by Alex Stone
I want nothing more than to do just that, slit his throat, but we need answers. “Not yet,” I state, still sitting atop Aaron nude with a knife to his throat. He doesn’t seem scared. Not yet, I repeat in my mind. Ricky approaches, and I get up. Aaron stumbles as Ricky pulls him to his feet and slams him into a chair, but Aaron doesn’t fight— until Ricky turns his back. Aaron leaps up as quickly as his gimp leg allows, but I shove him back down. Coward.
“Mel, get your extra clothesline and bring it to me,” I command. Surprisingly, she doesn’t argue. Instead, she gets up and hustles down the hall. Perhaps, she wanted any excuse to get out of the room. I wonder if she will take her time, but she returns seconds later. She holds out the bundled rope for me to grab, and I take it. I’m still staring at Aaron, who Ricky holds in a chair. Perfect.
I walk over and roughly nudge Ricky out of my way before wrapping the clothesline around Aaron and tying it in as many knots as I know. As I am working my way through one of the last knots, I say, “Mel, call Uncle Carl.” She doesn’t respond, but I hear her pull out her phone and walk into the other room. With the knife still in my hand, it takes a little longer to finish, but Aaron isn’t going anywhere.
Taking a deep breath, I brace myself for what I am about to do. For me, torture had been an uncrossable line. Just hours ago, I superiorly condemned the practice. But faced with the coward who manipulated my cousin and murdered my grandmother in her own home, that line is gone. Perhaps, I’ll cross so far over any and all moral lines that I’ll forget they ever existed. I should probably care, but I don’t. I’m hungry for blood, for vengeance. Part of me wants to argue that it’s for the sake of my family, for their protection, and while that may be true, it would be a lie for me to say I wasn’t getting pleasure from the thought of making this man suffer. Just like he made her suffer.
I turn my attention to my hands and play with the knife, running my fingers gently over its blade. “You seem to like talking,” I say to Aaron simply. He snorts, but I don’t acknowledge it. “I’m going to give you the opportunity to keep talking, and if you don’t—” I look up at him “—I’ll cut you.” He smiles at me, but his sarcastic grin doesn’t meet his eyes. He already said it: he’s dead, but that reality seems to only now be sinking in. Good.
I hear Mel reenter. “He didn’t answer,” she says quietly. Inwardly, I curse, but I don’t acknowledge my frustration out loud.
“Why has your pack targeted us?” I demand of Aaron
“We haven’t—” I reach out with the knife, swiftly drawing it across his shoulder.
“I forgot to tell you the rules,” I say in an overly chipper tone, but then narrow my eyes. “Don’t lie, and don’t bullshit me.”
“We haven’t—” he repeats, and without a word, I slowly draw a matching line of blood across his other shoulder. Aaron bares his teeth and winces from the pain. I hear Ricky draw in a breath, wincing, too. Part of me wants to stop; part of me says this is wrong. I silence that part.
Aaron is quiet for a moment before he swallows. “Raina used to be part of Totius— that’s our pack,” he adds. “She had been wandering around, had no pack, so our old alpha took her in. She was fifteen then. After a while, she ran off, and no one could find her. She wasn’t a member long, but you don’t just leave Totius.” Aaron closes his eyes before exhaling through his nose. “The old boss stopped looking after a year; said she wasn’t worth it.” He nearly spits the last part. “But my Uncle Nathaniel, our current alpha—” it seems like he is trying to name drop as if I will care about his connection to Totius’s leader “—never stopped looking, said the bitch stole from him.”
I don’t allow the bitch comment to get to me. I’ll save that anger for later. “What did she steal?”
He shakes his head.
“What did she steal?” I repeat louder than before, stabbing the knife into the chair next to Aaron’s head.
“It didn’t make much sense to me. He said she stole his ‘legacy and talisman.’” Aaron changes his voice to mimic his alpha’s deeper voice and briefly glances at the necklace hanging between my breasts. “That’s all I know,” he says. For some reason, I believe him.
The room is quiet. Deathly quiet. I can hear the ticking of the clock over the television, as well as a fly buzzing in the kitchen. Even the commercial on the television is at low volume. It’s time.
