Page 129 of Vicious Sentiments

Cape shouts something but I can’t hear him over the look of disgust on Margo’s face. I’m trapped in her anguish, in her helplessness and disbelief.

And then Cape has Dillon by the back of his neck as he rips him off his mother. He throws him to the ground a good few feet away, and Margo gasps for breath.

Her voice comes out shaky but clear. “Don’t. Don’t. Cape, don’t.”

Cape towers over his mother as his chest pumps. “Why?” he booms. “Have you lost your mind too?”

“Cape,” Julian tries.

“Shut up!” Cape shouts and a tremor rolls through him. He squeezes his eyes shut as if trying to contain the rage, and all I can picture is the way he dissolved into nothing but a murder machine when he killed my dad.

It’s part of the reason I don’t say anything as Dillon gets to his feet, just out of sight from Cape. Julian doesn’t say anything either and actually whips his head towards the door when Dillon looks at him.

The rare vein in Julian’s forehead that matches his brother’s permanent one is present, and I don’t doubt that he feels the same as Cape but he has more control, and must know that if Dillon doesn’t get out of here, that Capewillkill him.

Dillon doesn’t hesitate as he scrambles out of the room and disappears around the corner.

“Fuck!” Cape shouts when he hears the front door slam and gapes behind him to see that Dillon is gone.

“You let him go?!” he growls at Julian and makes to go after Dillon.

“Stop.” Julian steps in front of him. “We don’t need another body right now,” he grits through his teeth.

“There isn’t going to be a body left once I get done with him.”

“There’s something we need to discuss before you do that.” Julian looks down at Margo.

She’s staring straight ahead into nothing, a shaky hand over her mouth and a tiny bit of mascara on her cheek.

“What?” Cape narrows his eyes but he doesn’t try to push past Julian.

* * *

Ten minutes later, Julian sets a cup of tea down in front of Margo, who finally has some color back in her face. Cape has been pacing small circles in the corner, and Julian whispered to me to not let him leave before he went to the kitchen.

“I appreciate the effort but I think I need something a little stronger.” Margo pushes the cup away and hoists herself up.

She pours some amber liquid in a crystal glass from the bar cart and sits back down.

She takes the whole thing in one gulp and places her hands in her lap. “That’s better.”

“Good, because someone needs to start talking.” Cape comes to the table. “Before I lose it for that little weasel putting his hands on you.”

Julian walks calmly around the table and takes his seat back next to me.

“Do you want to tell us why you are so adamant on keeping Dillon around?” he asks. “Because Cape is right. There is a reason why you haven’t handled this.”

She shakes her head. “He’s not mentally well,” she says but doesn’t meet Julian’s eyes.

“That’s not a fucking—” Cape snarls, but Julian holds up a hand.

“Even so. There’s something you aren’t telling us, Ma. We know you and you wouldn’t tolerate this without good reason.”

Margo presses her lips together and looks away.

Julian sighs. “Is it because you put the hit on John and Macala?”

I still at the mention of Dillon and Marney’s parents’ names.

---