Grim Expectations (Aisling Grimlock Book 5)

by Amanda M. Lee

  “Aisling always got special treatment,” Cillian supplied. “That’s just the way it was in our house.”

  “They’re exaggerating,” I said, lifting the seal off the floor so I could stare at it. Something occurred to me as I traced the outside edges with my finger. “Have you noticed the grooves on the sides?”

  “I have,” Cillian confirmed, narrowing his eyes. “I asked you to put that down.”

  I ignored him. “It’s as if these grooves fit in a mechanical device,” I said. “It’s as if this seal fits in one specific thing – like it’s a key of some sort – and opens something.”

  Griffin rubbed his fingertips over the metal disc. “It’s solid and you said it looks old. What do you think it opens?”

  I had an idea. “I’m not sure why I didn’t think of this before … .”

  “Uh-oh,” Redmond moaned, pinching the bridge of his nose as he leaned back on the couch. “Something tells me we’re about to be outsmarted by the baby again.”

  “She’s going to get cookies while we get grounded,” Cillian added.

  “You can all have cookies if Aisling has actually figured out something,” Dad said. “What do you think that opens?”

  “The door.”

  “What door?”

  “The one in the mausoleum.”

  Redmond and Griffin exchanged a look as I flipped over the seal to study the back.

  “She might be onto something,” Griffin said, collecting the seal. “That door was solid, but right next to the handle there was a round indentation. I’m pretty sure it would fit this seal.”

  “So we can open the door,” I said, excitement overwhelming me as I hopped to my feet. “We can see inside.”

  “You’ve been driving yourself crazy because you want to see what’s in there,” Griffin said. “Now it looks as if you’ll have a shot. It can’t hurt to try.”

  Dad shifted his contemplative eyes to Redmond. “Do you think that will fit?”

  Redmond shrugged. “I think it looks to be about the right size.”

  “What are we waiting for?” I asked, reaching for my purse. “Let’s go.”

  “We’re not going until we have the cover of darkness to obscure our actions,” Dad argued. “I want all of us to go together, too. I don’t want to take any chances.”

  I balked. “But what if the Grimleys are there?”

  “Serena will remain behind with the servants. We’re not going to tell her what we’ve found,” Dad said. “If the Grimleys are there … well … I want to see them myself. I’m sure you understand.”

  “I do,” Griffin said. “We want to give her the least amount of trauma possible. If their bodies are there … or something worse … we can’t let her see that.”

  “Exactly,” Dad said.

  “But I want to go now,” I whined. “I figured out the puzzle. It’s time to see what’s behind the door.”

  “It’s only a few hours,” Dad said. “Waiting won’t kill you.”

  Did he just meet me? “It might.”

  “You’ll live.”

  I sighed and sank to the floor next to Griffin. “I’m going to need some cookies to tide me over.”

  Dad smirked. “I’m sure I can arrange that.”

  Patience was never one of my virtues, but I saw the reasoning behind Dad’s words. I had no idea how he expected me to wait, though. It was something akin to torture. “I want chocolate chip and white macadamia nuts.”

  “Don’t press your luck, Aisling.”

  29

  Twenty-Nine

  Serena found me in my old bedroom shortly before dinner. She’d been quiet all afternoon. Cillian said he talked to her in the hallway, but other than that she kept to herself. I hadn’t spoken to her since she stormed upstairs the day before, so I didn’t know what to expect.

  “This is a nice room,” Serena said, nervously plucking the comforter on the bed. “Did you like growing up here?”

  I shrugged. “I didn’t know anything else, so I don’t know how to answer that,” I replied. “I love my brothers. There were times I hated them, but I still loved them. This house is big, but it seems small when we’re fighting.”

  “My house felt the same way.”

  “I’m sure it did,” I said, sitting on the end of the bed. “I’m glad to see you didn’t take off during the night. That would’ve been a bad idea.”

  “I tried to open the window but a security alarm went off,” Serena said. “Your father kind of stormed into the room, checked the window and then tucked me in. I’m not joking. He actually tucked me in.”