“Do you have anything you would like to say before…”
Aaron nods before turning to Mel. “I’m a dirty son of a bitch. I flattened your tire and had you wrapped around my finger before I even fixed it. You were way too easy to use and to fuck…so easy it pissed me off! But damn if you weren’t sweet!” I want to deck the fucker, but Ricky beats me to it. Aaron licks his busted lip, but continues, “It was you who told me when your grandma would be home. Did you know that? Don’t be so naïve next time, darlin’. You don’t need any more pain than what I’ve already caused you. In another life, maybe I could’ve stayed to love you like I do.”
“That’s enough,” I say, lifting the knife.
“Tala, stop!” Mel says, tears streaking her face. She rushes forward and takes the knife from me. The bastard needs to die, but I don’t fight her. I can’t fight Mel. She places her hands on either side of Aaron’s face, knife still in her right hand, before kissing him passionately on the lips. He responds in kind, and she draws closer, practically sitting in his lap. I’m just about to break it up, and sensitively remind her what he’s done, when Mel draws her face back and drops her right hand as her left thumb tenderly rubs back and forth across Aaron’s cheek. “I really love you,” she says before making a choking sound and putting her head down. I stand to draw her away, but she lifts her head to gaze at Aaron before saying, “Rot in hell,” and veering the knife upward through Aaron’s armpit and piercing his heart.
Chapter 12
Mel collapses to the floor, sobbing at Aaron’s feet. Ricky’s face twists in pain, and I know it isn’t for himself. Gently, I place a hand on Mel’s shoulder. When she doesn’t shake it off, I get on the floor with her and hold her tightly as sobs rock her form. She leans into my shoulder, crying harder than before. Ricky sits on the couch with his head down. None of us say anything for what seems like hours. Ricky finishes his beer and then another, and another, as the clock ticks on.
Her tears cease, and Mel pulls away from me. “I’m sorry,” she says.
I shake my head. “Don’t be. He used you. That’s not your fault.”
Mel raises an eyebrow. “I let him. He was right; I was naïve and fell too easily. I was putty in his hands. It’s my fault that Grandma’s dead.”
I look down for a moment. “Mel,” I say, meeting her eyes, “I know it’s hard to see it now, but they would’ve gotten the information they needed with or without you. Grandma was always home. People who barely knew her know that.”
She nods, but I know she doesn’t mean it.
“Ricky?” Mel says accusingly as she stands. The dramatic shift has me concerned. That’s usually my thing, not Mel’s. I stand as well, nervous about what she’s going to do.
Ricky puts his head up. “Yeah?” he asks, his mouth forming a confused O as he shifts on the 1970s yellow couch.
Mel folds her arms. “Why were you so close with Aaron?” she asks.
“I wouldn’ say we were close—”
“Enough! Ricky!” Mel exclaims, echoing my own thoughts before tears begin to escape her again. Ricky stares at her wide-eyed. Mel doesn’t typically yell like that. She takes a breath. “Tala?”
“Mel?”
Mel sniffles before letting out a shaky breath. “My judgement of someone’s character clearly can’t be trusted—”
“No, Mel—”
“Tala, don’t,” she snaps before stopping and continuing in a quieter tone. “You had some suspicions about Ricky. I think you should address them now because I also need answers.”
“What?!” Ricky jumps off the couch.
“Are you sure
?” I ask. I place a hand on Mel’s shoulder. “You don’t have to be here for this, too, you know?”
Mel slowly moves her shoulder out from under my hand. “No, I need to know how deep this goes.”
“Y’all can’t be serious!” Ricky declares, but I just nod in response to Mel.
“Ricky, sit down,” I command quietly, still looking at my best friend, worried about what this all will do— is doing— to her.
“Tala, I haven’ been anythang but loyal—”
I snap my head toward him. “Then you don’t have anything to worry about. Now, sit down.”
Ricky returns to his spot on the couch. An announcer on the TV discusses the big play that resulted in the night’s win. I click the red button on the remote to silence him.
