Page 127 of Killer Confections

“Fuck if I know.”

But the path we take is entirely too familiar. After we killed our old man, Rowan opted to stay in the main house. The lodge home was always more like a prison to me, but for some reason, Rowan thought it would be wasteful to just demolish the place. So, he stayed while the rest of us moved.

I’m only glad he didn’t let mom stay there. She doesn’t deserve a roof over her head at all, but Rowan is much softer than Thalia and I. He wouldn’t dare to think of leaving her homeless.

As our childhood home comes into view, my frown deepens. “You’re taking us to your house? You shouldn’t have, Row.”

He sighs at my sarcasm, ignoring me as he takes the steps to the front door. His hand hovers over the door handle before he pulls back and turns to us.

I can hear movement inside of the house, like something scraping. My brows lift as my eyes dart between my brotherand his home. Thalia is on the same page as me, her face pinching in question.

Rowan scrubs a hand across the back of his neck. “It wasn’t supposed to go this way…”

I don’t like how that sounds.

“What, Rowan?” I ask, my voice hard.

“I’m…ashamed of myself,” he admits. “I’m a fucking leader and I should be in control.”

“Oh, for Christ’s sake!” Thalia shouts, throwing her hands up. “Will you open the door and stop edging us?”

Rowan gives up, turning to do as Thalia asked. We move up the steps, joining him. He looks over his shoulder as I notice the newly installed lock on theoutsideof the door. “Brace yourselves. Get ready to duck.”

“What? Why—” the door swings open and my words die as a fucking plate is hurled right at my head. I duck down and it shatters on the doorframe behind me.

I stand quickly, scanning the living room until my eyes connect with angry, fiery steel ones. Her brown hair is wild, stray strands sticking to her temples and cheeks flushed. She’s dressed in one of Rowan’s old band T-shirts and some cut-off shorts as she stands barefoot in my brother’s living room.

But the most noticeable accessory that Addison sports is the sleek black collar around her neck. To anyone else, it would look like a normal necklace, but I recognize it just from browsing the online sex shops for toys for Loxley.

It’s a choking collar.

My brother has been choking her.

He can’t control himself.

He fuckingkidnappedAddison.

Thalia’s face lights up. “New friend!”

Addison grits her teeth. “You staythe fuckaway from me! All of you!”

I hold a finger up to the woman. “One moment, please.” Before she can answer, or hurl more plates at me, I grab Thalia and Rowan and drag them out the door.

As soon as it closes, I grab my brother and shake him. “You’re supposed to be the normal one! You’ve fucking had Addison trapped here this whole time? You sent a search party out for her!” His expression turns guilty, his lips pulling downward gradually. I let him go, taking a step back as I run a hand through my hair. “Loxley is going to fucking kill you. Fuck me, I’m guilty by association now! You made me an accessory!”

Thalia laughs, doubling over and placing her hands on her knees. “This…this whole time! She was here! Oh, that’s golden, Row. Loxley is going to tear you a new one and I can’t wait to watch.”

My brother crosses his arms. “Listen, I know what this looks like—”

“Like you’re a fucking hypocrite.” I quip.

“—but I didn’t expect for it to turn out this way. What’s done is done.”

I purse my lips, placing a hand on my side as I nod. “So let her go.”

His fists clench at his sides. “No.”

“Why not?” Thalia asks.