“Like you’re going to yell,” Mom answered.
“Oh, you have no idea about the yelling I’ll do,” Dad said, tugging Mom’s arm so he could lead her in the opposite direction. “Griffin, get her something to drink and have her splash some water on her face. Then … do whatever it is you do that’s not filthy to calm her.”
Griffin was too worried to crack a smile. “Okay,” he said. “Aisling, go upstairs and wash your face. I’m going to detour by the kitchen to get you something to drink. Do you want something to eat?”
“My stomach is upset,” I replied.
“That’s what I thought,” Griffin said. “Go upstairs. I’ll be there in a second.” He kissed my forehead. “I love you. It’ll be okay.”
“I love you too,” I murmured, turning to go up the stairs.
“And that’s why I don’t have a problem with them moving in together,” Dad said, dragging Mom away from me. “He knows how to handle her. He always makes things better.”
“She doesn’t look better,” Mom argued.
“She won’t look better until we get Jerry back,” Dad said. “That’s what you’re going to help me do right now. Move!”
I plodded up the steps, racking my brain for a location where Anderson might take Jerry – all the while trying to force images of what he might be doing to my best friend out of my mind. Then I had an epiphany and increased my pace, racing toward my bedroom. I stopped long enough to scribble a quick note of apology to Griffin, and then I grabbed a hoodie from the closet and climbed out the window. This wasn’t the first time I had to sneak out when people were watching my every move.
I knew one person who could help me, and if I had to beat the information out of her, I would.
I LUCKED out and found Angelina at Woody’s Bar, a longtime Grosse Pointe mainstay, after stealing one of my father’s cars. Mine was blocked in, so I didn’t have a choice. I knew he kept an extra set of keys by the back door and I slipped them off the hook once Griffin left the kitchen to bring me my drink. I felt guilty, but I couldn’t let anything happen to Jerry. I would never forgive myself.
Angelina sat at the bar flirting with some douchebag in a suit when I strolled up.
“Hey, Aisling. Do you need a drink?” Woody, the bar owner, fixed me with an odd look. “Please tell me you’re not here to start a fight with Angelina. That will ruin my night.”
“My father will pay for whatever damage I do,” I said.
Angelina narrowed her eyes as she regarded me. “Aisling, I’m not in the mood to deal with you,” she said. “I’m spending time with my good friend Don.”
“Dan,” the man corrected.
“Of course, Dan,” Angelina said, making an exaggerated face. “We’re having a good time. Don’t ruin it.”
I ran my tongue over my teeth as I considered how to answer. Ultimately, I decided to go for broke. “Have you told him about your herpes yet?”
Dan’s eyes widened. “W-what?”
“She’s got herpes, man,” I said, nodding. “She gave it to half the football team in high school … on the same night.”
“Aisling, I will kill you,” Angelina hissed.
“Aisling, don’t make trouble,” Woody pleaded. “Although … you look like you’ve been through the wringer, girl. Have you been crying?”
“She probably looked in the mirror.” Angelina was at her haughty best. There was only so much I could take.
“Dan, if you don’t get out of my way right now, I’m going to claw your eyes out,” I spit. “You don’t want to waste your time on Angelina. She’s a whore. You can do better. I hear there are some lovely ladies down on Eight Mile who need a date for the night. I’ll give you money to woo them if you leave right this second.”
“Don’t listen to her,” Angelina said, resting her hand on Dan’s arm. “She’s always been jealous of me. She can’t help herself.”
“She’s got herpes, Dan,” I repeated. “I hear she’s got bedbugs in her underwear as well. Do you want bedbugs? You’ll get them if you rub your private parts against her private parts.”
“I am going to rip every strand of that stupid two-toned hair of yours out of your head,” Angelina seethed. “I’m not joking. Go … someplace else.”
I glanced around the bar, seeing a number of familiar faces, and cleared my throat to get the attention of everyone in the general vicinity. “Raise your hands if you’ve slept with Angelina.”
A few men looked worried, and a few appeared ashamed, but no one volunteered to admit a dalliance.
