Page 186 of Heresy

“Constance, is there a phone I can use? I need to call Brinley to let her know the mistake we made and see if she has another address for us.”

She’s following her mother, the twins and Taylor into the kitchen but looks over her shoulder at me.

“My phone is on my bedside table. You’re welcome to it.”

Fucking perfect.

Locking myself into the room, I thank God that Constance doesn’t use a passcode on her phone. Accessing her contacts, I scroll to find Scott’s name.

Hitting the button, I walk into the en suite bathroom, shut that door and pray like hell neither his mom nor his grandmother hear me.

Threatening Scott will be intentional, but there’s no reason to scare the two women at the same time.

He answers after the third ring, obviously roused from deep sleep. His voice is rougher than usual.

“Mom? Everything okay?”

“They will be as soon as Brinley is returned to me.”

That wakes him up. I can hear the sheets move around as he sits up in bed.

“Who the fuck is this?”

“Follow the conversation, asshole. I just told you that you’re giving Brinley back to me. Who the fuck do you think this is? Santa?”

Scott goes silent except for the recognizable sound of his teeth grinding.

“You’re not getting her back.”

“Then I hope you hugged your mommy and grandma real tight when you last saw them because it’ll be the last time.”

“Let me talk to my mother.”

“She’s a bit tied up at the moment,” I lie. “But I’m calling from her phone, and if you have the ability to trace where I’m standing, you’ll know what house I’m in.”

He’s quiet again, those gears in his head moving at full speed. I understand exactly where he is right now. I was there when they took Brinley.

“If you hurt my mom—”

“You’re not listening, Scott. I’m not playing a fucking game here. So this is what you’re going to do… Put Brinley in a car. She drives herself here. As soon as I have her, your mom and grandma will be let go. But if you or Jerry show up with her, if any cops show up, or hell, if a fucking mosquito so much as buzzes past one of these windows before Brinley gets here, I’m taking your family out. Do you understand?”

“I’ll kill you for this.”

Smirking at that, I dare him to try. “Good to know we’ll be seeing each other again. It just won’t be tonight. The only person I want to see is Brinley. You work out the details on your end, I’ll stay calm and collected on mine. But only for a few hours.”

“She’ll be there in less than two.”

“Perfect.”

Hanging up, I hope to hell that he makes this easy for once and does what I told him. I’m not really killing his mother or his grandmother over this shit. But he doesn’t know that.

The only thing I can do is wait and see.

Making my way out to the kitchen, I facepalm to see Damon, Ezra and Taylor sitting around a small breakfast table, napkins tucked into the top of their shirts while they devour a plate of cookies.

Agnes brings over a pitcher of tea and begins refilling their glasses.

“Now you boys eat up. There’s plenty more where that came from. In fact, look at the time. It’s almost morning. I can whip up some bacon and eggs, if you want?”

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