“Ricky, yesterday morning, you told me to watch my back to avoid having my ‘insides torn out too.’ I never told anyone those details. No one would have that information unless they had seen the aftermath of…” I lick my lips and take a breath “…or had done it themselves. You knew the guy who killed Grandma. You lied to Mel about when you’d be coming over…” Mel’s eyes go wide, and she opens her mouth in an accusing glare at Ricky. “You also killed the guy I was trying to question before I could get information out of him.”
Ricky shakes his head. “Tala, Mel, I didn’t know he did it.”
“How did you know how she was killed, Ricky?” Mel asks. “Did you know he was using me the whole time?”
“No, Mel, I wanted to kill ‘im for not respondin’ to ya’. I swear, I never—”
Mel drops her arms before leaning toward him. “Then explain yourself, Ricky!” she screams at full volume. Her face is red, her breathing heavy. Her nostrils flare as she continues “Because this is looking pretty damning!”
Ricky sighs into his hands and rubs his face before looking up into Mel’s eyes. He’s exhausted, and there is a mix of resentment and sadness in his eyes. “I met Aaron aroun’ the time tha’ you did. He said tha’ he heard about us from the Rabble Pack and was int’rested in joinin’ because of how big our pack is and how many born wolves we ‘ave. Look, I have several connections t’ other packs. It’s good t’ keep in the loop. I had no idea that Aaron was with the pack that attacked us.”
As Ricky speaks, I stare at the spilled queso that has now cooled and solidified into the shag carpet. “But how did you know how she was killed?” I repeat, still looking at the queso.
“After I found out about Grandma, I asked Aaron to investigate. I told ‘im that if he could get me some info on her murder, I’d put in a good word for ‘im. He told me he had gotten the information from a wolf at a bar an hour from here and was still investigating. Said the guy had heard it through the grapevine.”
Mel puts her hands on her hips and looks to the ceiling as she shakes her head and bites her lips before fully releasing her fury onto Ricky. “You are such a fucking dumbass!” she shouts. Ricky’s shocked expression mirrors my own. “How could you not see that he did it? That he was using you?” Mel turns away and places a hand over her mouth. She wasn’t just talking about Ricky. I hear her sniffle again.
Ricky’s jaw is set in a hard line, as he looks at nothing in particular on the floor. I watch him sigh. “Yer right,” he says. “I’m sorry.” I can tell he’s pissed, but Ricky isn’t always an idiot. He’s got to know Mel is partially projecting her anger with herself onto him.
Mel turns around, but she doesn’t respond to Ricky. “We need to get rid of Aaron’s body,” she says, casually as if we are talking about the weather, before walking into the kitchen and pacing.
I nod, but this isn’t my area of expertise. Ricky pulls out an outdated-looking cell and walks down the hall. I can slightly hear his voice, but I can’t make out what he’s saying. I assume he’s talking to Greg, the owner of Grandma’s preferred cleaners. I’ve only met the guy once. We have our connections to take care of bodies, usually for cases where a new wolf turns and accidentally hurts someone. To my knowledge, we haven’t had to have the cleaning crew get rid of a torture victim. Then again, I’m starting to realize that I know far less than I originally thought.
Ricky walks out and gives a reluctant smile. “I’ve taken care of it,” he says to Mel. “Git you some new carpet, too,” he adds. This doesn’t seem like Ricky’s first time making that phone call. I used to think Grandma exposed me to more than anyone else, to prepare me for the role of alpha. However, it’s clear she’s shared secrets and guided each of us in her own way. I never thought Ricky would know how to take care of this sort of thing.
“Okay…” Mel says, biting at her unmanicured nails.
I walk over and place a hand on her shoulder. “Mel, go get a bag of clothes. You’re going to stay with me for the next few days while your house gets a makeover,” I say. She nods and quickly leaves the room. A few minutes later, she returns with a duffle bag that’s so full the zipper strains against its contents.
“I’m ready,” Mel says.
I nod. “My car’s unlocked. You’re welcome to load up. I’ll be out in a sec—” Before I can finish, she wordlessly exits the house. I turn to Ricky. “I’m going to get her out of here. She doesn’t need to see them…take care of all of this.”
“Agreed. She don’t,” he says. I turn to leave but stop when I hear Ricky sigh.
