Spark of Hope (MacKenny Brothers #3) - Kathleen Kelly Page 0,36
in the room is deafening. The ache in my chest increases as I understand what this piece of crap is saying.
“Did you ever let Lola get used like that?”
She shrugs again and nods. “When she was young.”
The next thing I know, Sean and Maddock are dragging me backward and up the stairs, away from that evil, disgusting bitch. They keep walking me until they reach Da’s table, where the women and Logan are seated. I break free and stride toward Logan, engulfing him in a bone-crushing hug.
“My family is your family. We protect our family. Family always comes first. Yvette isn’t your family. From this day onward, you belong to us. You get me?”
“What’s going on?”
“Do you understand?”
“Yes… yes.”
I release him and look around the room. As bad as our parents were, they’ve got nothing on Yvette Cartland. Rubbing my chest, I don’t understand why Lola would let her son live with such a worthless human being.
“What happened?” asks Beth, staring at Sean.
He shakes his head. “Later.” Taking a deep breath, he puffs out his cheeks and says, “I’ve never seen you so angry. You didn’t hear me down there, did you?”
“Hear you?”
“Sean’s right. It was like a mask had slipped over your face, scary as fuck. I wasn’t sure we’d be able to get you out of the room.”
“Did you hurt Mom?”
I growl at Logan. “She’s not your mother.”
He goes to argue with me, but whatever he sees in my face causes him to close his mouth and stare at Sean.
“Is she okay?”
Sean nods once and quirks an eyebrow at me. “You should stay up here, brother. Mad will keep you company.” Then he turns and leaves the room.
“I need a stiff drink.”
Beth immediately gets up and opens the liquor cabinet. She grabs a bottle of whiskey, a glass and pours me one. I motion for her to give me more, so she pours two fingers. I frown at her, and she half fills the glass. Nodding, I sit next to Logan and throw back the fiery liquid, letting it burn its way to my gut.
Annette and Cherie walk into the room, each carrying a tray of sandwiches. Cherie looks at me, then Maddock. “What happened?”
“Let’s say Yvette Cartland isn’t winning any mother of the year awards,” replies Maddock.
Cherie frowns. “Do we want to know?”
“No,” Maddock and I say simultaneously.
Cherie gives Maddock a long, hard stare, then nods. “We raided the fridge and made an assortment of sandwiches.” She smiles at Logan and puts the tray on the table as does Annette. “We thought you might be hungry.”
Logan nods and reaches for a sandwich, only to stop and stare at me. “Is it okay?”
“Yeah, Logan, eat your fill.” I hold up my glass to Beth. “Refill?”
Without saying a word, she half fills the glass and then puts the bottle away.
Maddock sits beside me and grabs a sandwich. “You should eat, Kyle.”
I know I should, but the imagery going through my brain right now isn’t pretty. I’m hoping the whiskey will dull some of my senses, so I can eat later.
Angus walks up from the basement, his face pale as he sits next to me. I slide the glass to him, and even though he’s not a drinker, Angus takes a healthy swallow then slides it back.
In a quiet voice, Logan asks, “Did she tell you?”
Pursing my lips together, I nod once.
He puts the sandwich down, and his gaze goes to the floor. “I never let them.”
“She said as much.”
“It’s why Lola was going to get me out of there.”
“Logan, look at me.” With his eyebrows drawn together, he manages to make eye contact. “Lola should never have let you stay there in the first place. She should’ve told me about you. Lola, let you down, son.”
Logan shakes his head. “She was doing the best she could.”
“Her best isn’t good enough.”
Lola
Garry has tied my wrists so tightly that they’ve cut off the circulation to my hands, and the more I try to loosen them, the more the nylon rope cuts into my flesh. The light pink shirt I’m wearing is covered in filth from the floor, red hair dye, blood, and sweat.
Garry and Tommy have been huddled in the far corner, occasionally staring at me as they try to decide what to do with me.
Not surprisingly, Garry has no problem with killing me. Tommy is still undecided, so much for having a soft spot for me.
It’s getting dark.
I’m scared.
I can’t see a way out of this.
For once, Garry has a