Anonymous(60)

Releasing a heavy sigh, I sat back in my seat. “It had to be done.”

“Not like that it didn’t. We have to be careful. A kill here and there is fine, but every day? It’s too much. I want to kill the bastards as much as you do, but we can’t risk exposing what we are. If you can’t follow the rules, you’re out.”

I couldn’t afford to be kicked out. I needed the group. Killing was an addiction I couldn’t let go. It was all I had left. “I need this, Glenn. You know that.”

He blew out a shaky breath. “I know, son. But I don’t want to see you go down the same path your father did.”

And there it was . . . the one thing I didn’t want to hear. I hadn’t seen my father in years. Not since he got drunk and wrapped his car around a telephone pole, paralyzing himself. Now he was a resident of Green Meadows, an assisted living facility.

“I’m not that stupid,” I snarled.

“Now don’t start that shit. You don’t know how hard it was for him when your mother and sister were murdered. He blamed himself for not being there.”

“Bullshit. He blamed me. It was my fault we weren’t there to protect them. Why else do you think he tried to recruit me when I turned eighteen? He thought it was my duty.” I’d been the one who wanted to go on that fishing trip. If it wasn’t for us leaving home, they’d still be alive. That was why I left Charleston, to get away from it all.

“He wanted your support, Preston. The desire to find the man who killed your family was too much on him.”

“And look where that got us. It’s been thirteen years and we still don’t know who the fucker is.”

The line went quiet, before Glenn sighed. “I need you in Charleston.”

“Fuck that. I’m going to New York.”

“It’s an order, Hale. Either you come down to Charleston, or I’ll have my sons hunt you down. You know very well they’ll find you.”

“Fuck,” I growled, slamming my hand on the steering wheel so hard the pain shot up my arm. “What the hell are you even doing down there?” Glenn’s multi-billion-dollar company was in Charlotte, North Carolina. There was no reason for him to be in Charleston, other than to see my father.

“I’m here visiting your father. It’s time you saw him too.” I knew it. “But there’s something else . . .”

“What’s that?” I grumbled. The exit to New York City drew closer, but instead of taking it, I continued south on Interstate 95. I couldn’t believe I was doing this shit.

“Your mother and sister’s case is going to be reopened,” he informed me.

It was as if everything around me came to a halt. Swerving to the side of the road, I slammed on the brakes, tires screeching. “What happened?” For them to reopen the case after so many years, they had to have new evidence.

Glenn cleared his throat. “There was a murder last night. I wanted to catch you before you saw it on the news.”

“Go on,” I snapped. My whole body shook, my hands aching to hold the cold metal of a gun between them.

“Judging by the details, I think he’s the one.”

Heart racing, I could feel the rage coursing through my body. Stepping on the gas, I hurled back onto the interstate. “On my way.”





Sneak Peek of My Unexpected Love





By Heidi McLaughlin





Elle





My head rests against the glass of the backseat window. Raindrops slide down, one meeting the other, forming a longer stream of water. Each one’s only visible when we happen to pass under a streetlight. The edge of my fingernail follows the path until the small ball of water at the end meets the bottom of the window. I glance quickly at my phone, pressing the home button to bring it to life, only the solid black screen stares back at me.

It’s dead, like how I feel on the inside.

“What time is it?” My voice is garbled and my breath poisoned by the harsh aftertaste of vodka, tequila, and whatever else I managed to get my hands on, causing my stomach to twist. Being underage hasn’t stopped me from hitting every hotspot in Los Angeles, nor has it stopped the bouncers from letting me in. They all know who I am and not a single one of them cares because they know I’m there to spend money. Not to mention, I bring an entourage with me. For the club, it’s free promotion considering every one of my friends details our outings on social media.

“Just after three.” The driver’s foreign accent makes it sound like he said tree or maybe it was free. My mind is mush and I feel like I’m on the verge of passing out. I lift my head to glance at his GPS, only to have a wave of nausea roll through me. I press my forehead back to the cold window and close my eyes.

“How much longer?”

“We’re here.” The car comes to an abrupt stop, throwing my body forward. I look into the rearview mirror and meet the driver’s eyes, and I swear he smirks. Blindly, I ruffle through my bag and pull out a twenty. The rate on the dash reads nineteen and some change.

“Here ya go.” I toss the bill at him and exit the car. He screeches away within seconds of me closing the door. “Asshole,” I mutter into the darkness.

Each step I take toward the apartment I share with my brother Quinn is painful. Tonight’s outing is definitely one for the record books. Aside from the copious amounts of flowing alcohol, the all night dancing has done a number on my muscles.