Page 63 of Darkest Retribution

Jade

Rosiegetshomesoonafter I return from Grayson Security. I barely pay attention as we go through her after-school routine of getting a snack and doing her homework. She’s cranky, probably from staying up too late at her friend’s house, but it goes unaddressed.

Maybe I’ll have her nap before dinner.

Blaze and Brooke’s location is nestled safely in the back of my mind. I should give it to David and get it over with, but I can’t bring myself to send the text. Instead, a heavy, guilty feeling settles in my chest, making it hard to breathe.

Whenever David has given me a job in the past, I’ve always come through. I know that if he takes Rosie, he’ll lose his leverage over me, so he’s not likely to do it. But I’ve never given him a reason to. It’s not worth the risk.

But what is David planning on doing to Blaze and Brooke? Obviously they’re hiding from him. What if he kills them? From what I’ve seen, Dominic and his brother are close. I don’t want him to get hurt.

Too late for that.

The way I’m looking at it, I have three options. First, give David the information and keep Rosie safe, but betray Dom in the process. Second, tell David I couldn’t get the location and risk losing Rosie. Third, eliminate the problem and kill David.

I hate them all.

And, as if the universe wants to remind me just how backed into a corner I am, the third option is knocked off my list the second I think of it.

“Auntie Jade?” Rosie says, looking up from her homework. Her eyes are sad, her posture slumped.

I frown. At first I thought she was just tired, but this looks like more. Rosie seemsbothered,not cranky. “What’s up, honey?”

“Sarah’s dad lives with her.Andher mom.”

I wait, seeing if she’ll go on, but she doesn’t. “You know your mom loved you, right?”

She nods, refusing to look at me. When she sniffles, my heart breaks.

“She loved you so much, honey. If she was still alive, you’d be living with her.”

“And you? I’d miss you.”

I smile, stroking her hair, trying to give her some semblance of comfort. But how do you do that when one of her parents is dead and the other wants nothing to do with her? “Yeah, and me. We’d live together.”

It’s not true. But that’s not going to help right now.

“I wish Daddy lived with us.” With her head bowed, she stares at the sheet of paper in front of her. A tear falls onto it. “Sarah’s dad taught her how to ride her bike. And they’re going fishing next weekend.”

It takes me a minute to figure out what to say. I’m grateful that Dom taught her how to ride her bike, but I know it’s not the same.

“Does Daddy love me? It doesn’t feel like he does, and I want him to. But he’s never here.” The last sentence comes out as a sob, and Rosie buries her face in her hands.

“Oh, honey.” I scooch my chair closer to Rosie’s and pull her onto my lap. “You deserve so much better from him.”

“He didn’t come to my birthday party,” she cries, fisting my shirt.

“I know, Rosie, I know.”

Shit. Her birthday party was months ago. She was devastated the day of, but at least I was able to keep her occupied and distracted. I should’ve known that spending the night with Sarah’s family would bring this on.

“It’s not you, Rosie, okay? You’re perfect. Your dad is just... well, he’s not a good person.”

“I don’t care,” she yells into my chest. “I want to talk to him.”

I freeze. David doesn’t know how to act around kids. He’s always too harsh, too impatient. Letting Rosie talk to him would only do her more harm. And that’sifI can get David on the phone.

“Please, Auntie Jade?” She looks up at me then, her brown eyes wide and overflowing with tears.

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