Darkness at the Edge of Town (Iris Ballard #2)(51)

I rose from the bed. “You are wrong. Mathias is wrong. We are not meant to be together in any capacity. We will never be together. And this conversation is over. I’m sorry. Excuse me.”

I strode out of the room without looking back. I passed Dutch in the hallway but kept my eyes down. Some people I recognized from the party the night before milled around the living rooms downstairs and I’m sure some said hi or smiled, but I kept my eyes glued to the floor until I made it to the only refuge I could think of, the first-floor bathroom. When I got inside, I shut and locked the door before sitting on the toilet and letting out a long sigh. What I really wanted to do was scrub the filth I felt coating my body, corrupting my every pore, off.

Dozens and dozens of investigations. Two human lives snuffed out by my very hands. And I’d never felt as much like such a piece of shit as I did in that bathroom. The only time I’ve ever felt even close to being this vile a human being was when I woke up beside Luke after our night together. It was morally reprehensible to cheat on Hayden, to betray his trust, and what I was doing to those nice, lost people out there ranked up there on the despicable scale. I wanted to leave. There had to be a better way to find Billy and Mathias, one that didn’t compromise who I was at my core. I sat on that toilet playing out all the angles. The best way was still to stay imbedded with them as long as possible. I could just sit and listen, not engage anymore. I—



There was a knock on the bathroom door, which startled me out of my thoughts. “Someone in there?”

“Just a sec.” I flushed the toilet and went to the sink, splashing cold water on my face. You can do this, I thought as I wiped my face. Sit and listen, girl. Just sit and listen.

A girl stood outside the bathroom and smiled as we passed one another. I half-smiled back. Sit and listen. I walked into the living room. Sit and listen. Sit and—

Just as I sat down, the front door swung open.

I almost threw up.

The world came to a crawl as my mother walked in with Khairo at her back. His face was awash with trepidation and downright fear, but my mother was in full warrior mode, pissed as hell and ready to wage war. Her nostrils flared and her mouth was shut tight as a vise. I was more in my stepfather’s court, scared shitless about what was about to transpire. It was a train wreck fast approaching, and there was nothing I could do to stop it in time.

Megan was coming down the stairs when they entered and quickly walked over to them. “Hello. Can we—”

“Where the fuck is my son, you psychos?” Mom shouted through gritted teeth.

“Um…” Dutch said, taking a step back from the crazy lady. “I’m sorry. Who is your son?”

“What in the universe is going on here?” Helen asked as she walked in from the kitchen, Nessa and Dutch behind her.



“Are you the one in charge here?” Mom asked, sidestepping Megan. Khairo remained glued to her side. I slowly took a step toward them.

“No one’s in charge here,” Helen replied. “We’re all in charge of ourselves.”

“Save me the cult gobbledygook, you psychopath.”

“Don’t you dare call her names, bitch,” Megan said, stepping right beside Helen, ready to fight. Khairo’s back straightened, as did Dutch’s. As did mine.

“It’s fine, Megan,” Helen said. “She’s allowed to think as she does. Everyone please just remain calm.” Helen touched Megan’s arm, and the girl relaxed a little. Everyone did. Except me. Helen turned back to my mother. “How can we help you, ma’am?”

“I want my son. Billy Ballard. You’re keeping him at your brainwashing facility, and I want him back. Now.”

“Our ‘brainwashing facility’?” Megan asked, rolling her eyes.

Helen squeezed Megan’s arm again. “The Apex isn’t a brainwashing facility. It’s a working farm, and your son is there voluntarily with his wife. We can get a message to him to call you, but he’s currently on his honeymoon and won’t be back until tomorrow. I can—”

“Phone call? No, I want to see him,” Mom cut in.

“That’s not possible,” Helen said calmly.

“Because you’re holding him hostage! If not physically, then mentally! You filled his head with madness and turned him against his family.”

“No, you did that all on your own, lady,” Megan spewed. Mom’s mouth dropped open. “Oh, yeah. We know all about you, Mrs. Ballard. Your mood swings. Your neediness. Your lifetime of emotional blackmail to keep your son close because you chased your own daughter off. Helen’s just being nice. Your son could have called you anytime, and he didn’t even bother when he got married. The fact is he wants nothing to do with you. He’s done being sucked dry by the black hole that is you. He’s where he belongs now. With his real family. Now, get the fuck out of here before we call the police and have you arrested for trespassing.”



Mom just stood there, staring at the stone-faced Megan, trembling a little. “I-I-I know people. In the FBI. I-I’ll call them myself since my daughter won’t. I-I’ll go to the newspapers. I’ll—”

“The fuck you will,” Megan said, about to take a step toward my mother. Khairo and Dutch instantly went from level orange to red, ready to defend their allies.