Page 98 of Séance

Even I know he can’t help himself at times, his manic episodes almost impossible to control. That doesn’t mean hedoesn’t get himself in trouble on the daily, giving me weekly headaches as I struggle to keep him on this side of the law.

Feeling like an ass, I look away and shake my head. “Even if we asked, we would only get one side of the story. I can’t protect her without researching all the facts. One wrong statement, tainted through her eyes, could skew everything just enough that any action I take could do more damage than good.”

I fork my hands into my hair, the pain doing nothing to ease my inner turmoil. Turning away from the guys, I pour a liberal amount of whiskey into the glass and gulp half of it.

“Fucking hell,” Gunner mutters, then he joins me and pours himself his own glass. I can’t contain my shock when he downs it in one gulp. Since his father went to prison for killing his mother in a drunken rage, he normally keeps himself to a single beer or two if he’s feeling good. He never touches the hard stuff, not wanting to turn into his father.

“She told you about her past,” I surmise, and my gut drops at his tortured expression. I brace myself for the worst. “How badly did I fuck up?”

“Her parents are both shit stains.” James paces back and forth across the room, his normal frantic energy subdued. “They made her life hell the moment she was born. I’m surprised she even survived this long.”

He stops suddenly, glaring at each of us, his fists clenched at his sides. “I won’t let him take her.”

As much as I’m exasperated by his extracurricular activities, his protective instincts are honed to a razor-sharp edge. If he says she’s in danger, I believe him. With a sharp nod, I set my glass down. “I want you to put together an escape plan for her.”

James blinks in surprise, his entire frame practically quivering with the need for action, and I hold up my hand before he can speak. “Don’t tell any of us. None of us should know the details.”

Ellis drops onto the couch, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees as he peers up at me. “What did you learn that has you so spooked?”

That catches their attention, and they each grab their own drink before taking a seat. “Her father is the picture-perfect image of a concerned dad. His daughter has been missing for over a week, kidnapped and brainwashed by her crazy grandmother.”

“Fuck,” Jace mutters, running a hand down his face. “You think he’s making a case against Mrs. Killaghan being an unfit guardian?”

“That’s exactly what I think.” I toss back the rest of my drink, relishing the burn. “He said everything right—that he loves his daughter and she’s in danger. He claims his wife was troubled, and that Rue is mentally unstable and needs to be on meds or she could become a danger to herself or others.”

The guys exchange an uneasy glance, and the hair on the back of my neck stands on end. “What?” I bark, unable to dismiss the sick feeling in my stomach.

“Rue said as much,” Jace admits with a grimace.

“She’s not crazy,” James snarls in protest, looking seconds away from launching himself at his brother.

Jace’s eyebrows shoot up, then he purses his lips and looks like he’s chewing glass. “If she told her story to the cops, what do you think would happen?”

James’ mouth immediately snaps shut. He crosses his arms over his chest, and I’m not sure if it’s to stop himself from starting a fight or if he’s pouting.

Knowing James, it’s a little bit of both, and my brows shoot up in surprise at his restraint.

Suddenly weary, I slump into a seat, rolling the empty glass between my hands. “What concerns me the most is her fathergenuinely seems to want his daughter returned to him. If he hates her so much, why scheme for her return?”

The guys exchange another loaded glance, and I tense, knowing that I’m not going to like their answer. James fiddles with a ring on his thumb, while Ellis reaches for the bracelet on his wrist before he stops himself. With narrow eyes, I glance at each of them. “Maybe you should tell me everything.”

It’s not a request.

In response, Gunner pulls out his phone, flipping through it before turning the screen toward me. It takes me a second to realize what I’m seeing, and my chest tightens like Jace parked his bike on it. I tear my eyes away from the picture of Gunner with his sister and glance up at him. “I don’t understand.”

He pulls the phone back, gazing down at the image almost reverently. When he doesn’t speak, Jace takes over. “Rue sketched that while we watched.”

A beat of silence follows, my brain trying to figure out what they are not saying.

“You remember when we were kids and how we used to make fun of the people who came to see Mrs. Killaghan to have their fortunes told?” Ellis looks uncomfortable with the whole conversation, gazing down at the bracelet on his arm almost obsessively.

“Sure.” I shrug, waiting impatiently for him to get to the point.

“Not once did we believe she was anything but a kook,” Jace confesses, suddenly finding the rug on the floor fascinating. He’s tapping his finger against the ring on his thumb, and I’m not even sure he’s aware of doing it.

“Of course not.” I roll my eyes at the absurdity.

“Have you ever wondered why people keep coming back?” Jace slowly lifts his head, his pale blue eyes almost completely washed out, something that only happens when he’s stressed.

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