Page 96 of Not Her Day to Die

It physically hurts Darius to set his phone in the crate, but he does it, against his entire psyche telling him not to.

What is going on?

If Grayson says Sunday is safe then she has to be.

When they have all fallen into line behind the deputy, the steel door slams shut behind them.

“Sir, I have a question,” Grayson says.

“What is it son?” The deputy doesn’t turn around.

“Will Maxwell’s death be released publicly soon? I know he died at the estate, but what does this mean for Darius as the last Thorne?”

The deputy doesn’t answer until he is pushing them into an interview room.

It is bare except for four metal chairs and a large oak table in the center.

“Wait here, I’ll be back after I gather all the documentation. Shouldn’t take more than an hour.” He goes to close the door, and then furrows his brow, Grayson’s words finally landing. “Maxwell Thorne? He isn’t dead. In fact, he was up here just before you three. He’s the reason we had tobring you in. He was throwing wild accusations around. We know there is no merit to them, but we still have to investigate.”

The door slams shut and the deputy is marching away before the brothers can comprehend what he just said.

Darius is the first to break out of his stupor. He jumps forward, but the door is locked.

“No!” Axel yells, he lunges next, banging his hands against the door. “You have to let us out! Jane!”

Grayson slumps back against the far wall, his eyes widened in horror. “Oh god.” He presses his hand onto his chest. “My heart is on fire.”

Axel turns from the door and marches over to Grayson, shaking him. “Where did you leave her? Is she safe? You fucking idiot! Why would you leave her behind?”

“I didn’t want her to meet our mother. Didn’t want to–”

“You were ashamed,” Darius states, pressing his head to the cool wood of the door. He brings a hand up to his chest, his fingers digging into the material of his shirt. His heart is burning him from the inside out. “You left her at the restaurant?”

“Yes, I told her Jane was sending Luna over and to sit tight. They were going to meet us at home.”

Darius breathes out, turning to face his brothers. “I think–I think Maxwell has Veronica and William. They were supposed to lead me to Sunday, but William decided to lead me to Maxwell instead…I can’t imagine he was happy when I didn’t show up.”

Axel whips around, turning his full wrath on Darius. It is the first time Darius remembers being on the receiving end of it.

“You. Fucking. Idiots.” Axel swings back as if to punch Darius, but then he pauses. “Sunday wouldn’t want me to hit you. But if she’s injured? If she dies because of you keeping this from us?” Axel swivels his attention. “Ifwe went through all of that. All one hundred fucking lives for this to be her end?” Axel’s voice raises, his eyes darkening. “I hope you are ready to lose me too, because I won’t be a man without her. I will finally devolve into the monster I was meant to be.” Axel lowers his hand and pushes Darius away from the door before grabbing a chair beside him.

He lifts it above his head and crashes it against the door.

It does nothing.

The door is reinforced metal, the room is made of cinderblocks, but Axel doesn’t stop his assault. He continues throwing the chair over and over and over into the door.

Neither Grayson nor Darius stop him.

Grayson still leans against the far wall, his eyes now screwed shut, his face white and strained.

Darius joins him, sinking to the floor, his chin landing on his knees.

He thought the worst part of today was the possibility of seeing his mother again.

But this is worse.

“She’s going to be okay,” Grayson murmurs over and over again.