Page 20 of The Ties That Bind
The tone in her voice grew more hostile. “This isn’t up for debate, and if you talk toanyoneabout it, I’ll jump down the rabbit hole so fast, it will make your head spin.”
Brie had no idea what she meant, but it terrified her.
Although she knew Mary’s actions came from a place of love, because of her violent past, the way she expressed it was dark and twisted—and Brie wasn’t sure if Mary would survive it.
“Youbetternot betray me, bitch,” Mary warned, her voice full of venom.
Brie heard a rapping knock in the background, followed by Lea’s cheerful voice. “Hey, just a heads up. Hunter’s going to be here in a few.”
“Oh, yay!” Mary answered in a sarcastic tone.
Mary lowered her voice and whispered into the phone so only Brie could hear, “At least now I don’t have a reason to stay here anymore.”
“Who are you talking to?” Lea asked.
“Stinks.”
“Hey, Brie!” Lea called out before telling Mary, “Hunter said you’re invited to join us.”
“No to whatever your weird boyfriend has planned. I want nothing to do with it.”
Lea snorted in amusement. “We’re just going to the zoo, silly.”
“Exactly. What kind of lame-ass takes a grown woman to the zoo when they could be getting their freak on?”
“Whatever…”
“So, anyway, Stinks,” Mary continued, dismissing Lea.
“Tell Brie she’s invited to join us at the zoo with Hope if she wants,” Lea called out.
“Ignore her,” Mary advised Brie. “All they do is make out when they think no one is watching.”
“We do not!” Lea protested.
“Yeah, right…”
“Anyhoo, let’s get together soon, Brie,” Lea sang out. “I miss my Stinky Cheese!”
“Get the hell out, Lea. I’m trying to have a conversation here.”
“Fine, but my invitation still stands for you both.”
Mary huffed loudly after the door closed. “Lea is a fucking pain to live with. Always cheerful and smiling, and those incessant jokes…it seriously makes me want to punch something.”
Brie felt only sympathy for Mary. In her world of darkness and uncertainty, it was no wonder she found the happiness of others offensive to her.
“Is there anything I can do, Mary?”
“Just finish that fucking documentary about the dead violinist. I can take the heat as long as I know it’s for a good cause.”
“Oh, Mary…”
“Don’t even start with me, bitch,” she growled.
Brie frowned when she heard the dial tone. No one else in the world understood how incredibly selfless Mary was.
Mary Wilson was the strongest woman Brie had ever met, but her power was being crushed under the vile weight of Greg Holloway’s malevolence.
