Page 149 of Mad As Hell

He rubbed his jaw. “You know, I never wanted to be a father.”

“You’re a pretty shitty one,” I replied, unable to help myself.

He chuckled, agreeing with me. “True. But it was a necessity. Then again, maybe I took the wrong sister. Madelaine could never see what I was trying to do.”

“My sister never had to work for a thing her whole life,” I retorted. “Try living with nothing, eating moldy bread and washing it down with sour milk when your mother is too high to remember what a grocery store is. You learn a lot about yourself.”

He smiled slowly. “Fair enough. But if you think I’m just going to take your word for everything, you’re as stupid as that cunt who birthed you. You want to be my partner? Prove it. Find me something useful.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “I told you that Beckett played you. That he and Madelaine set you up so they’d get paid.”

He shrugged and sat down. “And?”

I glanced down, wondering what I could share that would prove I was loyal to him without actually selling out my friends.

Maybe a lie with a little bit of truth.

Finally, I looked up. “Ryan told me about his initiation. That he killed someone.”

Gary’s eyes widened. “He told you that?”

I nodded slowly. “He also told me the real reason for the Shutterfield deal. What you’re all planning, but more importantly, what they’re planning.” I lowered my voice as I twisted my engagement ring around my finger, trying to sell the next part. “He and Beckett are planning to cut you out of the deal. He told me not to worry—they’ll take care of me when they destroy you.”

He froze, fury turning his face and neck red.

“Believe me now?” I asked with a smile.

“We’re going to end them,” he hissed.

“Yes, we are,” I agreed, satisfaction curling in my chest. “I need to get back soon, or Ryan will get worried.”

He nodded. “Yes, you do. I need to know more about what they’re planning, Madison. You want your freedom? You’ll have it when they’re rotting in the ground.” He leaned back in his chair. “I’ll have Bernard drive you back to school.”

“Mind if I stop upstairs first? I think I’m getting my period, and I know there’s some extra tampons in Lainey’s bathroom.”

He wrinkled his nose in disgust and waved me away. “Go. I’ll call you later. And Madison?”

I paused in the doorway and glanced back.

“If you betray me, the Cains aren’t the only bodies I’ll be burying.” He gave me a cold, brittle smile.

Unable to stomach any more time with him, I nodded and walked calmly from the room and down the hall before hurrying up the stairs and into Madelaine’s old room.

I closed the door and scanned the room to be sure it was empty before I hurried to the closet and turned on the light. The only air vent was nearly three feet above my head. Thankfully there were shelves full of designer purses under it.

I prayed the wood would hold as I quickly scaled them and used my nails to pry open the grate. Silently begging that there not be something furry or creepy-crawly living in the vent, I shoved my hand in and felt around.

At first, I didn’t feel anything. But when I lifted onto my tiptoes and reached a little deeper, my hand brushed something metal. Grunting and straining to reach just a little further, I managed to grab the edge and tug it out.

A key.

The small, silver piece caught the light enough for me to make out a number.

I squinted.

No, a number and a few letters.

It was covered in a layer of dust and grime that I managed to wipe mostly away with my thumb.

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