Page 56 of Mistress Mayhem

Cooper pulls to a stop outside the house, and the door opens before we can even get out of the vehicle.

“There they are!” My mom rushes out, throwing her arms around me and hugging me close before doing the same with the guys. “I’m so happy you’re all here. Come inside, come inside. I have the food in warmers on the table, and your dad is so excited to see you and the boys.”

I almost snort at her calling them boys, but it’s kind of cute, and they don’t complain as we follow her inside.

My dad is sitting in his favorite chair when we step into the living room, but he quickly jumps to his feet and pulls me into his arms. “My baby. I’m so happy to see you.”

I melt into his embrace, my eyes falling shut. “I’m happy to see you too, Dad. I’ve missed you.”

And I have. I missed my parents so much. Even though we’ve been in the same city, it hasn’t been safe for me to be around them. But that’s done and over with now. I won’t ever have to go without them again.

“Boys,” my dad offers as he pulls away from me, shaking each of the guys’ hands before Mom is ushering us into the dining room.

My eyes widen at the veritable feast set out for us. “Mom, this is... you didn’t actually have leftovers, did you?”

She blushes. “No, but this was what I was going to make if you did come over. I only picked at my dinner, and you know your dad can always eat.”

“That’s because I’m a growing boy.”

I snicker. “You might be growing, but you’re definitely not a boy, Dad.”

“Are you calling me old, young lady?” He tries to keep a straight face but can’t. He gestures for all of us to sit as he laughs.

My mom bustles around us, making our plates for us before she even sits. We all try to object to her doing it for us, but my mom is one stubborn lady—which I definitely inherited. Once she sits down, she beams at the four of us.

“So, how did the four of you run into one another? The last I knew, you boys didn’t live in Lockwood anymore.”

Austin smiles. “We don’t, Mrs. Wellington.”

“Oh, call me Laura. We’re all adults here.”

Austin inclines his head. “Of course, Laura. We actually live two states over in a little town called Oak Vale.”

Confusion mars her face, but she keeps smiling as she nods. “That sounds nice. If that’s the case, why are you here?”

Austin glances at me before looking at Fox and Cooper. They all look lost, not sure if they should admit why they’re here.

“You know how I spend Mayhem?” I wait for my parents to nod. “Austin, Cooper, and Fox do something similar. They take contract kills for Mayhem.”

“Really?” My mom looks almost aghast at the information, while my dad just throws his head back and laughs.

Now I’m the one confused.

Dad finally stops laughing long enough to ask a question. “So you were in Lockwood on a contract? May I ask who you were sent to kill?”

Three sets of wide, freaking out eyes turn to me. I laugh, shaking my head at them. “The same men I set out to kill last night. The men who destroyed my life all those years ago.”

When my dad laughs again, I don’t even know what to do. I turn to my mom, lifting an eyebrow, but she won’t meet my eyes as her face turns scarlet.

“What the hell is going on right now?” I’m so confused by the way my parents are acting right now.

Neither of them answers for a few minutes, my mom jumping up and running for the kitchen—something about needing to check on dessert. I lock my eyes on my dad, waiting until he calms down.

“So which of you actually did the killing?” he finally asks, causing me to frown. Why would he ask that question? He’s never wanted any details about my Mayhem adventures.

“Dad? You’re kind of freaking me out.”

He snorts. “You killed them, didn’t you, pumpkin?”

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