my other theory. The one that maybe the FBI file is correct and Margo did have something to do with Marney and Dillon’s parent’s death. It’s the only thing I can think of that would explain why a no-bullshit woman like Margo would put up with Dillon’s antics, because she feels guilty.

Chapter Sixty-Five

Julian doesn’t mention to Cape what I told him on the drive to Margo’s as we sit in the dining room waiting. Margo is still upstairs and the longer she takes, the more I start to worry if I’ve made a mistake. What if I’m wrong and I’m causing more drama when we should be focusing on Marney?

Cape has a boot kicked up on the table with his arms crossed over his chest, as if he doesn’t have a care in the world, but I know better. He’s only one wrong word away from exploding.

He loves Marney more than he shows or he wouldn’t go to every one of her recitals and dress up as a bear for her. I know he’s internally ripping himself to shreds thinking it’s his fault that she is in a hospital bed. Add to that the mess with Dillon and the tension with Margo? And I can’t even comprehend how he’s appearing so unaffected.

Maybe Julian is doing the right thing by not mentioning my theory to Cape. He probably knows his brother better than anyone, and if I’m right, how will Cape react?

The sun has already set by the time footsteps sound on the stairs, and I’m surprised when it isn’t just Margo who walks into the dining room.

Dillon has showered and is in a different set of joggers and muscle tee but no amount of steam could help the despondent drape of his jaw or his red rimmed eyes.

Cape slides his boot off the table, immediately going to stand, but Julian shoots a hand out in front of him. He gives his brother a minute shake of his head, and Cape leans back in his chair.

Dillon drags his feet to take a seat and Margo sits beside him. She pats his shoulder—a move that makes Julian tense—and clears her throat.

“We’re going to get to the root of all the animosity and put it behind us. We have bigger problems right now than all your testosterone squabbles. Now is not the time to be divided.”

Cape scoffs.

“Are you honestly disagreeing with me right now?” Margo snaps. “Marney is in a coma and I have a detective with an FBI agent in his back pocket breathing down Alec’s neck.” She smooths a hand over the table, composing herself and taking a breath.

“But we shouldn’t have to worry about that. They don’t have anything but suspicion and as long as we—” She shoots a look at Dillon but he’s staring off into a corner of the room. “—stick together, then everything will be fine.”

“Wearen’t the ones threatening to—” Cape starts.

“Dillon was worried for Marney,” Margo cuts him off, waving a hand through the air. “He didn’t know what he was saying. He feels better now that he got to see her. Right, hon?” She looks at him and he perks up a bit at the word ‘hon’.

He turns just his head, and while it hangs limply from his neck, his eyes are no longer vacant and trained on Margo like she’s a bone that was just dangled in front of his starving mouth.

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