Page 88 of Behind the Shadows

My brow arched, and I wondered what in the hell could possibly be worth my time with the Pied Piper.

“How so?”

“The information you’re looking for. I was sworn to silence. I saw what the Pied Piper did if you crossed him.” Her attention cut to Holland. “Don’t cross him, Kip. You need to meet with him and see what he has to say.”

“Let me see if I understand correctly. You can’t tell us anything about the Pied Piper, the pastor, and why …” I choked back my words. I couldn’t trust her with what I’d done.

“I’ve told Holland too much already, but I’m dying, so it wasn’t enough information for the Pied Piper to come after me.”

“Hmm,” Holland said. “I’m guessing anything else you might share would be a death sentence?”

“If I’m dying, it’s going to be on my goddamn terms, and I’ll take my secrets with me.” She swallowed and then broke into a coughing fit.

“I just wanted to make sure we understood that you’re not going to answer any questions we have.” I reached out and smoothed a strand of her thin hair from her forehead. “I sent Cynthia home, by the way. I gave her the week off.”

Mother glared at me. “You can’t do that. I can’t take care of myself. I’ll starve to death.”

“No, you’ll probably die of dehydration before you starve to death.” Holland’s tone was gentle as if she were talking to a small child.

“Nobody asked you, Samantha.” Spittle flew from Mother’s mouth as I watched the fear twist her expression.

“Instead of being a bitch, maybe you should beg for forgiveness. I mean, you’re in a really bad place to be so rude.” Holland tilted her head as she pinned Mother with a deadly stare.

I held back my chuckle as Holland played mind games with Mother. It served her right. It was too bad the moment couldn’t last longer, though.

“Get her out of my house, Kip. Right now. Don’t you dare let her come back.”

Holland stood. “It’s okay, you don’t need to kick me out. I’m almost done here.” With powerful strides, she walked to myside of the bed and flipped a few switches on Mother’s oxygen machine.

I removed the oxygen mask from Mother’s face as tears welled in her eyes. “I thought about killing you and ending your misery. Ending mine and Holland’s, but then Holland had this brilliant idea. It would allow you to sit with everything you’ve done in your lifetime as you struggle to breathe on your own. No water. No food. Completely and utterly alone.”

I paused, allowing what I’d said to sink in before I continued.

“A lot like what you did to me and Holland. It was dark and lonely, Mother, but it shaped us into who we are. And crazy enough, fate threw us a plot twist and we’re together. Funny, isn’t it? The girl you told me I’d killed and tortured me over? Carved up my skin while you cast demons out of me. For what? A sin I never committed.” I took her hand in mine. “At least notthatsin. I’ve committed a lot of others, including murder. Just not any women.”

I leaned down close to her ear. “You’ll be my first.”

Her body trembled and her fingers wrapped around my wrist, but her hold was weak. “See you in hell, Mother.”

Holland rolled the machines and other medical devices out of the room. Mother was smart even now, and I didn’t trust her to not figure out how to get out of the bed and crawl to her oxygen machine. Before we left, we removed any help from her. No phone, no food, and I would turn off the water from outside. Plus, we would install cameras so we could enjoy watching her die, struggling to breathe and calling for help. The same as Holland and I had done for too long.

I stood and flashed Mother an unapologetic smile. “We’re taking Dog, too. He’ll be happy with us.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks while she reached for me, but I moved out of the way.

“Don’t do this. You don’t want to do this,” she pleaded.

“Or what? You’re going to miraculously get out of this bed and carve me up some more? Goodbye, Mother.” The sound of the door closing behind me echoed with a finality that cut straight through me.

It was almost over.

But monsters don’t die quietly. They beg. They claw. And they curse you with their final words.

And just like she always had, she sucker-punched me one last time.

38

KIP