She needs me. I can heal her. The words floated around inside his mouth tasting sweet and true, but Xander clenched his teeth and didn’t let them loose. They sounded insane and would only be lighter fluid on Matt’s flickering flame.
“Xan, I agree with your uncle.” Row had been strangely quiet for the past few days. She usually had too much to say on every topic and always sprinkled her language with expletives—unless she was upset. “You know I wouldn’t say this if I didn’t honestly believe it was the only way. You’ve given her time. She’s not snapping out of this. How much longer are you going to let her deteriorate? You have to think about her physical health. She’s already drastically underweight, and now she’s barely eating.”
“I won’t have her trading one prison for another.”
“The poor girl. What she went through… And Gale being…murdered… It’s almost too much for me. I can’t imagine what it’s like for her.”
Wasn’t that the mind fuck they were all dealing with? Someone had snuck onto the property, into the house, and poisoned Gale. The only lead was the black sedan parked at the end of the driveway, and that had led nowhere. Xander even had Kent find out if the tattooed consultant guy had seen anything. Nothing.
The BCI was beyond puzzled. Why take out Gale? She had dementia and memory problems. She was no threat. Isleen would’ve been the better target. Which scared the piss out of Xander—and he didn’t do scared. The best the BCI could offer was an officer stationed at the end of the driveway, one outside the main house, and a guy outside Xander’s cabin.
“I’ll give her two more days. You refuse her treatment then, and I’ll go through legal channels.” Matt shoved back from his seat.
A cold electrical burn seeped from Xander’s scars outward, infusing the rest of him with its anger. The Bastard in His Brain spread, taking over cell by cell. “You’re asshole enough to do that, aren’t you?”
“I’m the only one thinking about this. I’m not bewitched like your father was with Gale or you are with her.”
Xander shoved back from his seat and stalked around the table to stand toe to toe, nose to nose with Matt. All he had to do was cock his arm back and let it fly. His hand curled into a fist. “You try to take her away from me, and I’ll kill you.” He was surprised by the vehemence of his words, but not their meaning. He would kill anyone that tried to come between them.
“You want to fistfight over her?”
“We’ve fought over less.”
“Boys. Stop it. Right now.” Roweena shoved her way between the two of them. “Matt, leave. Xan, calm down. Nobody is going to do anything today. Today we’re supposed to be saying good-bye to Gale.”
“We’re not done.” Matt backed off and pointed at Xander. “Little boy, you need to wake up to what’s really happening here.”
“You know what’s really happening? I’ll tell you, old man. You’re jealous. Dad had Gale. Knew what it was like to be loved. Who have you ever had? Nobody you didn’t buy and pay for. Not one person can tolerate you other than family. And we don’t even like you very much.”
“Xander.” Row gasped his name as if he’d just shit on a holy relic. “That’s low.”
Something dark and dangerous contorted Matt’s features. Something that promised payment for that truism at a future date. Without another word, he left, slamming the door so hard on his way out that the thing bounced back and forth, unable to latch.
“You two.” Row sounded like an exasperated mother. “You’re too much alike. That’s why you’ve always locked horns.”
“We’ve locked horns because he’s an asshole.”
“So are you,” Row said and headed for the staircase. “I’ll go help Isleen get a bath and dressed.”
“Row?”
Row stopped at the bottom of the stairs, her face—the face of the only person who had ever loved him—turned to him, and he suddenly saw her age, every wrinkle cutting through her skin. The way her light-purple hair made her face sallow and almost sick looking. For the first time, her tattoos seemed garish and overdone. She was struggling as much as they all were. And he couldn’t bear adding to her burden. “It’s okay. I’ll take care of her.”
“Xan, that’s not right. I think she’d be more comfortable—”
He went to her, needing to give her a hug, the same way she used to always be able to sense when he needed one as a child. She squeezed him tight, and things seemed a bit better. Jeesh, maybe he was going pussy or something. But even that thought wasn’t enough to make him pull away.