Just like their mother. Mae would have joined them if she’d not held her tongue. She didn’t act. Didn’t speak. Hoped Lin would understand that she had to remain free so she could act. Because only she could rectify this.
It was a full four hours before she got to see Lin. Two more after that before they saw their mother.
The last thirty-some hours hadn’t been very kind.
Ronin sent a minion to fetch Mae and Lin. Which meant a quick brushing of their hair and straightening of their clothes. He didn’t tolerate untidiness. Mae closed the lid on the laptop. Father had come through with excellent quality machines, ones that she’d been putting to good use.
They entered the parlor, a place of white wicker furniture and a peaked ceiling made of polished wooden planks. A nice room, but the best thing in it was sitting in a chair.
Mom’s face brightened at the sight of them.
“Girls, are you okay?”
“Mommy,” Lin exclaimed, running for her. Mae held back. Suddenly ashamed of her actions, especially when she saw the sunken hollows below her mother’s eyes and the red mark on her cheek.
What happened? Had Father hit her? He’d not struck Mae or Lin. He knew better punishments.
“As you can see, my love, my daughters are fine, and this despite your attempts to keep us apart. A heinous crime, wouldn’t you say?”
“My fault, not theirs. Don’t hurt them.”
“Or what?” Father taunted. “I will remind you that you aren’t in a position to demand anything. Or has your time in solitary not been enough to remind you of your rightful spot? Perhaps you need more time alone to reflect.”
“No,” Lin squeaked. She still held onto their mom and sniffled. “I wanna go home.”
“Your home is with me.” Flatly said by Ronin. “Tell them, my love.”
Mae prepared to hear her mother deny it. After all, she’d never cowered before anyone. Even Ted knew better than to make her mad.
Mother’s head ducked, her gaze not meeting theirs. “You’re staying with your father.”
“No.” Lin backed away from their mother, her lips trembling and eyes brimming with betrayal.
“I’m sorry, but we have to do as he says.”
There was something terrifying about seeing her mom conceding a fight. Mom always told them to never stop trying. Yet she appeared to have given up.
Or she was scared.
Mae glanced at Father, who’d reached out and grabbed Lin. Tight. Hard enough that her sister grimaced.
He’s hurting her. Mae bristled.
This was all her fault.
She had to fix it.
Sometimes, it was good that adults underestimated them.
But right about now, Mae needed a grown-up to save them. And she could think of only one person she trusted.
Chapter Twenty-One
It had been almost two days since Macey and the girls had disappeared. Marie believed that they remained in the islands. She just couldn’t be sure which one. Ronin’s private jet remained in China, the decoy sitting, still meaning they could be anywhere.
Macey might be dead.
Which might be why Ted was a tad too eager when his phone rang, the number unknown. Answering it beat staring at the mini bottle of booze sitting on his little fridge.
He’d not cracked the seal on it. Not yet. But if he didn’t find Macey and the girls soon…
“Are you ready to move out?” Marie’s voice said without any preamble.
He almost fell off the bed in the motel room he’d rented, the floral pattern of the comforter hideous enough to hide any stain. “You’ve got a location.”
“I do. It would seem the twins are a tad disillusioned with their father and contacted me. They’ve provided coordinates. He’s actually not very far. Holed up in a villa on a nearby mountain.”
“Is Macey okay?”
“She’s alive.” Hesitantly spoken.
“He’s hurt her.” He growled the statement, and the hand holding the phone almost crushed the casing.
“The important thing is, she’s alive,” Marie repeated more softly.
“What of the girls?”
“They are fine, physically. Lin received solitary as some punishment, but he hasn’t laid a hand on them.”
“Thank fuck.” Ted closed his eyes. “Soon, they won’t have to worry about him. Once he’s dead—”
“You’re planning to kill him?” Marie interjected.
“If the opportunity presents itself, yes.” It seemed rather obvious to him.
“You do understand that doing so might mean you won’t be allowed in Portia’s life afterwards.”
He didn’t question how the woman knew that they were involved. “I’ll be doing them a favor.”
“You’ll be killing the twins’ father.”
“He’s scum.”
“He’s still their father. And by killing him, you might make him a martyr for those girls.”
Ted could see where that might lead Marie to