  I smiled at the visual. “He was always good like that,” I said. “Mom would get tired because of all the fighting and he got bedtime duty a lot of the time. No matter how exhausted he was, if we wanted a story, he would read it to us.

  “As I got older, he sat with me and had me read the story to him,” I continued. “He had to be annoyed … and weary from work and all of us … and yet he waited until I was done and tucked me in every single night.”

  “You’re lucky,” Serena said. “He loves you. He stands up for you.”

  I licked my lips as I regarded her. “Listen, if you’re upset about what happened yesterday … .”

  “I am upset,” Serena said, cutting me off. “I’m not upset for the reasons you think, though. It’s just … he’s not my father. He’s a great guy, but he’s not my dad. I want my dad.”

  Tears pricked the back of my eyes as I cleared my throat. “He can’t be your father, but that doesn’t mean he was wrong about what happened yesterday,” I said. “You’re sixteen and that’s a really hard age. I remember it well. It seems like just yesterday, in fact.

  “You might not believe this – and you probably won’t – but anything you’ve ever considered doing, I’ve probably already done,” I continued. “I’ve snuck out of the windows numerous times. Those security alarms aren’t there because of you. They’re there because of me … and, well, my brothers. Mostly me, though.

  “Heck, when I stopped being able to sneak out of the windows because he figured out what I was doing I started lifting his car keys from the hook on the kitchen wall and sneaking out through the garage,” I said. “I stole his car a number of times. That’s the only way out of this place sometimes. He didn’t find that funny either.

  “My father has seen every type of bad behavior and he’s learned which types to shrug off and which ones to fixate on,” I said. “Your safety is very important to him. We’re his children, but he’d die for you, too. He’s not trying to be a hardass. He really does have your best interests at heart.”

  Serena let loose with a long-suffering sigh only a teenager who thinks she knows everything can muster. “I have a right to avenge my family.”

  I considered telling her about the rumors. For a moment, I thought it would make her feel better. Then I remembered what Maxine said about the dead walking. If something terrible happened to the Grimleys and they were somehow altered, that would almost be worse than death where Serena was concerned. I wisely held my tongue for a change.

  “You have a right to feel whatever it is you feel,” I said. “No two people feel things in the same way. They don’t love the same. They don’t mourn the same. They don’t even anger the same.

  “Aidan and I are twins, but very little about the way we approach life is the same,” I continued. “He’s much more emotional than me at times. I’m more dramatic. He’s calm under pressure. He has a martyr complex. I want to save the world. He’s more fixated on his corner of it.

  “We came into this world at the same time and we’re vastly different,” I said. “No one can tell you how to feel. You’re too close to the situation, though. You can’t see what’s right in front of you. That’s what my father is trying to protect you from.”

  “They’re still my family.” Serena was unbelievably stubborn. I recognized the trait because I acted the same way when I was a teenager. It didn’t escape my attention that she was
grappling with the loss of her entire family at about the same age I struggled with the death of my mother. The parallels were frightening.

  “And you’re their legacy,” I said. I felt like a broken record because I kept repeating that to her, but it had to sink in eventually, right? “You can’t be stupid and die for no reason. That’s not showing them respect. By sneaking out of the house and doing what you did yesterday, you disrespected them.”

  “That’s not what I wanted to do,” Serena protested.

  “Your motivation isn’t in question,” I said. “Your deeds are. You need to think and approach this wisely.”

  “Is that what you would do?”

  “No. I’d fly off the handle and then let my family and Griffin swoop in and save me.”

  “So why do I have to be more mature than you?”

  “Because you very well could be the only Grimley left and there’s no one to save you,” I answered. “Life isn’t easy, Serena. Once you get your revenge, then what? They’re still going to be gone. Nothing is going to be magically solved by getting revenge.”

  “I’ll feel better.”

