Page 17 of Vengeful Rotten Casualties

The rest of the car ride is met with silence on both of our parts and she doesn’t speak again until we’re pulling in front of the massive, multi-columned mansion of the Carter Estate. I park the car and when I go to pull open her door for her, she’s already got it cracked and is stepping out onto the driveway. I bite back an irritated huff and lead the way to the front doors where I knock and wait.

After a moment, the door creeps open and Rylie’s small face appears in the crack. “Oh, Luc. Come on in.” She opens the door wider and then does a double take when she recognizes the girl behind me. “Oh my god.”

“Yeah,” I say. “I would’ve called and warned you that I was bringing someone with me, but I just—”

“Ava!” Rylie screams, cutting me off.

I frown. “Rylie, she’s not a danger,” I say quickly, brushing my arm out quickly to keep Micki back a step. “I wouldn’t have brought her here if—”

Rylie ignores me and stumbles back another step. “Avalon!” she screams the name again, her hand going out against the wall as her head shakes back and forth. “Holy fucking shit. Ava if you don’t get your ass down here right fucking—”

“I’m coming!” Avalon’s voice comes from somewhere upstairs in a shout.

“Avalon?” Micki's voice at my back is breathless.

I glance back, confused. Her brows are drawn down low over her eyes and her lips are parted. “Micki?” I turn towards her but just as I do, the stairs creak and all eyes—apart from Rylie’s—go up.

Avalon stops at the top of the staircase. She stares down the length of it, but she’s not looking at me at all. In fact, her sole focus is on the girl at my side and Micki’s is on her.What the fuck is going on?

“Micki, why are you—”

“Avalon…” Micki cuts me off as she breathes her name. Her hands come up and gently push mine away as she steps past the door frame and moves further into the house. I go to grab her, but Rylie stops me. Thin boned fingers grip my arm and I glance down.

“Where did you find her?” Rylie demands.

“I-I didn’t,” I answer. Confusion pours through me. “What the hell is happening here?”

Avalon finally seems to find herself and makes her way down the staircase, taking the stairs two at a time. Her stomping feet draw my attention and I frown as she stops in front of Micki. “Do they … know each other?” I ask.

Rylie nods. “Yes,” she says.

How can that be? Micki’s been missing for the last five years. When would they have had the time to…

Before I can even finish the question in my head, Avalon reaches out and grabs Micki by the front of her baggy shirt. “You fucking bitch!”

“Damn it.” I shove Rylie away and bolt for them.

My hand locks on Micki’s shoulder a split second before my gaze spots Avalon’s face. I freeze. Avalon moves forward, burying her face against Micki’s chest even as she clutches her.

“I thought you were dead,” she says and though her voice is steady, there’s no denying what I just saw on her face.

Tears. Legit. Real. Actual tears.

From Avalon of all people.

Micki doesn’t turn towards me at all. Instead, she lifts her arms and hugs Avalon to her and I find myself taking a step back.

“Can someone tell me what the fuck is going on?” I manage to grit out.

“That’s what I’d like to know.” The baritone response comes from a familiar voice at the front of the foyer. Dean steps into the house and Avalon lifts her head from Micki’s chest.

Shit. Tears streak her cheeks. She looks at Dean and a low growl starts up behind me. God fucking damn it. I reach up and pinch the bridge of my nose.

Just once, I’d like to have a meeting without complications. Even if I’m more than happy to see those complications come back into my life, I know whatever story that remains untold here is about to come out.

9

MICKI

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