“What did I do?” Griffin asked, feigning innocence.
“You didn’t do anything,” Dad answered. “That’s why you’re my favorite.”
Griffin preened under the compliment. “Did you hear that? I’m his favorite.”
“If you were his favorite he would’ve picked something without onions for when I give you your sponge bath tonight,” I shot back. “Now we’re going to have to gargle with mouthwash for an hour.”
“Aisling!”
When I risked a glance at Dad his fork was extended in my direction. “What?”
“Shut your mouth.”
“Yeah, Aisling,” Braden intoned, smirking. “If you don’t shut up about your plans for the evening Dad will stab you with his fork.”
“Braden, I’ll stab you with my fork if you don’t shut up.” Dad was at his wit’s end. Spending this much time with his offspring was bound to derange him. I was almost positive I could tip him over the edge.
“Rule forty-eight,” I said. “You would be breaking it if you stab Braden with your fork.”
Redmond laughed so hard he choked, while Aidan and Cillian worked overtime to hide their smiles.
“I’m almost afraid to ask, but what’s rule forty-eight?” Griffin asked.
“Flatware is for eating, not for killing.” All four of my brothers joined me in reciting the rule.
Mom, a heaping pile of burrito on her fork at the end of the table, giggled. “I forgot about the rules. How could I forget about the rules?”
“I think you had a few other things on your mind,” Braden said. “Like being held captive.”
“And being burned,” Aidan added.
“And eating people,” I suggested.
“Aisling!” Dad’s face was murderous. “Can you please not talk about cannibalism – physical or mental – while I’m trying to eat my dinner?”
“Are you going to make it a rule?”
“Yes, and then I’m going to slam you over the head with the updated rule book,” Dad threatened.
“I’m dying to see this rule book,” Griffin said. “How much trouble did you get in if you broke a rule?”
“It depended on who broke the rule,” Redmond replied. “If it was a boy, they were grounded or had something taken away. If it was Aisling, Dad would start by yelling at her and then melt when she batted her eyelashes and fake cried.”
“I never fake cried,” I argued.
This time Mom snorted. “Oh, dear girl, that’s hilarious,” she said, shaking her head. “You knew exactly how to wrap your father around your finger. You would stick out your lip and let it tremble a little, and then you would blink really fast until you worked up some fat tears. Your father fell for it every time.”
“That’s a lie.” It wasn’t a lie. There were times I could play my father as if I was the queen of Guitar Hero.
Griffin slid me a sidelong look. “I wish I could’ve seen you as a kid. I’ll bet you were adorable.”
“She was adorable,” Mom said. “She was also manipulative, and she knew exactly who to go to when she wanted something.”
“That is so untrue,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.
“When you wanted someone to listen to your day you came to me. When you wanted someone to buy you something and ply you with candy you went to your father,” Mom said. “When you wanted more candy or someone to beat up your other brothers you went to Redmond. When you wanted to let your artistic side out to play you went to Aidan – and generally made a huge mess. When you wanted to be quiet and introspective you went to Cillian.”
“What about me?” Braden asked.
“When she wanted to throw down and pull someone’s hair she went to you,” Mom said, smiling. “You two would fight like the dickens, and yet when Angelina stole Aisling’s favorite bear and threw it in the garbage can at the elementary school so he ended up in the Dumpster, you climbed in and spent an hour looking until you found him.”
“I remember,” Braden said, shaking his head. “I only did that to shut her up because she wouldn’t stop screaming.”
“You did it because it’s okay for family members to torture each other when you’re a Grimlock, but it’s not okay for outsiders to torture anyone in this family,” Mom countered. “You’ve always been loyal, Braden, even to your sister.”
“She’s exaggerating, Aisling,” Braden said. “I never liked you.”
“Right back at you, butthead.”
“Eat your burrito,” Griffin said, pointing at my plate. He obviously sensed things were about to escalate. “Try to pick around the onions, though.”
“Don’t make me get the hose,” Dad said, wrinkling his nose. “Why are you two always in heat?”
