Page 102 of Massacre Monday

Adal

Sorry to hear that. You sure he’s not with someone else?

What kind of question is that? With my lips tight in a line, I text him back.

Me

Why would you say that?

Adal

Call Mom if you’re scared.

I stare at his text for a long time, trying to decipher what he means. My family isn’t one to express emotions. I guess he’s put out with me. Maybe he’s with a new girl and doesn’t want to deal with it.

A loud knock sounds at the door, and I fumble the phone, dropping it onto the sofa.

Several voices argue on the other side, and I hold my breath to listen. The noise is muffled by the thick brick walls. Through the peephole, I spot three big men—two, I recognize from Red Night, and the third is Henry, Ryan’s youngest brother.

When I open the door, the large man and the shorter, both with blond hair, stroll inside and scope it out with a muttered greeting. Henry rushes me like he’s playing football, lifting me into his arms and spinning me around.

“Hey, sis! What’s good!”

He sets me on the ground and places his hands on his hips.

“Your brother is missing,” I manage to say while choking back tears.

“Yeah, Aiden said that. We’re here to babysit you. Don’t worry, we’re all packing.” With a quick flourish, he shows off a gun tucked into his belt.

A glass crashes onto the floor in the kitchen, and Henry tosses his head back and laughs as I hurry over to see what the commotion was. The curly-haired guy with deep dimples, thatmake him look as if he’s twelve, squats in front of the fridge, where he’s dropped a bottle of beer.

“Sorry. I’ll restock it,” he says sheepishly.

The Titan of a man stands with his arms crossed, leaning against the counter while staring out the large window.

“Oh, that’s okay… I’m Pippi, by the way.”

“Yeah, we know.” The cute kid in front of me stands and places a cold beer in my hand, then smiles like a summer day as his light green eyes twinkle. “I’m Will, but close friends call me Duke. I’m Amelia’s little brother.”

Henry appears over my shoulder and steals another beer, then tosses one to the big guy. “That’s Bo. He only talks if it’s necessary.”

My head tilts with recognition. “Bo…” I approach, and he gazes down at me from his giant stature. “You told me where the bathroom was on Red Night.”

He freezes. The only way I know he’s alive is that his chest expands with his sharp inhale.

“You told me thewrongplace to go.”

“Under orders,” he replies in a deep baritone.

“I’m home!” a bright, sing-song voice calls out as Amelia steps into the apartment. “For someone who needs second-rate protection, you should lock your door.”

“I’m not second-rate!” Henry yells as he downs a beer.

Duke wanders toward the sofa, plops down, and puts on a video game while tossing his feet up on the end of it. “Hey.”

“These kids are underage, Pippi. Not only that, but why are they drinking,when you’re supposed to be watching her, you fuck!” She picks up a throw pillow and hits her brother with it.

“I’m watching her,” Henry says, but it’s muted with the volume of the TV and the bustling activity as Amelia sets out dishes of takeout food on the dining room table, chatting away happily about something that happened to her last night.