Page 47 of Like An Animal
I shrug.
I’ve never been one for following the rules. I knew what the consequences were and I didn’t care. I still killed people in and around Grove Hill. I was just never caught.
“What was the point of this meeting?” Finn asks and I turn to face him.
“An exchange. I know you and your brothers use your disposable income to better your community and I’m willing to donate a large chunk of money to that in exchange for allowing Bronwyn into your town if she chooses to come here.”
I don’t know if she’ll ever want to, but it’s better to nip this in the bud now.
Finn’s brows drop thoughtfully. “We knew it wasn’t you that killed them. We had an inkling that it was probably her, but you just confirmed it. Just tell me one thing.” He rubs his chin, looking a mixture of irritated and exhausted. “Why did she do it? She knew the rules and what she was risking.”
I thought it was pretty clear that it was Bronwyn who killed David and Kathy. It was a well-known fact that I was at Xavi’s house when the murders took place. Dozens of people saw me there. However, I wouldn’t let her come here for any length of time without knowing she won’t be in danger.
“You really want her motive?” I’d like to know that, too, but I can only guess why she did it.
“Yes. A motive always matters.”
“Self-defense,” I explain, knowing it will sound strange.
His eyes widen. “Self-defense?”
“Yes. Think of the worst thing a parent could ever do to their child and multiply it by one-thousand, then double it. You have her motive. You couldn’t possibly understand what it was like living in that house. Trust me when I say Kathy and David didn’t go through nearly the amount of torment they deserved.”
Finn stares at me for a moment and I see the wheels turning. He’s putting the pieces together. He may not have the whole picture, but he is picking up what I’ve said to him.
“Give us a second,” he mutters before he walks over to the others, leaving me with Massimo.
“You were seriously going to throw me under the bus like that?” He nudges my shoulder, clearly pissed.
“Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. What the fuck were you thinking? You used to get the same questions about me.”
He shrugs. “Sorry, man. Sure, I was stupid, but it was shocking. We’re in the same room as Damien fucking King. He’s a senseless killing machine. Anyone would be freaked out. I didn’t mean to offend anyone.”
“Then you should’ve kept your mouth shut. It’s going to get you killed one day. The only reason he didn’t kill you is because of where we are.” It wouldn’t have stopped me, but the audience might have. I’m psychotic, not stupid.
Massimo glares at me but doesn’t say another word. He stays silent, knowing it will serve him better than to mouth off any more.
CHAPTER 21
THE SHADOW
The Bastards agreed to my deal, but the moment anyone realized I wasn’t in Newark anymore, my grandfather started blowing up my phone. He tried getting answers about where I was and what I was doing, but I was vague.
He made his feelings concerning Bronwyn really fucking clear early in the game. He thinks I’m better off staying as far away from her as possible and I didn’t argue. What was the point? He couldn’t change my stance and I knew I wouldn’t be able to change his. He doesn’t have to like her. However, he will respect my decision, especially if he plans to hand the reins over to me.
If he wants to back out and give the control to someone who isn’t me, fine. I’ll take Bronwyn and walk away. She’s what really matters and I think he knows that.
Maybe he has convinced himself that I’ve moved on, even though there has been no one else in my bed or my heart.
I hang up the phone as I walk into Arnold’s house, bathed in darkness.
That’s the fifth call I had to pretend I was too busy to deal with. Soon, he’s going to get suspicious if he’s not already.
So what if he does?
It’ll be no skin off my back.
I’m grateful to my grandfather for helping me avoid prison and taking me under his wing after what happened in Grove Hill, but I can survive without him and the organization. I can’t say the same for my little ghost.