  “You might think that,” I said. “I thought that at one time, too. I got my revenge and burned people alive. I don’t regret it because I saved Aidan during the process, but if you think that doesn’t haunt me, you’re wrong.”

  “So … where does that leave me?” Serena looked lost.

  “With us as backup,” I said. “We’re trying to figure this out. That’s what we were doing in the office this afternoon. When we have more information, you’ll be the first to know.”

  Serena narrowed her eyes. “What did you discover today?”

  “We’re still figuring it out,” I replied evasively. That wasn’t exactly a lie. “The most important thing is keeping you safe. Do you understand that?”

  Serena nodded, but her shoulders were stiff. “I still want revenge. I know what you’re trying to say, but I won’t rest until I end everyone who had a hand in taking my family.”

  “I guess you have to do what you think is right,” I conceded. “Please be careful, though. If something happens to you, absolutely no one will benefit. It will simply be a waste.”

  “I’ll think about it,” Serena said, moving toward the door. “I’m going to get cleaned up for dinner. If I’m a few minutes late, don’t worry about it. I just need a little time to settle.”

  “I understand.” I watched her go, my heart constricting until I heard the bathroom door open. Griffin was inside the entire time. I knew he’d been listening and my cheeks colored under his steady gaze. “I’m a pretty rotten role model, huh?”

  “I think you’re amazing,” Griffin said, dropping a kiss on my forehead. “You told her exactly what she needed to hear and you did it in a way that wasn’t condescending or belittling. I don’t know what more you expect from yourself.”

  “She still wants revenge.”

  “Anyone in her position would,” Griffin said. “You can’t fix things for her, baby. You can try to talk her down, but she’s still going to do what she’s going to do. Luckily for us your father has more security on this place than a bank with a broken vault lock.”

  I snickered at the joke and opened my arms so he could hug me. Instead of reaching up for him, though, I tugged him down on the bed and rolled on top of him. Griffin laughed as I kissed his cheek.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Having my dessert first,” I replied, smacking a loud kiss on his cheek.

  “Don’t you think you should shut the door?”

  “Dad is downstairs. It’s fine.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “You’re ruining the mood,” I said, pressing my hands to the sides of his face and planting a firm kiss on his lips. He didn’t argue further, instead sinking into the kiss. We were about to round another base when I heard swearing in the open doorway. When I glanced up I found my father standing there. “Don’t you knock?”

  “This is my house and the door is open,” Dad snapped. “What are you doing?”

  “Conversing about the meaning of life.”

  Dad rolled his eyes. “Griffin, where are your hands?”

  “She’s sitting on them,” Griffin replied calmly. “It’s kind of nice.”

  “Oh, this house feels too small sometimes,” Dad groused. “Get up! Dinner will be ready in a few minutes. If you’re not downstairs in two minutes I’ll turn on the sprinklers.”

  I sighed as I rolled off Griffin. “You’re a real killjoy. You know that, right?”

  “That’s a father’s job, Aisling,” Dad said. “Now … get moving. Both of you keep your hands in the air. If I see a digit slip, there will be consequences.”

  “Dinner gets rougher every time we eat here,” Griffin complained. “I miss the old days when we had to sneak around and your father threatened to bury me in the backyard.”

  “I can bring them back if you’re not careful,” Dad warned. “I’ll make you sleep in the basement cell if I see one slip of the hand tonight.”

  “What about his tongue?” I asked, giggling when Dad reached out to grab my shoulder.

  “I’m too old for all of this,” Dad said. “Who wants a drink?”

  JERRY sat at the dining room table as I entered, his phone in his hand. Because cell phones are strictly forbidden at the Grimlock dining table, I was understandably curious.

  “You can’t have that in here,” I said, pulling out my chair and sitting next to him. “Dad will spank you if you’re bad.”

  “I will not spank him,” Dad countered. “I will, however, flush that phone down the toilet. Jerry, put it away.”

  “Just a second,” Jerry said. “Redmond told me about Bug’s shopping problem and I’m trying to fix it.”

