Page 8 of Secrets

“Millicent, will you please come in?” he said calmly.

“Yes, sir.”

“Millicent, you don’t have to say sir to us,” smiled Ian. “We just want to know about your past, about you.”

She sat down but said nothing for a few moments. Sara held one hand, Bree the other, gently rubbing the back of her hand.

“We’re not going to make you leave,” said Gaspar. He could see her visibly shake with relief when he said it and then felt like shit for not making that clear sooner.

“My earliest memory was of watching my father and brothers beat two men to death with baseball bats. They dug a hole big enough for both men, put them in it, and tossed the bats in as well. When they got to the car, I was crying.”

“What did they say?” asked Ian.

“My brother, Jay, slapped me. I was five. He said crybabies weren’t allowed in our family.” She looked down at her lap and then back up at the men. There was a strange expression on their faces. It looked like anger, but she wasn’t sure.

“Anyway, after that, it got worse.”

Millicent talked for nearly an hour about everything her brothers had done. She spoke of the trial, running, all of it. The team knew some of the names she mentioned. Organized crime bosses, gangs, and others that they’d run across now and then.They’d kept up a bit with the trial of her father and brothers, but since it was in Chicago, they never paid a lot of attention.

But Mama Irene was right. This was a woman who needed protection.

“I won’t be any trouble. I promise. The FBI agent said that my brother was in prison for life.”

“Millicent, we’re not concerned about you being any trouble,” said Gaspar. “We’re worried about your safety. You do understand that you can’t leave this property, right? Not yet anyway.”

“I know. But I’ll work hard. I won’t make you regret hiring me.”

“That’s another thing,” said Nine. “You don’t have to work fifteen-hour days. We don’t treat people that way. You work a normal shift like anyone else. Understand?”

“Yes, sir.” Nine smiled at her, shaking his head. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be,” he grinned. “It’s nice to see a young woman so respectful.”

“So, I can stay?” she asked.

“Of course you can stay,” said Ghost. “Stay, make friends, live your life. If we go somewhere as a group where we think you’ll be safe, we’ll make sure you’re with us. Otherwise, you won’t have to leave here.”

“Thank you,” she said with an exhale. They all nodded, smiling at the young woman.

“You know, Trevon is a good person to make friends with. He’s protective, kind, and smart. Everyone needs a friend like him,” said Ian. Irene smiled at him, giving an approving nod.

“Trevon,” she repeated. “Yes. He’s a nice man. Always respectful, and he eats a lot. He asks for extra portions of foodeven when I already give him more than anyone else. I think he likes my cooking.”

“Yes,” laughed Miller. “He definitely likes your cooking.”

“What if-what if my brother somehow escapes?” she asked with fear.

“We’ll take care of it,” said Ghost.

“You’d kill him?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” said Ghost. “Your brother is someone who deserves to die, but that’s not my decision. Not right now. Keeping him from you is my main concern. If I have to, I’d kill him.” She nodded, standing with Sara and Bree.

“Just so you know, if you did, I’d be okay with that.”

CHAPTER FIVE

Trevon was swinging on his front porch in a lazy, slow glide, watching the darkness envelop the world. There was lightning and thunder in the distance. A storm was coming, but it would be welcomed, cooling off the area.

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