Page 66 of Vicious Deception
Without a doubt, Rhett is probably halfway through making my sandwich. A few minutes ago, I was starving, but now eating is the last thing I want to do. I’ll have to, though. Rhett is worried enough about me.
Inhaling deeply, I bury my face in Wren’s neck. Her arms come around me hesitantly.
“I missed you,” I whisper. She knows it, but I need to fill this silence. Needsomething.
“O, what’s wro—”
“Why’s Aubrey here?” I turn to face the room, keeping an arm around Wren. “I mean, I’m happy to see you and all. But . . . aren’t you supposed to be in California?”
“Wren needed some support,” Aubrey says softly. Her eyes are tracking my every movement with an odd amount of concern.
“That’s nice.” Plastering on a smile, I kiss Wren on the cheek. “I’m glad you have her. And my mom, apparently. What’s up with that?”
Wren’s brows are furrowed, but at the mention of Mom, her frown turns into a look of guilt. “She showed up at the house when you didn’t answer any of her calls. We were afraid she’d go to the police unless she had a reason not to, so I told her everything.” She grimaces. “I’m sorry.”
Everything?Based on the look in her eyes when we left her in the basement, she mostdefinitelydidn’t take thiswell.
“That’s a lot,” I say.
“She took it well for the most part. Where . . .” Wren peers behind me. “Where is she?”
“Uh . . . busy.”
Wren seems to get the idea because she nods slowly. “And you’re—”
“I’m fine,” I say quickly. I don’t have to look around the room to know that no one believes me. “Just talk to me,” I add quietly.
Even though Wren’s worry is evident on her face, she does what I ask. “I, um. I met Maggie. She’s outside right now.”
“Yeah? Play fetch with her yet?”
Wren laughs. “Practically every day. She can’t get enough of it. Meredith has enjoyed playing with her, too.”
“That’s . . . good.” But my voice is steeped in disappointment. It’s only now hitting me that Wren and Mom have met. They’ve talked. Hell, it looks like they’ve spent at least a couple days together.
“Oliver,” Wren says hesitantly.
“I’m glad you met Mom,” I say, swallowing down the lump in my throat. “I’m . . .”
I’m tired of happy moments being taken away from me.
“Rhett!” Benny shouts. He bolts across the room and throws his arms around his older brother, nearly knocking the plate out of his hand. “You’re okay!”
“Yeah,” Rhett says as he pats Benny on the back with his free hand. “Yeah, I’m okay.”
“Were you really not a guest?” Benny asks, pulling away. “Were you a prisoner? Why were you a prisoner? What did Mr. Holloway want with you? Why were you in handcuffs?”
“I’ll explain soon,” Rhett says, “but for right now, I have some stuff I have to do. Tomorrow, all right?”
“As long as you promise.”
The corner of Rhett’s mouth tips up. “I promise. But right now, I have some catching up to do.”
Sparrow stands. “We can give you all some privacy.”
Benny’s face falls. “What? No!”
“They all need to sleep.” Finn places a hand on Benny’s shoulder. “How does playing with Maggie for a bit sound?”