Page 63 of Wolf

“I just do.”

Shaking my head, I ponder what else I don’t know about my sister before saying on a sigh, “I can't take her money.”

“Why? It’s not like you’re coming back.”

“It’s not right.”

“No? Neither is a beating for wanting to be normal. You don’t have a choice, Lilli.”

No, I guess I don’t but the thought of stealing from my parents doesn’t sit well. I don’t want their help, regardless, if they’re not freely giving it.

When we get home, Mama is rushing out the door. Wearing her nicest dress and with a hat covering her hair, she barely spares us a glance beyond mumbling about dinner and Mercy.

Once she’s gone, Rachel and I share a look before I head straight to my room. I’m pulling my stuff from drawers and shoving it into a backpack when Mercy appears. I pause when I look up and spy her expression.

Her blue eyes glitter with tears and my heart stops as she whispers, “Lil.”

Immediately, I push my bag to the floor. It hurts to leave her behind and I wish I could give her a proper goodbye but the less she knows the better.

“Yeah,” I say, mustering a smile.

“It’s gone,” Rachel says, waving her arm in the air.

I shoot her a warning look and she glances at Mercy before dropping her hand.

“What’s up Mercy Lou?” I ask, sitting on the bed and patting the mattress.

“I heard something bad,” she says, before joining me.

“Okay. At school?”

She shakes her head, her shoulders stiff and I touch her pretty hair, pulled back in intricate braids. When she shudders beneath my touch, I ask, “Where?”

Covering her mouth, she whispers between her fingers, “Mama.”

My stomach sinks and I meet Rachel’s frown from where she’s sitting on Miriam’s bed.

“What Mercy?” she asks.

“It’s okay,” I say softly, and she looks up, her lower lip quivering.

“She was on the phone. It was about Mir.”

No, no, no! What now? Can’t they just let it go? Miriam has stayed away just like they asked and she’s hardly hanging around Mama’s friends, embarrassing her with her bastard baby bump.

“What did she say?” I ask and Mercy glances at Rachel sideways.

Rachel rolls her eyes and goes to stand but I shake my head. “No, it’s okay Mercy.”

I need Mercy to trust Rachel because she’s the only one left to protect my baby sister. We have to stick together.

Mercy frowns and I squeeze her shoulders before she bows her head and whispers, “She said she had the money. She said she wanted her gone. She said she would bring it but only when Mir is dead.”

My heart jumps into my throat and I stand, pacing around the room. Now what? I’ve got the sheriff and now Darcy on my butt and my own mother is plotting to kill my sister. How the heck did my life get here?

I know I complained about being locked in a cage but surely there’s more than just violence and mayhem beyond these doors.

“Can you get a hold of her?” Rachel asks and I rub my aching temples.

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