  “What shopping problem?” I asked, confused. “I don’t have a shopping problem. You already said you’re not going to help me pick out kitchen supplies, so that problem is over and done with.”

  “And I stand by my earlier statement on that,” Jerry said. “You don’t need kitchen stuff. I’m your personal chef. I don’t like change, and if you try to change that I’ll gut Griffin in his sleep.”

  Griffin initially laughed at what he thought was a joke but when he saw the serious set of Jerry’s jaw he pulled back. “Chill out, drama queen. We’ll eat at your place whenever possible. I don’t want to eat Aisling’s cooking anyway.”

  I had a feeling I’d just been insulted. “Why not?” I challenged. “I’m an excellent cook.”

  “What have you ever cooked?” Griffin challenged.

  “Well … .” I searched my memory.

  “She had one of those little ovens with a light bulb to heat food when she was a kid,” Cillian said. “She made some stuff with that.”

  “Until you stole it to melt each other’s dolls,” I shot back.

  “Action figures,” Redmond corrected. “We didn’t have dolls. We had action figures.”

  “Oh, I don’t know who you’re trying to fool, but action figures are merely plastic dolls with boring accessories,” Jerry said. “They’re still dolls, though.”

  Redmond made a disgusted face. “They are not! Dad, tell Jerry that action figures and dolls are completely different things.”

  “Really?” Dad’s expression was blasé. “Aren’t you a little old to be having this argument?” He stilled the butler as he moved past by placing his hand on the man’s arm. “Can you go up and get Serena, please? She’ll be eating dinner with us whether she likes it or not.”

  “Yes, sir.” The butler disappeared from the room. He looked relieved to be free of the action figure argument.

  “I talked to Serena a few minutes ago,” I said. “She said she’s coming down.”

  “How was she?” Dad asked, genuinely curious.

  “Sad and angry.”

  “So right on schedule?”

  I bobbed my head. “Pretty much.”

  “It’s understandable for her to be angry,” Griffin
said. “She’s living with you guys, and no matter how much she likes you she can’t get the memory of what happened to her family out of her head. She’s trapped between two worlds and she’s at that age where she doesn’t believe she’s a kid but we all know she is.”

  “I think that fourteen-to-eighteen window is the most obnoxious period of any child’s life,” Dad said. “That doesn’t mean I can go easy on her and pretend she didn’t do wrong. That said, I’m over it. She can eat dinner with us.”

  “She wants to eat dinner with us but she’s still angry,” I said. “She didn’t come right out and attack me, but she thinks I’m a tattletale. I can tell.”

  “You are a tattletale,” Braden said, sitting in the chair next to Redmond. “You used to tattle on us to get your way all of the time.”

  “Yes, but you deserved that,” I said. “You were a bad boy.”

  “And you were a tattletale,” Braden sneered. “You used to make up stories to get us in trouble, too. Mom and Dad always believed you over us.”

  “That shows what you know,” Dad argued. “We never believed her. We simply knew you got away with five real things to every one bad thing she pinned on you. We believed it all evened out.”

  “That’s balanced parenting,” Braden mused.

  “Action figures are not dolls, Jerry,” Redmond said, refusing to let the argument go. “Action figures are cool and badass. Dolls are frilly and stupid.”

  “What makes a doll stupid?” Jerry challenged.

  “It has no function other than to change its clothes,” Redmond replied.

  “Don’t action figures come with interchangeable accessories?” Jerry asked. “I seem to recall boots, hats, guns, gloves and even capes. What else did you do with the action figures once you were done changing their outfits?”

  Redmond’s mouth dropped open. “I … they had wars.”

  “And the dolls had tea parties,” Jerry said. “They both did things in pretty outfits. They’re the same.”

  “Dad!” Redmond was beside himself.

  “I don’t really care,” Dad said. “You burned the action figures and dolls in the same bonfires. For a time I worried you were all sociopaths because I kept finding dismembered doll and action figure bodies all over the place. Your mother said that was normal, so I let it go.”