I shrugged. “He’s very handsome.”
“And she’s my pretty girl,” Griffin teased, pinching my cheek and giving it a jiggle. He was clearly feeling better.
“I have to say, Cormack, I am stunned you put up with this show of affection between these two,” Mom said, shaking her head. “I thought for certain Aisling would be a nun by now because you would never let her date.”
“He used to threaten the boys who tried to go out with me in high school,” I supplied. “He once put an alarm clock around one guy’s neck and told him that if it went off and he was still with me he would hire someone to run him down.”
Mom snorted. “That sounds about right. What about your brothers?”
“They threatened everyone who looked at me sideways.”
“What about Griffin? Why didn’t they threaten him?”
Mom’s interest in Griffin worried me, but dinner had otherwise been pleasant so I let it go. “They threatened Griffin.”
“They threatened me with so many things I lost count,” Griffin said, smiling. “I remember Redmond threatened me with death and dismemberment. He said you guys knew how to hide a body.”
“Aidan threatened you that day in the restaurant, too,” I reminded him.
“Why did Aidan threaten you in a restaurant?” Mom appeared thrilled to play catch-up. Something about her demeanor bothered me, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
“Aisling and Griffin had been dating only a few weeks when Griffin had to go undercover for his job,” Aidan replied. “They were apart two weeks, and Griffin didn’t call or text.”
“Oh, man, do we have to go through this again?” Griffin whined.
Aidan ignored him. “Aisling was on probation at the time, so we were working together,” he said. “We went to lunch downtown and saw him eating lunch with a very pretty woman. Aisling had no idea he was back, and stormed out of the restaurant while I threatened him with death.”
“And what happened to the pretty girl?”
Cillian raised his hand. “I’m dating her.”
Mom made a face as she tried to work the scenario out in her head. “I don’t understand.”
“I was having lunch with my sister,” Griffin said. “Aisling misunderstood, and I had to track her down and beg her to take me back.”
“Yes, she looked lovely in her fuzzy pajamas after a day of crying,” Aidan teased. “Griffin forced his way in the apartment and made up, though. They’ve been rattling headboards ever since.”
“Aidan!” Dad shook his head. “Do you want to join Braden and Aisling on the list of children I’m writing out of my will?”
Aidan rolled his eyes. “Aisling and Griffin rarely fight now,” he said. “I kind of miss the times when she would freak out and declare her life over. Then Jerry would freak out and join her. Ah, those were the days.”
“And now you two are moving in together,” Mom said, licking her lips. “Don’t you think it’s a little soon?”
Griffin frowned. “No. Why? Do you think it’s a little soon?”
“You haven’t really been together all that long,” Mom pointed out. “What happens if you break up? Where will Aisling live then? She’ll be homeless.”
“This house has like twenty bedrooms,” I poin
ted out. “I’m sure Dad would welcome me back with open arms.”
“Not really,” Dad said, although his eyes twinkled. “Besides, Aisling will be fine. She and Griffin won’t break up. They’re happy. Stop pressuring them about the move. Actually, I think the plan they worked out is fairly ingenious.”
“I am utterly dumbfounded that you’re not fighting this,” Mom said. “She’s your daughter. Don’t you think she should be married before she lives with a man?”
“She’s lived with Jerry for years,” Dad shot back. “She’s been living with a man since she graduated from college. Now she’s living with a different man.”
“One who doesn’t cook or clean, but keeps me happy in other ways,” I said.
Griffin chuckled. “Eat your dinner so we can go to bed early.”
“Knock it off, you two,” Dad said. “Because I’m standing up for you doesn’t mean I want to hear this … crap, as you put it.”
“Speaking of that, does anyone know what happened to my big bag of porn? I might want to show Griffin some of the articles.”
Dad’s cheeks colored. “Aisling, I know you like to test boundaries, but you’re getting very close to forcing me to lock you and Griffin in separate rooms tonight.”
“I have the porn,” Braden announced. “It’s still in the bag in my bedroom.”
