Page 184 of Heresy

Damn it. She may be in pain or need something important. Heart medication, anxiety meds, something. Normally, I wouldn’t care as much, but after getting Brinley through her panic attacks, I’m a little more understanding.

I nod my head for her to tug it down.

Doing so, she stretches her mouth to relieve where the fabric gag had restricted it. Then her terrified stare meets mine.

“I don’t mean to interrupt, but I’d like to know if you plan on hurting me or my mother.”

What the fuck do we do in this situation? We hadn’t bothered with masks, and now both these women can identify us. But even given that, I’m still not going to hurt them.

I may not have many rules in life, but I’m not a complete monster.

“No. This…” I pause, wondering how the hell I’m going to clean this up. “This is all just a mix-up. We’re in the wrong house. You won’t be hurt.”

Maybe I could play it off as a fraternity stunt, like when they abduct someone to take them to some initiation ceremony.

“Thank you for that,” she says, her voice shaking. “And excuse me for eavesdropping, but did you say Brinley?”

Maybe Taylor didn’t screw up.

Brin’s name isn’t overly common, and this woman recognizes it.

“I did.”

She swallows then clears her throat. “As in Brinley Thornton?”

I turn to face her fully. “What do you know about Brinley Thornton?”

“She’s my best friend’s daughter.”

The older lady tugs her gag off. “Oh, that’s right. Brinley is Shelly’s daughter, isn’t she? Such a shame what happened to Shelly at such a young age.”

Then she surprises me by putting the gag back in place.

Something odd glimmers in the older woman’s eyes, and I swear, it looks like excitement.

Ignoring her, I glance at Taylor to confirm that’s the right name. I wait for him to nod once in response before turning back to the captives.

They may not be who we wanted, but they could be a source of information we need.

“Did you know Jerry too?”

The woman nods. “Shelly and I grew up together in California. I moved here to attend school, but then got pregnant with my son. After marrying his father, I left school and was a stay-at-home mom. Shelly moved down to Georgia to help me with Scott, but also so we could be close together.”

Stilling in place, my mind races to catch up.

She didn’t just say what I think she said.

If so, we didn’t just get the wrong house, we just crossed a line that shatters every rule the Inferno has ever had.

While we have no problem screwing with a person’s life who owes us for a favor, we never involve their families in it. Not unless they have it coming as well. But if they’re innocent, we leave them alone.

“What is your name?”

“Constance Clayborn.” She looks to the other woman beside her. “And this is my mother Agnes.”

For fuck’s sake.

Scrubbing my hand over the back of my neck, I attempt to work out the knots of frustration locking the muscles in place.

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