Page 8 of Unconditional

“Listen baby, I'm on a deadline.I don’t have the time to fuck around and now, neither do you.Despite what you might think about me, I’m not a complete moron.I know that Birdie Koche is your best, and probably only friend.I know you didn’t just ‘go your own ways’ or have some weird girly falling out.I also know that my brother wouldn’t pull any of the shit he pulled unless he was so inlove,” he spat the word like it was a curse, “that he thought it was his only option.He wouldn’t walk out on his family.”

A harsh sound came out of my throat, something like a laugh.“Yeah, somefamily.”

Something that looked a lot like hurt flashed in Talon’s eyes before he wiped his expression clean, redirecting back to malice.“I’m not so sure your idea of a functional family is much better than mine, Blondie.”

His words stung, deeper than they had any right to, and I reacted on impulse.I couldn’t help myself.Rearing forward, I spit in his face.“Fuck.You.You don’t know shit about my familyorme.”

Talon used the back of his free hand to wipe the saliva from his face and yet again, that sick smile returned.“Oh, but I do.Misely Fisher, daughter of Joy and Fred.Third child of seven.Malcolm and Molly are the oldest, then you.Next you’ve got Megan, Monroe, and the twins; Melinda and Macayla.Seems like Mommy and Daddy go hard for the M names, huh?”

I felt my eyes widening and my heart beating impossibly faster, a cold trickle of fear zinging down my spine.

“But that’s about all they go hard for, huh?Seems like Joy and Fred really like to fuck but they don’t actually give two shits about the kids they made in the process, do they?”

“Fuck you.”

“When’s the last time you even spoke to Mommy dearest, baby girl?”

“Fuck.You.”

“Honestly it probably wouldn’t matter to you either way if my uncle slit their fucking throats, would it?It’s not like you even talk to—”

“FUCK YOU!You’re a fuckingliar!”I was screaming now, pushing against him with so much force and anger I let myself imagine it made even a little bit of a difference.

Something lit up in Talon’s eyes at the sight and his lips curled again, delighting in my rage.He dropped my phone to the floor, lifting off of me just enough to pull his own from his back pocket.He thumbed through it for a moment before turning the screen to face me.

What I saw horrified me, my throat closing around a gasp.There, in clear, high-definition live video, was my mother and father, speaking to one another over the marble countertop of their kitchen island.Mom was stirring something simmering on the stove, while Dad read from the day’s newspaper, just as he did every night while my mother made them dinner.

I knew I was gaping, my jaw dropped open in a shocked ‘O.’Talon’s features were grim and statuesque, as if he were trying to hide any and all emotions as he said sternly, “Think I’m a liar now?Kyle’s got the entire property staked out from the front of the driveway to the edge of the treeline in the wooded acres.And if you don’t help me find Milo, my unclewilltake your entire family down.And I know you’ve still got sisters in that house, Misely.”

He said my name like a warning, and I hated the way it sounded on his tongue.Hated the way a shiver stole down my spine at the sound of it in his gruff tone and the fact that I couldn’t quite decide what the shiver was from.His eyes bore into mine, intense and serious, as though they could portray everything he wasn’t saying just from that silent exchange.

A sharp rap on the door pulled me from the dangerous thoughts that were already puddling in my mind, distracting me from what should have been priority—my family, now endangered.Talon stood, grabbing one of my elbows and pulling me to wobbling feet.His fingers pinched my chin, and this time when our eyes met, his were filled with violence.

“Behave,” he warned before stalking over to my front door where the unexpected visitor pounded again.

I was wrought with panic, my heart still thundering in my rib cage, my breathing hoarse.My parents, my sisters.Hell, if Talon and his uncle had their sights already set on them, they likely had my other siblings tapped too.It was just the twins, Melinda and Macayla left at home, both seniors in high school.Still, no matter the tense relationship I held with my family, they weremine,and I wouldn’t let anything happen to them if I could do something to stop it.

Then there was Birdie.My best friend and confidant.Helping Talon would most certainly be putting her in danger directly.How could I live with myself if something happened to her?She was the only person in the world, in all my life, who loved me entirely.And I loved her.Probably more than my own brothers and sisters.As much as it pained me to admit that, it was true.But what could I do?What could I do?What could I do?What could I do?

“I don’t care who you say you are.”A terse tone interrupted my internal dilemma, bringing my attention back to where Talon stood with my apartment door cracked.“I’m not going anywhere until I’ve spoken to my neighbor.Nowwhereis Miss Fisher?”

“I told you ma’am, she is using the restroom.”

Talon sounded like the woman was grating on his nerves, as if she was a great inconvenience.I suppose she was.I approached slowly, trying with little success to make myself seem as un-disheveled as possible.I realized with great horror that I was in too-big gray sweatpants and a rather short crop top without a bra.I hadn’t expected company, so it wasn’t as though modesty was important to me when I chose my evening apparel.The fact that I’d been rolling around the floor with Talon in this get-up did not make me feel any better.One wrong move and it would be Tit City.

I pushed my stupid concerns to the wayside and cleared my throat.Talon shot me a look over his shoulder that issued yet another silent threat.Say anything and it’s lights out for Mom and Dad.I swallowed, sidling up beside him to send a saccharine smile to who I’m guessing must’ve been one of my neighbors.I didn’t know her name, as I had never taken the time to introduce myself to anyone in the building.She was an older woman with blue-gray curls wound tight to the top of her head, fine wrinkles mapping her face, and soft brown eyes.

Those eyes roved over me with scrutiny, settling in a narrow scowl on what I now remembered was my bruising cheek.“Hi, my name is Teresa, I’m your neighbor in 4F, right down the hall.I wanted to come down and check on you because I swear I heard a scream a few moments ago.Your boyfriend here wouldn’t call you to the door.Are you all right?”

I almost laughed out loud at her referencing the man beside me as my boyfriend.As if.He’d sooner cut my throat and throw my body parts in the Chicago River than buy me a bouquet of roses or snuggle on the couch to a Rom-Com.But when his palm rested on my hip and tugged me closer to his side, the heat scorched my bare skin.He squeezed just hard enough to reissue his warning from before.Behave.

“I’m so sorry about that, I was in the bathroom.”I lied breathlessly, giving her an apologetic smile.“You’re right, I did scream.”Again, Talon’s fingers dug into my side.“We got in a bit of an argument, and I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I overreacted and screamed at him.I’m so sorry for disturbing you.”

Teresa’s concern didn’t waiver, her gaze bouncing from my bruised cheek to where Talon grasped me.I wanted to widen my eyes and send her the universal woman-signal for,You’re right, he’s hurting me, please help!But I knew I couldn’t.Not if I valued the safety of my family and friends.

Just then, the echoing alarm of my apartment’s buzzer made us all jump, a startled gasp hiccuping past my lips.

“Sweetheart,” I turned to Talon, a hand pressed to my pounding chest, I did my best heart eyes impression for Teresa’s sake, “that should be our dinner.Will you let the pizza guy up?”

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