“That would be nice, but now Lei won’t let me leave unless. . .”
I tensed.
Lei got in front of me. “Unless what? You have a hostage?”
Leo pointed at him. “I told you to stay where you are. Please go back.”
“Why, father? Are you scared for me to get too close?”
“No, but my blade is. . .” With that, Leo revealed more of the blade laying on my sister’s little shoulder.
I raised my hand. “L-leo, please don’t hurt her.”
TT put her view on me. “I don’t think he will hurt me, Moni. I think he’s just using me as a way to control you both.”
“Very smart.” Leo nodded. “She’s right. And do I have proper control of you two?”
My voice went low. “Y-yes.”
Song finished the last piece of cobbler and then had the nerve to start licking the fucking plate.
Hey, man. Get your fucking brother!
I wanted to slap his ass.
Leo spoke, “Son, go over to the bookshelf and pick up the iPad.”
“Why?”
“I want you to see something.”
“See what?”
“Information is important.” Leo held up the opened bible to us and pointed to the highlighted verse. “There’s a verse you should be aware of: Galatians 6:7.”
Lei didn’t go over to the iPad.
Instead, he glared, “Father, let TT and Moni go and—”
“TT, what does Galatians 6:7 say?”
She blinked.“‘Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.’”
Leo’s eyes glinted with dark amusement. “That is on the map too. What an interesting clue for the Crownsville Bandit to put on there. I bet she is talking about secrets. Things that bad men did that will now come up again.”
TT looked down at the map as if already piecing together something new from Leo’s words.
Meanwhile, Leo continued, “Son, go look at the iPad. I wouldn’t want you making any mistakes in this room. A mistake in here could result in that having a bad rippling effect outside of this house.”
I trembled. “What?”
I didn’t like where this was going. There was something in Leo’s voice—something that felt like a threat wrapped in a Bible verse.
Reluctantly, Lei moved toward the bookshelf, yet his gaze never left Leo.
Seconds later, he reached for the iPad and the second the screen lit up, I saw his entire body tense.
Lei whispered, “No, Father. No.”