“Why would you need a big bag of porn?” Mom asked.
“Well, as Aisling said, the articles are quite good,” Braden replied, choosing his words carefully. “Also, it’s porn. You can’t throw it away. It’s sacrilegious.”
“He has a point,” Redmond said.
We lapsed into silence for a moment. Because I was uncomfortable, I decided to break it. “Cillian, where is Maya? And, Mom, when was the last time you ate someone?”
As far as transitions go, it probably wasn’t my best.
Dad slapped his hands over his eyes while my brothers groaned. “Aisling, maybe you should take your dinner up to your bedroom. I think we would all agree you and Griffin need time alone,” Dad said.
“Why are you foisting her off on me?” Griffin asked. “I’m your favorite.”
“Yes, but you tell her how cute she is when she says things like that,” Dad countered. “This is entirely your fault for encouraging her.”
“Maya is at work, Aisling,” Cillian said, flashing me a warm smile. “She took a couple double shifts this week so that next weekend we can go away together. We’re going to rent a cabin by the lake.”
“That sounds nice,” I said, turning to Mom. “And you?”
Mom opened her mouth to answer, but my cell phone interrupted what I’m sure would’ve been a well-rehearsed dodge. Drat! I was finally getting somewhere, too.
“Hold that thought, Mom,” I said, digging in my pocket.
“Aisling, what have I told you about cell phones at the dinner table?” Dad asked. “It’s rude to take a call.”
“Dad, she just asked our mother about the last time she ate someone,” Redmond said. “Let her take the call. It can only help at this point.”
“It’s Jerry anyway,” I said, glancing at the screen. “I hope he doesn’t want to show me the rainbow penis.” I hit the connect button and put the phone to my ear. “Hey, Jer. How is life with your big penis?”
Only silence met my witticism. “Jerry?”
“Ms. Grimlock, how nice to hear your voice.” I didn’t recognize the person on the other end but I instinctively knew who it was. “I’m sorry. The penis greeting threw me. I’m better now.”
“John Anderson?”
Every set of eyes at the table snapped in my direction.
“What?” Aidan’s face drained of color as he pushed himself to his feet. “Why would Anderson be calling on Jerry’s phone?”
“Where’s Jerry?” I asked. “If you’ve done something to him, I promise you that I will hunt you down and do some very horrible things before I kill you.”
Griffin reached for the phone but I jerked away from him.
“Oh, now, don’t talk like that,” Anderson said. “You don’t want me to kill your friend, do you?”
“Is Jerry okay?” My voice was barely a whisper.
“He is – for now,” Anderson said. “How did your stakeout at the cemetery go, by the way?”
“You knew we were there?”
“You might want to tell your father that no one in their right mind would park an eighty-thousand-dollar vehicle at a cemetery in that neighborhood after dark,” Anderson said. “That was a nice try, though. You almost had me. Now I have you, don’t I?”
“What do you want?”
“I want you, Ms. Grimlock,” Anderson said. “I know you have your mother, and I’m sure she’s told you my plans. It doesn’t really matter. Subterfuge was off the table the minute you jumped me in the restaurant. Now I have no choice but to go at you from a position of power, and since I can’t get your boyfriend, that leaves your whiny best friend.”
My stomach rolled when I heard Jerry whimper in the background. “If you hurt him … .”
“Don’t threaten me,” Anderson hissed. “Find a way to get clear of your family. I’ll call you in two hours to tell you where we’ll make the trade.”
“What trade?”
Griffin clenched his jaw. He already knew the answer. So did I.
“You for your friend,” Anderson said. “Either he dies … or you do.”
30
Thirty
“I have to go upstairs and change.”
My mind was a whirlwind when I left the table and trudged toward the staircase. I was so lost in thought I didn’t realize I brought everyone with me until I hit the first step.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Griffin asked, grabbing my arm and forcibly turning me.
“John Anderson has Jerry,” I replied dully. “I have to trade myself to get him back. He’s going to call me in two hours to make sure I’m alone so … I need to change my clothes.”