“I will give the first person who admits he slept with Angelina a thousand bucks,” I offered, seamlessly switching tactics.
Eight hands shot up, causing Angelina’s cheeks to burn and Dan to put distance between Angelina and him as he swiveled on his stool.
“I should probably be going,” Dan said, his expression rueful. “It was nice to meet you, Angelina. As for your friend … um … she’s terrifying.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet,” I said, grabbing Dan’s arm and pushing him out of the way so I could get closer to Angelina. “I need your help.”
“You have got to be kidding me,” Angelina shrieked. “After what you just did you’re lucky I don’t have a gun because I would be well within my rights to shoot you. As it is I’m thinking of suing you for slander. I have a case. Woody is my witness.”
Woody’s face was blank when I risked a glance at him. “I didn’t hear a thing,” he said.
“You always take her side,” Angelina groused.
I couldn’t take another second of this, and when I reached for Angelina’s throat Woody realized what I was trying to do and extended his arm to stop me. I easily sidestepped him and wrapped my hand around my worst enemy’s throat as I toppled wrestled her to the ground.
“Aisling!” Woody scurried around the far side of the bar so he could get to me.
I ignored him and focused on Angelina. “Where would John Anderson go? Tell me about the houses you showed him.”
“Screw you, bitch!” Angelina’s face reddened as I squeezed her throat. “I’m not telling you anything.”
“He took Jerry, Angelina,” I seethed, causing Woody to stop in his tracks. He knew me for a long time, which meant he knew Jerry, too. He was fond of both of us. “He took my best friend and he’s threatening to kill him. Where would he go?”
Angelina shook her head as she sputtered so I lifted her head up by her neck and slammed it back down.
“Aisling, if you’re not careful you’ll really hurt her,” Woody whined. “Maybe I should call your father.”
“Don’t you dare,” I snapped. “I’m handling this. Tell me what houses you showed him, Angelina! I will kill you to save Jerry. I swear I will.”
“She can’t talk with your hand around her neck like that, sugar,” Woody said gently.
I realized he was right and loosened my grip. “Where?”
“I showed him three houses,” Angelina said, gasping for air and rubbing her neck.
“He would need one that’s empty,” I prodded. “He couldn’t hold Jerry in a house where other people still lived. Where?”
“The only empty one was on Mayberry Street in Warren,” Angelina said, her eyes welling with tears. “I’m sorry about Jerry, Aisling. That’s all I know.”
“I need an address.”
I WAS A determined mass of worry and rage when I hit the parking lot, my father’s keys jangling in my hand. Angelina threatened to call the cops the second I let her up, but Woody promised he would talk her down if I beat a hasty retreat.
Gladly. I had somewhere more important to be.
I pulled up short when I saw the group of people waiting for me by the car. Griffin’s face was a mask of tortured anguish and anger, but it evaporated as he strode toward me.
“What were you thinking?”
“I’m sorry,” I said, and I meant it. “I should’ve written a better note. I won’t let Jerry die in my place. It’s not in me.
Don’t ask me to do it.”
“I’m not asking you to do that,” Griffin said, grabbing my shoulders. “We’re going to get Jerry back. We’re going to do it together, though. If you even think of trying to run away again, I’m going to … .” Griffin broke off, no threat terrible enough to convince me sacrificing Jerry was a viable option.
“How did you find me?”
“You stole my car, Aisling,” Dad said. “I have GPS on all of my vehicles because you and your brothers can’t keep your grubby paws off my fleet. What are you doing here?”
“Looking for Angelina.”
Dad stilled. “Wonderful,” he said, rubbing his chin. “That was smart. Was she in there?”
“She was.”
“Did she give you anything?”
“A house in Warren she showed Anderson. It was the only property that was empty. It has a basement, and Anderson was insistent on his new home having a basement.”
“Let’s go then,” Aidan said, moving toward the car. “What are we waiting for?”
“Don’t do anything stupid, Aisling,” Dad said. “I love you, but Griffin is right. We’re going to get Jerry back together. Don’t you even think of separating from us when we get to that house.”
