63. Chapter 63

63

Wren

H ilarious.

This bitch thinks she's the big bad wolf.

I scoff out a laugh.

"Listen up, psycho-bitch ," I drawl, keeping my tone as lifeless as a cemetery. "Cut the bullshit. You're not fooling anyone with your crazy jealousy act. I'm pretty sure you didn't set up this whole circus just ‘cause your ex-boyfriend gave me a second glance."

The line goes quiet, but I catch something in the background. A muffled whimper. Em? My stomach clenches. I strain to hear more, my free hand curling into a fist. One second. Two. Three.

Then Elena's laughter crackles through the line. "I see why he likes you so much. You're one interesting suka ."

"Fascinating," I snap. "Now cut the bullshit. What do you really want?"

The bitch laughs. "You're right. All I want is what the Ivankovs have. And you, my dear, are going to help me get it."

My stomach roils. "Look, you twisted fuck. Just tell me what you want me to do so you let my family go," I hiss, pressing closer to the wall. Sweat beads on my forehead.

"It's simple, really," Elena replies, her tone light. "You come to me, and I let your pretty little sister walk away. Well, John might need some help walking after what Zimniy did to his kneecaps, but details, details."

I slide down the wall, crouching with my head between my knees. "And if I don't?"

"Then I start sending you pieces of them. I wonder… which would hurt more? Losing Daddy Dearest, or watching your baby sister suffer?"

"You fucking psycho," I snarl, drawing looks from passersby. I press the phone closer, voice dropping. "How do I know they're even alive?"

There's a rustling on the other end, then a new voice. Weak, pained, but unmistakable.

"Wren?" Em's voice, thick with tears. "Wren, don't—"

She's cut off abruptly. Elena's back. "Satisfied? Now, here's what you're going to do…"

I listen, my breathing shallow, as Elena lays out her demands. A meeting point. A timeline. A warning about what happens if I try to be clever.

"Oh, and Wren?" Elena adds, her voice sickly sweet. "Don't even think about contacting anyone… especially D. I have eyes everywhere. One wrong move, and, well… I hear screams echo beautifully in this old warehouse."

The line goes dead. I stay crouched, phone clutched in my hand, as the world spins around me. Travelers rush by, laughing, arguing, living their normal fucking lives while mine crumbles.

I have a choice to make. My family or D. Em's life or my own. And the clock is ticking.

Pushing myself up, I start walking.

Fuck your rules, Skull Collector. You crossed the line, and now the devil himself is gonna know our names.

I push the cabin door open.

"Surprise!" Lenny jumps out from behind the couch. Alex toddles after him, wrapped in a bear costume.

Lenny's smile fades as he looks at me. "Wait… where's Em?"

I pick up Alex, avoiding Lenny's eyes. "Hey, little man. Nice bear suit." I breathe in Alex's hair, stalling.

"Wren?" Lenny's voice sharpens. "What's going on?"

I set Alex down and grab his dinosaur toy. "Nap time, buddy. Let's go."

Lenny follows us to Alex's room, watching from the doorway as I tuck Alex in.

"Story, Momma," Alex mumbles, rubbing his eyes.

"Not now, baby. Close your eyes for me." I stroke his forehead until he falls asleep.

I turn to Lenny, jerking my head toward the door. We step onto the porch. The wood creaks under us as we sit in the rocking chairs. I pull out a cigarette, fumbling with the lighter.

"What's going on, Wren?" Lenny demands again. "Where's Em?"

I inhale deeply, then exhale smoke. "The Skull Collector has her."

Lenny freezes. His face pales. "What?"

"And John," I add. "Our shit excuse for a father."

"How?" Lenny's voice cracks. His fingers dig into the armrests.

I tell him everything. Lenny's face turns to stone, his jaw clenches. I can see the anger sparking in his eyes. His body tenses, ready to explode with rage. Tears streak his face. He clenches his jaw, a mix of fear and anger in his eyes.

"We have to do something," he chokes out, running his hands through his hair. "We can't just… Fuck, Wren. It's Em."

"I know," I say, crushing my cigarette under my boot. "And we will. I promise, Lenny. Nothing's happening to this family again."

I grab his shaking hands. His fingers are cold in mine.

"How?" he asks, searching my face.

"I don't know," I say.

Fuck. I do know. But if I tell him, if I let D know… Em's dead. And Alex… Christ, who's gonna take care of my boy if this goes sideways?

"But… we'll find a way."

Lenny pulls away, pacing the porch. "This is fucked up, Wren. All of it. Em was supposed to be safe."

"I know," I say, watching him. "But we're not done. We've got one more play."

He stops, facing me. "What's the plan?"

I stand, leaning on the porch railing and lighting another cigarette. The forest stretches out, dark and quiet.

"We're giving Elena what she wants," I say. "Me."

Lenny's breath catches. "Wren, no. You can't—"

"I can and I fucking will," I snarl, cutting him off. My fist clenches around the cigarette, crushing it. "And Lenny? You're gonna trust me on this."

Lenny's face crumples. He looks like that scared kid again, the one I used to protect from Dad's rages. "What… what do we do now?"

I toss the mangled cigarette away. "We fly to Chicago tomorrow."

"Chicago?" Lenny's voice cracks. "That's suicide, Wren.

I turn away, gripping the railing. The old wood groans under my hands. "Pack light. We leave at dawn."

"And Lexi Bear?" Lenny asks quietly.

"He's coming with us," I say, "Can't leave him here alone."

Lenny nods, his face grim. "I'll go pack his stuff."