“You’re not trading yourself,” Griffin snapped.
“Certainly not,” Dad said, vehemently shaking his head.
Their simple reactions, everything so matter-of fact, set my teeth on edge. “What do you suggest I do? Should I let Jerry die for me? Is that what you’re saying?”
Aidan made a sound, something akin to a wounded animal, in the back of his throat. He looked panicked.
“I’ll get him back, Aidan,” I said. “I’ll … send him home to you.”
“You’ll do nothing of the sort,” Dad hissed, wrenching my arm away from Griffin and jerking me back to the marble floor. “You’re not trading yourself for Jerry. Stop being an idiot.”
I wanted to yell at him, scream even. When I opened my mouth, though, I burst into tears.
“Okay,” Griffin said, pushing Dad’s hand away and pulling me to him. He buried his face in my hair as he rocked me. “It’s going to be okay. We’ll figure out a way to get Jerry back. We’re not trading you to do it, though.”
“I can’t risk Jerry,” I sobbed. “I can’t … lose him.”
“And I can’t lose you,” Griffin said, rubbing the back of my neck. “It’s going to be okay. I need you not to panic and do something dumb.”
“Aisling, I will get Jerry back,” Dad said. “I won’t let anything happen to him. You must know that.”
“Something has already happened to him,” I snapped. “Anderson took him. He took my best friend. I heard Jerry whimper.”
I couldn’t stop the tears from coursing down my cheeks. Dad reached out and wiped them away with his thumb. “We’ll get Jerry back,” he said. “Then we’ll dote on him and make him the center of attention for as long as it takes. We’re not trading one person for another, though. That is ludicrous.”
“This isn’t Jerry’s fight.”
“No, it’s not,” Dad said. “Now it’s our fight to get him back, though.”
“Aisling, you need to tell me what Anderson said,” Griffin prodded. “Tell me every sin
gle detail. We need to figure out where he has Jerry.”
I was frustrated, but I did as he asked. “He didn’t speak right away because I greeted him with the penis line,” I said. “He said it threw him. Then he said he saw Dad’s car outside the cemetery. Then he said the time for subterfuge was over and that my only option was trading myself for Jerry … and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
“No, you’re not,” Dad said, extending one finger in my direction as he rested a hand on Aidan’s shoulder. “Son, it will be all right. I love Jerry like a member of this family – sometimes I like him better than all of you combined – and I will find him.”
Aidan nodded. He looked numb.
“Redmond, see who you can get on the phone,” Dad barked. “Someone has to know where Anderson has been spending his time. He’s been in the company of wraiths. Someone has seen where. We need to find them.”
Redmond curtly nodded and hurried toward Dad’s office.
“Cillian, call Jerry’s bakery to see if any employees are there,” Dad said. “If you can get someone on the phone, get all the details you can. Find out when Jerry left. Find out if Anderson stopped in the store. We need information.”
Cillian nodded, rubbing his hand over the back of my head as he hurried toward the sitting room.
“Braden, take Aidan and drive to the bakery,” Dad said. “Do not get out of your car unless it’s absolutely necessary. See if you can find Jerry’s car. If not, Anderson grabbed him on the road and Griffin can call in to the department to have the police watch for the vehicle.”
Aidan and Braden were silent as they turned to move, but Dad stilled them by grabbing Aidan’s arm.
“I promise we’ll find him, Aidan,” Dad croaked. “Have faith.”
When it was just the four of us, Dad licked his lips and regarded me.
“If you try trading yourself for Jerry, I will kill you,” Dad said. “Do you understand?”
“I can’t do nothing, Dad,” I argued. “Jerry is out there … and he needs me. I won’t let him die for me.”
“And we won’t let you die, period,” Dad said, shifting his eyes to Mom. “Why don’t you and I have a talk about Anderson’s whereabouts while Griffin takes Aisling upstairs and calms her. How does that sound?”
Grim Reunion (Aisling Grimlock Book 4) Page 26
