Page 188 of The Coldest: Stay Dangerous Part 2

“But haven’t you cut them off before, Wyn? How long would that last? You have such a big heart, always putting others before yourself. I had to snatch your phone last week when I heard your mammy calling herself disrespecting you. These Alvarez men are a little unorthodox with their methods, but I think you’re better off. And I think you know that.”

Yeah, that’s the problem, I think to myself.

My elevator chimes, and angry slaps of sandals on my floor tell me it’s my lovely sister. Pilar turns, but I reach out and grab her hand. She starts to help me stand.

Auty stops a few feet from us, eyes bloodshot, tear stains on her cheeks. I’m not even standing all the way when she begins to go in.

“They’re dead, Wyn. Someone killed them.”

Once I’m standing, I glance at Pilar, who takes the hint. She mumbles something about a smoke break and slips out of my apartment, leaving just me and my sister.

“Hi, Auty. I’m fine. Now, who’s dead?”

“Don’t be funny, Wyn,” she spits, her foot tapping on the floors impatiently. “Someone ran up in Mom and Daddy’s house, robbed and killed them.” Saying the words out loud takes all her strength, because she plops down on my sofa, a gutwrenching sob shaking her shoulders. “It’s not fair!” she cries, wailing louder.

I walk over to my white Steinway & Sons grand piano and take a seat on the bench. My sister sits opposite of me, crying her little heart out, and for once, my hands don’t itch to comfort her. My mouth doesn’t form any comforting words. My heart doesn’t squeeze at the emotions leaking from my sister’s eyes.

My lip just curls as I fight to keep bile down my throat.

Auty gets herself together, but when her eyes search my face for something that isn’t there, anger promptly replaces her sadness.

“Why aren’t you upset?!” Her eyes stretch, and she’s out of her seat instantly, pointing a finger at me.

“You knew, didn’t you?! You know who did this!”

I rest my elbow on the piano and lean my head on my fist. “I found out this morning, Auty. Rico told me, and that he’s with Turkey at their house now.”

“He told me he was going to check on them, but he never mentioned it before…”

The countdown in my head goes off precisely when Auty connects the dots.

Her face scrunches up, with a vein popping out in her forehead.

“You!” she seethes. “You put them up to this!”

She takes a couple steps so that she’s in my personal space, looking down her nose at me.

“Back up, Auty.”

“No! How could you let him do this to us?”

My hand slaps against the cover of the keys and I lift myself up, making her stumble back.

“You and I both know, if they did do it, that neither one of us can make them do anything. See yourself out.”

She balks at my tone, but my energy is draining too fast for me to care. Regardless, I was never going to be as distraught as her when our parents finally kicked the bucket, but I’m definitely not going to dogpile on Turkey and Rico for doing what they felt they needed to for us.

“He doesn’t give a fuck about you!” she screams, halting my steps.

“He can’t! I told Turk not to harm them, so I know Rico did this. He killed our parents, Wynter!” She palms her head on either side as fresh tears pour down her cheeks.

Under normal circumstances, my Be gentle with Auty filter would kick in. But none of this shit is normal.

I’m sober.

I had brain surgery.

I’m back in love with Richard Alvarez.