Darkness at the Edge of Town (Iris Ballard #2)(83)

“Yeah, some nineteen-year-old former Amish girl who is apparently the leader’s great-granddaughter.”

“What? I didn’t know that,” Mom said.

“I just found out. And it doesn’t really change anything. They’re still married. She’s still pregnant.”

“It doesn’t change anything? It changes everything! Now they’ll never leave on their own!” Mom said, close to hysterical.



“We don’t know that, Mom.”

“I do! She’s not going to leave her family, and he won’t leave her. You have to do something. You have to—”

“What? Knock him out and carry him in a sack to my car? We’ve been over this, Mom. That’s kidnapping. And he’d just go running back to them.”

“Then we should hire one of those de-brainwasher people I read about on the Internet. I even found the phone number of one. He costs about twenty thousand, but his testimonials are good. It might be forty if we do this Betsy too, but—”

“Mom, it’s still kidnapping, and the success rate isn’t as high as you’d think. Not to mention Mathias made it clear he knows every one of our family secrets and is looking for a reason to air them.”

“So your reputation is more important than your own brother’s life?”

“Of course not, but—”

“Oh, don’t lie! I don’t know why I’m so surprised. I knew you were selfish, but—”

“And that’s three,” Luke boomed out of nowhere, serious as cancer. All eyes moved his direction, but his zeroed in on Mom’s. “You will shut your mouth, Mrs. Lange, or I will make you.”

“Excuse me?” Mom scoffed.

“You heard me. Out of deference to our hosts and your daughter, I promised myself I’d hold my tongue as long as I could, that I would only speak up if you were rude three times. We’ve been here less than five minutes, and you’ve already hit the quota. You will not, will not say another cruel word against your daughter in my presence again, do you understand me?”



“Luke, it’s okay. I—”

“No, it’s not. At all,” he said, still staring Mom down.

“What’s going on?” Khairo asked, walking over from the grill.

“Your wife is emotionally abusing her daughter. Again. I am telling her it’s unacceptable. Especially considering it’s the same daughter who risked her life today to save her brother from the cult your wife helped drive him to.”

“I didn’t! I—”

“You did. He said as much to Iris. And from my few interactions with you over the years, I’m actually shocked he didn’t run sooner. Now I don’t know why you’re always picking on people; self-esteem issues most likely. It is obvious you’re incredibly jealous of your own daughter for making something of her life, but you will stop taking your self-loathing out on my best friend from here on out or I will force you to.”

I could have kissed him then. God, how I wanted to kiss him then. I wasn’t used to people defending me. It was amazing. But like everyone else, I didn’t move or blink as he stared down Mom. No one could. Well, no one but Khairo. “Did you just threaten my wife?” Khairo asked.

“Of course he didn’t,” Grandpa chimed in before looking at Mom. “But Faye, knock it off. We raised you better than this.”

“Dad, he just threatened me and you’re taking his side?” Mom asked.

“I sure as hell am,” Joyce snapped. “And he may not be threatening you, Faye Ballard, but I am. You apologize to your daughter right now or I’ll do what I’ve been dying to for decades. Give you the good smack you deserve. Apologize. Now.”



Mom looked around the table for an ally, but not even her own parents were on her side. Grandma appeared near tears. Mom hung her head. “I’m sorry.”

“To Iris,” Luke said forcefully.

She looked over at me and frowned. “I’m sorry, baby. I-I don’t know why I keep saying these horrible things,” she said, voice and lip quivering. “I don’t. I’m just…I’m so scared about your brother, and they’re about to downsize at work again, and I had to stop taking my meds months ago because I ran out of doctor visits. And—”

My anger vanished almost immediately. “Wait, you’re off your meds? Mom, why didn’t you tell me? You need your meds.”

“They were really helping,” Khairo said.

“I…I’m so sorry, Mom. I didn’t know. I’ll pay for your visits and meds from now on.”

“No. I can’t ask you to do that, baby. I—”

“You’re not asking, I’m doing,” I said with finality. “We’re family. That’s what family does. I’d do the same if you had diabetes and needed insulin. Mental illness is the same damn thing. An illness.”

“It’s not.”

“It is,” I insisted. “It absolutely is. You call your doctor tomorrow. Get back on your meds. Send the bills to me in North Carolina.”

“We’ll pay you back,” Khairo said.

“You don’t have to.”

“We will,” Khairo insisted.