“What is it?” I ask.
Ricky’s eyes plead with me as he sadly smiles. “Tala, ya’ know that I really didn’t know nothin’, right?”
I process for a second, wanting to answer him honestly. “I do know,” I finally say, and he releases a breath.
“Fer what it’s worth. I really am sorry, Tala.”
I smile the best that I can manage, “I know, Ricky.”
“Just feel ‘sponsible fer it all.”
I get it. It seems that everyone around me has somehow connected themselves to this new pack. I’m almost waiting to find out what else I’ve given them. “We’ve all made mistakes, Ricky. What’s important is that we don’t allow it to tear us apart, because if we do, they win.”
Ricky nods. “See ya, cuz.”
I smile, genuinely this time, before giving Ricky a quick hug. “See you, Ricky. Hang in there.” I pat his shoulder and head out to the car.
When I get in, Mel’s shivering in the passenger’s seat. I quickly start the ignition and turn the heat up as high as it’ll go but turn the fan down. The car’s so old, it’ll take a minute before it blows anything but cold air. Mel and I are both silent as I drive.
When we get to my apartment, I change my sheets and set Mel up in my room. She needs a decent night’s sleep more than I do. As I scurry about, setting up for my guest, Mel sits on the couch clutching the duffle bag that sits on her knees.
“Mel?”
“Hmm?” she says, not looking at me.
I swallow. I haven’t seen her this way before. “I’ve set you up in my bedroom. You know where the bathroom and the kitchen are. I’m afraid that I haven’t stocked up on much in a while, but you’re welcome to whatever is there.”
Mel just nods, still without looking at me.
“Mel?” I repeat, concerned.
This time she looks at me, her eyes flashing up toward me with a sharpness that seems profane on her face.
“I-if you need anything, let me know.”
She nods and gets up with her duffle, taking it to my room and closing the door behind her.
I sigh onto my old couch, realizing I never got sheets for myself. I pull a small throw blanket off the back and drape it over my legs. Even with a decent blanket, I probably wouldn’t be able to sleep. Mel is so not herself that it’s ridiculous. As much as I want to be hurt by her reactions, I can’t. We’ve all been taken for one hell of a ride. We’re all suffering and have lost people, but Mel had her emotions toyed with by a bastard she actually fell for…I can’t imagine how she’s feeling, and I frankly don’t want to. It’s one of the reasons I don’t ever want to fall in love. Opening oneself up to tha
t, especially in this kind of world, only leads to pain. To allow myself that kind of pain is my worst fear. Yet, part of me knows love has always been Mel’s goal. It’s likely the reason she fell so quickly and was so easily manipulated by Aaron. Of course, it ended badly. But if love is what Mel wants, I can only hope one day she finds it again and that it doesn’t tear her apart…again.
It’s late when I finally manage to fall asleep. A set of tantalizing blue eyes and stone hard abs call to me, and in my dreams, where my mind doesn’t overanalyze my every thought and move, I give the forbidden answer. A set of arms envelopes me, but when I turn to look at who holds me, he disappears in a pillar of smoke. Elusive images surround me, gradually closing in, but they move so quickly that I can’t discern what they are. As I strain to make out the shapes around me, they disappear.
I bolt upright as the sound of my phone wakes me. It’s my mom. “Hello?” I ask.
“Tala?” Mom says. Hearing the fear in her voice, I immediately throw back the small blanket and grab my shoes.
“Mom, what’s wrong?”
“It’s Michael. He-he’s missing!” she sobs out the last part, and all feeling escapes me. My breath is caught is my throat. I was wrong. So wrong. This is it. This is my worst fear.
Chapter 13
After getting off the phone with Mom, I immediately call Lizzy and ask her to come over. As much as I have to find Michael, I can’t leave Mel alone right now. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, or if someone will come here looking for me and hurt Mel, who is helpless against a wolf.
Lizzy knocks on my door less than half an hour later. “Thank you so much,” I say as I let her in.
“Anytime, Tala. You know I love Mel, too, and you’ve got to take care of Michael. I’m just glad I was already patrolling around here.”
