Page 49 of Madness Behind the Mask
But a mother.
A mother who didn’t even get to know the love of her children.
Because ofme.
Tears burning tracks down my cheeks, I mouth the words, “I’m sorry.” A genuine wish to say those words to her...and Antonio.
Perhaps if I had the knowledge and compassion to have done so all those years ago, my family would still be alive, and I wouldn’t have nearly killed my darling little girl, thinking the worstof peoplebecause that’s all I’ve ever known. Perhaps…perhaps it would be a much different world, where I wouldn’t have to worry every time Caden or one of my childrengoesoutside our protective wards.
Perhaps, we could have had peace…
Stopping suddenly outside of my bedroom door, Uncle David collects himself. His rage dissipates from his rigid shoulders, and his mien turns to one of calm and concern. He knocks on the door once, but when no one answers, he opens it himself and then drags me in, his rage back at the forefront of his actions. His lipstwisted in a sneer, my uncle throws me down on the bed.
“Not a word,” he hisses as I struggle to right myself, my limbs severely exhausted from their use. “You say one word to Caden about what youthinkyou saw me doing, and I swear to all the gods, Sau, I will kill you. And no one will care either considering we already spent thirty years without you.”
I flinch, absolutely believing his words.
He turns to the door, then closes it softly behind him.
Trembling, I fall back onto the bed and curl up into a ball.Perhaps the worldwouldbe better off without me…
Eighteen
CADEN
13August1947
“What do you think?” I ask my younger brother Myers as we approach our car, parked in the slab driveway ofChristian’swidow’s house. Although I wanted to talk to her alone, I can’t dismiss the impact Myer’s presence had on her willingness to divulge information. He is the reaper of the Shadow Family, the one tasked with killing traitors. When the time comes to killBert, Orien, and Paul, it’ll be at his hands. It was not a position held within our own Family when we lived up north, which is why I’m so quick to get my own hands dirtyand, in his words, ‘sneak out of the house like some goddamn teenager,’but it is a family tradition for the Shadows.
A reaper protects the Boss and the Family, putting his own desiresand friendshipslast.He is the black twisted hand of vengeance.With David being my Underboss, one of my own brothers had to take the empty position as theprevious one was killed on our wedding day.Dermont, our youngest brother,would have beenfar too soft for the jobeven if he was still alive today.
Nyra’s eyes kept flicking to Myers as he stood behind me as I questioned her aboutChristian’slast few days.She started trying to lie, talking about how he’d regretted losing his hand to protect someone who wouldn’t protect him. Then she looked at Myers and swallowed, trailing off before bursting into a whole different story.
“About hinting that someone high up threatened her children if she didn’t convince usChristianwas dirty?”Myers asks.
“No. About the tea she offered us. Do you think she’s secretly a Red Coat?” Isayas I open the car door. “Yes, aboutthe fucking traitor.”
He grinsas he slides into the driver’s seat. “That was some pretty damn good tea. She could be a Red Coat.”Raising his voice an octave, he quotesPaul Revere’s famous line, “The British are coming! The British are coming!” and then follows it up with, “You knowPaulnever actually said that?”
“I’m going to kill you.”
Laughing, he turns on the car. “You can try, littleguy.”
“You’reoneinch taller than me,” I hiss. “And that’sifyou round up by one inch.”
He snorts. He’s exactly 0.1 inches taller than me, and he’s been lording that over me since he turned thirteen.
Reversing out of the driveway, Myers peers over his shoulderat the road. A car honks. He ignores it, and not for the first time I wonder if he’s trying to kill me with his driving. His body’s innate healing magic is a lot better than mine…
Glancing over at me, he laughs. “There was loads of space!”
“You drive like a maniac.”
“Eh. It’s a good thing I’m crazy, no?”
I don’t comment, knowing damn well he used to be a lot more sane before he took the job as reaper.
I give him a subtle nod, and he grins at me. A moment of silence descends between us. Respect, gratitude, and a giant fucking dose of paranoia about who this higher up who threatened Nyra might be.