“I think she should go back to Grimlock Manor and let us handle this,” Mom suggested, shifting her eyes toward Dad. “She’s clearly overwrought.”
“And I think you should stop eating people and shut your mouth!”
“Okay, we need to split up in separate vehicles,” Griffin said, grabbing me and pulling me to him. “She’s going to melt down and do something stupid if we leave her behind. She’ll be vulnerable. She’s not separating from us.”
“I agree,” Dad said. “Griffin, you ride with Redmond, Cillian, Aidan and Aisling. Braden and I will go with Lily. Just … watch her. We’ll figure out a plan when we get to the house.”
“I don’t need a plan,” I said. “I’m going to rip his heart out of his chest and feed it to him.”
“Yes, you’re in a lovely frame of mind, aren’t you?” Griffin shook his head and grabbed my chin. “We’re going to have a huge argument about this when we get Jerry back. Until then, though, you’re sticking close to me. If you even think of separating from me I’ll lock you in that dungeon without socks for an entire night.”
That was enough to snap me back to reality. “You can’t do that. The snakes will get me.”
“I’ll do it for your own good if I have to,” Griffin said. “Don’t make me do it. We’re in this together, Aisling. We’re going in there as a family, and we’re going to make this family whole by the time we come out. We can’t do it if you do something kooky.”
“Fine,” I said, annoyed. “I want to be the one to kick the crap out of Anderson, though. I’ve earned it.”
“Done,” Dad said, shaking his head. “Go ride in the other car.”
Griffin ushered me across the parking lot, only stopping when Dad called out.
“Aisling?”
“What?”
“Tell me that Angelina isn’t dead.” Dad looked worried. If anything could snap me into murder it would be Jerry in imminent peril.
“She’s alive. I might have an assault charge coming my way, though.”
“Yes, well, it wouldn’t be the first time,” Dad said. “All right, people. Let’s move. Jerry needs us.”
“No,” I said, clenching my fingers. “We need Jerry.”
31
Thirty-One
“What did you do to Angelina?” Cillian asked as Redmond maneuvered through traffic on the freeway. “Did you draw blood?”
I was sandwiched between Cillian and Griffin in the back seat and felt smothered even though I knew they were trying to calm me. “I told her date she had herpes and then offered a thousand bucks to anyone who admitted they slept with her to get him to go away. A bunch of people raised their hands.”
Cillian smiled, although the expression didn’t quite make it to his eyes. “It didn’t end there, though, did it?”
I shook my head as Griffin rubbed the back of my neck. “I grabbed her by the throat and tipped her over the side of her stool. I slammed her head into the floor and squeezed until she told me what I wanted to know.”
“Oh, Aisling,” Griffin muttered, shaking his head. “You’re probably going to be arrested for that. The bar was full of witnesses and it doesn’t sound as if you hid your actions.”
“I definitely didn’t hide them.”
“She won’t necessarily get arrested,” Cillian said. “Everyone in the neighborhood hates Angelina and knows she’s a pain in the ass. They might not turn on Aisling.”
“I don’t care,” I said, staring out the dark window. “As long as we get Jerry back … .”
“We’re going to get Jerry back,” Griffin said, pulling my head so he could rest it against his shoulder. “I promise. Then you and I are going to have a really big argument about what you did. Then we’re going to make up. Then we’re going to shop until we drop for the new place – and Jerry is going to be involved in that. I swear to you that we’ll fix this.”
“I … .” My heart hurt at the thought of Jerry being mistreated. “I need him.”
“I know you do,” Griffin soothed, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “We’ll get him. You have to keep your head, though. Don’t do anything that will cause us to lose you or Jerry. Promise me you’ll follow directions. Promise me you won’t risk yourself.”
I opened my mouth but no sound would come out.
“She can’t promise that,” Cillian said, grabbing my hand and squeezing it. “She’ll die for Jerry. If the roles were reversed, he would die for her. We couldn’t make you promise not to risk yourself for Aisling. You can’t make her promise not to risk herself for Jerry.”
