Cyrus came out of the jail seeing Holly standing there smiling ear-to-ear. She had her hands behind her back, rocking back and forth on her toes.
“What’s up, jailbird?”
Cyrus just groaned and went to the window to get his wallet and cell phone. “Where’s Mia?”
Wraith went over patting his brother on the back. “She’ll be out in a minute. Grayson dropped the charges. His lawyer didn’t want the media here since you’re a celebrity. They probably realized it would be a bad idea to bring attention to themselves.”
“Good.” Cyrus was brooding as he walked past his sister.
Holly trotted in behind him, grinning like a kid in a candy store.
“Stop, Holly.”
“Stop what? I am just a concerned sister. Were you violated in prison? Did they sodomize you? Did you become someone’s bitch?”
“Shut up.”
Holly raised her hands to her mouth with a gasp in fake surprise. “Oh, no. They did. They breached your booty hole. The horror. I think there is an ointment for that. We can stop by the pharmacy on the way home.”
Cyrus grunted as he sat down in the waiting area. He just kept looking forward, trying to not look at his annoying sister. “Shut up.”
“Did you have to call them daddy while they spanked your ass? Are you so traumatized that we’re going to find you in a crack house, selling your body in the streets? Will we have to call for an intervention?”
Cyrus looked as if steam was ready to come out of his ears as his sister teased him. Wraith was trying his best to keep a straight face.
“Here’s a tip for the next time you’re locked up. It pays to have a pack of smokes. They will leave you alone that way.”
“Shut. Up.”
“You can also try finding the biggest guy in the yard and kick his ass. Your pretty face will just draw them in, so you will still have to fight to keep your virtue.”
“Do you ever just shut up? I’m ready to know you out.”
“Brother, you need to deal with your anger issues. I have a therapist you can talk to. I’m just concerned about your welfare.”
Wraith was trying not to laugh and covered his mouth with his fist. Holly just kept taunting her brother and following him around the room as he tried to move to another seat.
“Does your butt hole hurt? You know... for the prison gang bang? Next time try to relax. Anal always hurts the first time. Ask for a reach around. Sometimes that helps you to get in the mood. Don’t be embarrassed. These things happen in prison.”
Cyrus slowly turned his head toward his sister. “I’m going to kill you in your sleep.”
“Just stay away from my ass. I don’t know what you learned while you were behind bars.”
Holly broke out in laughter, and Wraith lost it.
As he started cracking up, Cyrus growled at his siblings. “I hate you two.”
Cyrus looked up seeing Mia exiting the jail door, and he ran to her, pulling her into a big hug. “Are you okay, flower?”
Mia didn’t move and stood silent with no expression, just blinking rapidly. Cyrus pulled her back at arm’s length and Mia looked up at him. Her lip quivered, and the tears flowed.
She sucked air as she said, “He hurt so many people. The ladies in there told me how he took away people’s farms, sexually harassed women, and bullied the whole town. And your parents… He’s a monster. I hate him.”
Cyrus wrapped his arms around her, kissing her temple. “I do too, baby. You’re safe now. Let’s get you home.”
Mia sniffed back a cry. “No. We need to check on Tammy and the baby. We need to find out her side of the story about the house.”
“Okay, whatever you want. I’ll have an officer go with us to get the rest of the things from the old house.”
Holly walked over, hugging her friend from behind. “I know you had it in you. You are one tough chick. Thanks for standing up for me and my brother.”
Mia turned to her and gave Holly a big hug. Both girls stood holding each other like they had known each other their whole lives. Wraith smiled over at his brother, who was mirroring his expression. Maybe Mia and Holly’s new friendship was going to be a good thing. They already had each other’s back.
Cyrus smiled at the girls, calmly letting out a breath of air. He was right. Mia was the one. The piece of his family puzzle that made it complete.
The arresting officer stepped into the lobby to address the group. “Cyrus. I think we should talk. Let me walk you all to the car.”
Cyrus nodded in agreement, heading to the parking lot of the small country police station. The officer looked around to make sure no one heard the conversation.
“What’s up, Miles? You look upset.”
“Listen. There are still people in this little town who worship Grayson. He can’t be trusted, but they bow down to him because of the money and his connections. He rules over this place like a dictator.”
Wraith rolled his eyes. “Tell us something we don’t know. I have half the mind to run for mayor myself, just to get him kicked out of town.”
“I wish that would work. I believe someone covered up your parents’ death. Since Holly’s attack in the bar four years ago, I took it upon myself to investigate Grayson’s background. It hurt me deeply that I couldn’t help her then. Holly has been my friend for years and it broke my heart what those men did to her. We should have arrested him, along with those men, not Holly. She was just defending herself. The ass beating, she gave them, they deserved.”
“I told everyone that, back then. No one listens to me. Everyone thinks I’m just a thug,” Holly huffed.
“I know, Holly. I’m sorry I couldn’t help. I was new on the force and I had little pull then. I’m running for Sheriff next term. Things are going to change around here if I’m elected. People are sick of the double standards and the bad people in this town running things. It’s not the police force that’s the problem here. We all try to do our jobs and the judicial system just turns a blind eye to Grayson and his goons. Grayson has the higher-ups wrapped around his finger. He has his money controlling more than just buying up the town. He has hand in every elected official’s pocket in town.”
Cyrus looked confused. “Are you thinking there is more to the accident with my parents?”
“Cy, I think someone murdered them.”
Wraith crossed his arms over his chest, listening intently. “We agree. We’ve believed that for years. I’ve talked to plenty of people around town about Grayson. The people in the county want real change, but Grayson stands in the way of everything. He has been taking land from the residents and making illegal deals with the local banks.”
“Right. This runs deep. Cyrus, get a lawyer and find a private detective. Force the investigation of your parents’ death to be reopened. I found a box from the investigation that was never used as evidence. I believe the judge then helped cover it up and claimed it was just an accident. I… I think he killed them on purpose. We have good people in the force ready to stand up for this. We want to bring him down so this town is safe again.”
Cyrus looked between at his brother and sister. “I don’t know. It’ll bring a lot of bad memories for my family. I don’t want them to have to go through this again.”
Holly stepped up and took her brother’s hand. “We’re in this together, Cy. If we can get some closure, we are all in. Best-case scenario, maybe you can move past it and heal. You shouldn’t have to live with this weighing on you anymore. You deserve to be happy.”
Wraith took a deep breath and looked at Mia, who seemed scared and confused. If his brother didn’t deal with his past, his future could be destroyed in the wake. Cyrus had hidden from the pain for far too long.
“Holly’s right. We’re in this together. You need a fresh start. It would be good for all of us to move on if Grayson finally must pay for their murder. I’m in.”
Cyrus took a deep breath and felt Mia’s fingers lace into his. He squeezed her hand as he glanced over, finding her nodded yes with a smile. Cyrus gave a half-hearted smile back, knowing the demons of his past needed to be dealt with, but at what cost?
He thought about Tammy, sick at home and the abuse she endured, little Elias who had a whole life ahead of him, his family, and losing their parents so young. Now innocent Mia is caught in the middle. The love of his life deserved to have the best of him. A life that was happy and free of his past.
“Okay. I’ll do it. Just tell me what to do...”