He pauses and looks over his shoulder. “Send a couple of guys over to check out the location she gave us. Make sure it’s legit.”
It doesn’t even sting that he’s double checking the information I gave him. He’d be stupid if he didn’t, but what is getting under my skin is the fact he thinks I’m going with him to see our mother.
I dig my feet into the ground. “Silas, it was nice seeing you again and I’m glad I could help out and all, but you know how I feel about Mom.”
“Come on, don’t be that way. She is our mother. Besides, I need to keep an eye on you until this deal is done. You know that.” He tugs me to my car, putting me in the passenger seat.
“No. I didn’t know that. Why do you need to keep me here?”
He leans into the car, staring down at me. “You know, you’re a lot like Dad, always thinking you’re better than us.” The door slams shut in my face, and he storms to the driver’s side.
“Silas, I don’t want to go to Mom’s,” I tell him as soon as he enters the car.
“Well, that’s too damn bad,” he says, turning the key in the ignition. He rests his hand on my seat as he backs out.
I bite my tongue and turn away, because there’s no use arguing with him.
A few miles down the road, I try to reason with him again. “I’m not like Dad. I only pulled away from you and Mom because I needed some peace.”
He rolls his eyes. “Whatever helps you sleep at night, sis.”
“Silas …”
“You abandoned us just like Dad did.”
My mouth falls open, because that’s not what I did.
“You think life is easy?”
“You know I don’t.”
“We’re supposed to stick together. No matter what. Family is all we got.” He reaches over and takes my hand when he sees me tearing up. “Aw, stop cryin’, sis. I’m sorry I came down on you like that, but you’ve got to get your head on straight. We need each other.”
He mistakes my emotion for one of regret, but that is not what I feel at all. I’ll never regret fighting for peace. I’ll never regret walking away from them. The only family I regret losing is the one I left behind in Cheyenne.
We pull up to a ranch-style house out in the middle of the country. There are chickens in the yard.
My brother smiles wide. “See what you’ve been missing out on.” His gaze scans the little farm he’s building for himself.
I see a lot of manly toys on the property. Bikes, tractors, four-wheelers. You name it, he’s got it. It looks like he’s been doing well, but I know this is all part of the illusion. He owes the cartel money, and since he won’t be paying them, everything here will soon belong to them. Rest assured they will come for it and everything inside. Me included, if I don’t get out of here in time.
My mom comes out of the house as he opens his door. “Come on. Mom will be happy you’re here.”
She looks at me warily as she hugs him. “What’s she doing here?”
“I’ll leave,” I say, slipping around the back of the car to get to the driver’s side.
“She needs a place to stay. It will only be for a week or so.” He drills me with a look, stopping me in my tracks. “I’ve got plans for her after that.”
We can add letting him die to the list of things I won’t regret.
“Hi, Momma,” I say, dipping my head and kicking rocks. I’ll let him believe I’ve conceded the game to him for now, but I’m just getting started.
I’m not going to lose.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Rage