Griffin blew out an exasperated sigh. “I know.”
We fell silent, the atmosphere uncomfortable, and finally Redmond couldn’t take it. “Just think, if the roles were reversed and Jerry was going in after Aisling, he would’ve made us dress up in glittery camouflage so we looked fabulous for the op.”
I knew he was trying to make me feel better, but it bothered me. “Go faster, Redmond. I want my Jerry.”
“Me, too,” Aidan intoned as he stared out the front window. I couldn’t read his mind but I could practically see his tortured heart. He was barely hanging on, and his hurt was worse than mine in some respects.
“HOW do we want to handle this?”
Instead of parking in front of the house Angelina told me about, we gathered one street over to make our plan. Redmond was insistent we had to go in coordinated, but I was antsy.
“I’m going to go up to the front door with Aidan and Mom,” I said. “Anderson will be caught off guard. The rest of you will go in through the back and find Jerry.”
“No way,” Griffin said, shaking his head. “I am not being separated from you.”
“You have to be,” I argued. “Anderson knows you’re a cop. He won’t believe we’re going to trade – not even for a second – if he sees you. Mom’s presence will throw him off, and Aidan can pass because Jerry is his boyfriend.”
“I hate to say it, but she’s right,” Redmond said. “Anderson will smell a setup if we’re not careful. We only need a few minutes to get in through the back. Aisling and Aidan are more than capable of handling Anderson.”
“I’ll be there, too,” Mom reminded him.
“Yes, well, I’m a little worried you’re going to turn on Aisling and Aidan if you get the chance,” Redmond replied, taking me by surprise. “We all want to believe you, Mom, but if it comes down to it, we’ll kill you if you turn on us. Jerry is more important.”
“I guess I can’t blame you,” Mom said, tugging down on her shirt as she studied her shoes. “I won’t turn on you. You can trust me.”
“We’d better be able to trust you,” Dad said, slapping a knife into my hand. “Aisling, put that up the sleeve of your hoodie. It will pass cursory inspecti
on should Anderson try to pat you down. You’ll have it if you need it.”
I nodded and followed his instructions. Aidan did the same.
“What about me?” Mom shot Dad an expectant look. “I need to be armed, too.”
Dad looked conflicted, but he handed over a silver knife. “If you put this knife into the back of any of them, I’ll make you pay.”
“That’s good to know, Cormack,” Mom sniffed. “We should get this show on the road, though. Jerry needs us … and apparently I have a lot to prove.”
“Yes, you do,” Griffin said to Mom. He grabbed my chin and forced my eyes to him. “Promise me you’ll do your best not to get hurt.”
“I promise.”
Griffin graced me with a soft kiss. “I love you, Aisling. You won’t believe the argument we’re going to have when this is over, though.”
“Yes, we’re all going to join in that argument,” Dad said. “It will be loud and out of control, and when it’s finished I’m sure I’ll be instituting another family rule. That’s after I make sure Aisling doesn’t go to jail for choking Angelina.”
I widened my eyes. “How did you know?”
“Woody called,” Dad replied. “He says Angelina called the police, but he thinks he has it handled.”
“How did he do that?” Braden asked.
“He took a page out of Aisling’s book and told the cops that syphilis made Angelina crazy sometimes and she makes things up,” Dad answered, smiling. “Apparently Angelina is so unpopular the other bar guests sided with him. I think it’s going to be fine.”
“It’s not going to be fine until we have Jerry,” I said.
“Then let’s get him.”
I STOMPED up the front steps to the house and rapped on the door as hard as I could. Aidan flanked me on one side, Mom on the other, and I didn’t miss the nervous glance they exchanged.
John Anderson pulled open the door, his eyebrows knit in confusion. His gaze was busy as it bounced from face to face, and when he saw the grim set of Aidan’s jaw he immediately tried to push the door shut. Aidan extended his foot to stop him, and for lack of a better plan I lifted my knee and slammed it into Anderson’s groin.
Grim Reunion (Aisling Grimlock Book 4) Page 27