Page 45 of Behind the Shadows
Dad chuckled. “Don’t worry about that. They can take care of themselves.” He winked. “Let me make a call, then I’ll message that your mom and I are going shopping this afternoon and ask if you want to meet for lunch. Politely decline. Then you’ll know we’re on the way out the door once the decoy has left. I’ll let you know when we’re at the resort safe and sound.”
Shit. I hoped like hell the plan would work. It had to. I couldn’t stand the thought of anything bad happening to my parents.
“Okay. I love you. Have a good time, Dad.”
“We will, but I want you to be diligent, Holland. Stay alert and keep Homer close by at all times.”
Homer was the name I’d given my gun, but I rarely called it that unless I had to in order not to scare people or if there was a possibility someone might be listening in.
“By the way, Holland, I won’t let you pay for the resort. I love and appreciate it, but that’s a lot of money. I’ll take care of it. You invest or save … or hell, book some time there for yourself.”
I raised a brow at him. “We’ll discuss it when all of this is over and you’re home. Be safe.”
“You too. I’ll keep you updated.”
“Okay. Bye.” I blew him a kiss, then disconnected the call.
I glanced at the clock. It was almost one, which gave everyone plenty of daylight. I didn’t think Draco would strike until it was dark.
After I checked my calendar for additional appointments, I tried to focus on notes for my next client. An hour later, Dad’s message came in inviting me to lunch. I breathed a sigh of relief and politely declined. Once they checked into the resort in Idaho, I would feel a little better … maybe. The drive was a few hours long, but mostly on the interstate, so plenty of people would be around if something happened.
Now? I had to wait to see if Draco realized what was happening or if my parents would be safe from the son of a bitch.
18
KIP
“I have to go. I have an … appointment,” Death said. “But you two keep digging into Kip’s mother and uncle and how they’re associated with the Pied Piper. I’ll talk to Ella and see if I can get her to fucking talk.”
“She’s scared, Death. Whatever the Pied Piper said to her grabbed her by the fucking throat,” I said, remembering how pale she’d been after the conversation with him a few months ago. We had someone who the Pied Piper wanted and demanded him back. In exchange, he allowed us all to live. Not many people rattled any of us, but the Pied Piper was in a league of his own. Powerful. Smart. Deadly.
“And right, there’s the problem. I’m the only man allowed to grab her by the throat. When I find out what he said to her, the motherfucker will never see me coming. Soon, we’ll be rid of him once and for all.”
Death never made promises he couldn’t keep. Not intentionally anyway, and I worried that this might be one of them.
“I’ll be in touch.” He tipped his chin at us before he turned around and left the cabin, the door slamming closed behind him.
Dope blew out a huge breath. “Fuck. Me.” He removed the rolled-up joint from behind his ear and flipped it between his fingers, but he didn’t light up.
“No shit. How the hell are my mother and uncle involved with the Pied Piper?”
“Shit, dude. Even the pastor? That’s some fucked-up shit, right?”
I shrugged. “Look at the people who protect Death; I shouldn’t be surprised by the pastor of the church.”
Dope stretched his legs out in front of him. “You never mentioned your pastor when we were kids. I mean, as you got older, you wore your cross, but I know it’s a blade, so it’s not like it’s for religious reasons.”
I snorted. “I don’t believe in God. Never have.”
“Why? I mean, after today, I have questions. You shared some shit about your childhood, but you’ve been secretive over the years. Now we learn your family is associated with PP. You need to start telling Death and me what’s going on, so we know how to play the motherfucker’s game.”
I bowed my head, the weight of the past clawing at the scars on my back and arms. “You guys know Mother and I aren’t close.”
“I remember that because you were gone a lot, even during school. She always had you helping her with a new church somewhere or Bible camp.”
A low, angry chuckle escaped me. Over the years, whenever my friends had asked about my family and why I never spoke of them, I had rehearsed what I would say when the time came—when I could no longer keep the truth buried, when it became dangerous for them not to know. But even then, I couldn’t give them everything. Maybe one day. But not that day. For the time being, I gave them enough to keep us one step ahead of the Pied Piper.
“You guys know Uncle Vinny taught me how to clean. When Mother got sick of seeing my face, she’d send me out on jobs with him. That’s why I was gone.”
