07
Rachel confided, sounding defeated. “His condition has been all over the place lately. We wanted him to stay in the hospital for treatment, but he ran away.”
Logan was holed up at Vincent’s, claiming he’d kill me to make amends with his beloved Maggie.
I couldn’t help but think, “The delusional fool. He doesn’t realize his limitations. When he got in trouble before, Rachel bailed him out. Without Rachel, he’s just another person.”
“Lina, make yourself at home. I’ve instructed everyone not to let Logan in,” Rachel assured me, a hint of resignation in her
voice.
It was understandable. Cleaning up after her own son for so many years must be exhausting.
I needed Rachel to give up on Logan entirely.
I nudged Barry, who immediately caught on and approached with a cup of warm water. “Mom, you must be tired. Have some
water.”
Nothing highlighted differences better than a comparison. A sweet, dutiful son like Barry was leagues better than his elder brother, who constantly created messes.
Watching the loving bond between mother and son made me smile.
I’d heard Logan stormed over, ready to cause trouble, but Rachel turned him away.
He even lashed out at a few security guards, though Rachel eventually got things under control.
His antics only added to Rachel’s disappointment in him.
“Lina, what’s your deal? It’s not even your house! What are you hiding from?”
Maggie’s frustration bubbled over when I remained hidden.
I taunted back, “I’m not coming out. What can you do about it?”
Maggie snapped, “Just you wait!”
The opportunity I’d been waiting for finally came.
I took Barry for a walk around the villa, quizzing him along the way.
He furrowed his brow, deep in concentration, mulling over a problem.
“Having trouble, little smarty?” I teased.
And that was when things went south.
Barry suddenly beamed and yelled, “Brother!”
A chill ran down my spine.
I turned and saw Logan, somehow having slipped in wearing a delivery uniform.
Barry, oblivious to the danger, lit up at the sight of his long–missed brother.
“Brother!” he sang, starting toward Logan.
I yanked him back quickly.
I mused, “Damn it! What’s wrong with the security here?”
Logan, having learned from past mistakes, rolled up his sleeves and sprinted toward me.
I ran too, pulling Barry with me, shouting for help at the top of my lungs.
For the first time, I cursed how far apart the villas were!
With Barry in tow, I couldn’t run fast.
Barry, sensing the urgency, stood firm. “Don’t hit Ms. Anderson!”
The sixteen–year–old broke free of my grasp and positioned himself between me and Logan.
“Stop, you j*rk! He’s your brother!” I yelled.
But Logan swung his fist, knocking Barry to the ground like a rag doll.
Barry lay still, unmoving.
This wasn’t how I planned it.
