Page 174 of The Silent Note

“What do you plan to do with her?” Dutch asks out-right.

“Me? Why would you ask that? I’m not God. I don’t decide who lives or dies.” He shakes his head. “Now, if you’re curious about her health, well, I can say it’s been quite rocky. A woman her age… you know… these things happen.”

My heart is slamming against my ribs.

If dad knows about Slavno’s grandmother, that means he knows about the evidence Slavno promised us in exchange for her safety.

He knowswehave that evidence.

I look at dad with dark premonition. There’s a bad feeling swirling in my gut, sloshing around the way dad is playing with the whiskey in his hands.

“You boys have no idea how close you’ve come to death. So many times, I watched you make a fool of yourselves. Like little ants scrambling around to find a new home after your hill’s been crushed.” He sinks back into his chair. “I kept my distance. I thought it was for the best. If you weren’t picking a fight with me, maybe you’d lie low. Allow me to enter this new stage of my life in peace. But no.” Dad tosses his head. “Even still, you kept pushing. So I let you have your way.”

“What do you mean?” I demand.

Dad’s eyes bore into mine. “Who do you think told the warden to allow you into the prison?”

I inhale a sharp breath.

“And Sylvia, of course. You met Sylvia, right, Finn?”

My brother stiffens.

“Who the hell is Sylvia?” Dutch asks the room.

I wrack my brain and then it hits me. “The cleaning lady at the prison.”

“That’s right. Very hard working woman.” Still holding the cup, dad points a finger at me, “Do you know she works two jobs? When her granddaughter’s sleeping, she cleans the prison. In the morning, she drives an Uber. At that age. Can you imagine?”

My eyes sharpen. All this time, I thought I’d been working independently. I thought I made things happen on my own.

But once again, dad was pulling the strings. Without raising his voice, without spilling his evil plan, dad is calmly, methodically, proving who has the most power in this room.

“Mm.” Dad stops mid-drink and his gaze sticks on Dutch. “I heard Cadence isn’t pregnant yet. Is something wrong, Dutch? Maybe you should get that checked out. Or is there something wrong withher?Infertility is nothing to be ashamed of. Many women suffer from?—”

Dutch roars and lunges forward.

I slam my hand into his chest, stopping him the way he’s stopped me so many times before.

“We can’t beat him this way. You taught me that,” I whisper.

My twin’s nostrils flare, amber eyes turning to a twisted black. He shoves me off and points a finger at dad.

“Keep my wife’s name out of your mouth,” Dutch snarls out.

Dad chuckles gleefully.

Damn, he’s enjoying this.

Watching us unravel.

Watching us writhe and moan in pain.

His eyes shift to Finn next. From the corner of my eyes, I see Finn’s shoulders snap up, his back making one, rigid line.

“You came,” dad hisses. “I’ll take it you’re ready for the truth now?”

Finn curls his fingers into fists, staring dad down like he wants to tackle him.

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