Her Silent Revenge novel Chapter 130

She knows?

Shit.

I stop mid-step and stare. "Patton told you?"

"No. I'm just a good observer, and I'm pretty well acquainted with Rory eyes by now. There's no mistaking that shade of blue with Arlo." She smiles gently. I try to relax before her next words turn me to stone. "But he told his brothers. Accidentally, I think."

"Oh my God, he… he told them? What did they say?"

"Not much. Delly doesn't know, not yet. They decided it's not their place to drop the bomb. They want her to hear it from the horse's mouth. From him, from you, whenever things are less crazy…"

She can say that again.

I don't think I've ever felt so heavy with everything pulling me down. "I'm not trying to make this harder. I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone. And also that"—her brows draw together slightly

—"Patton really loves the boy. There's no faking that."

"I know, I just—" I stop. What else can I say when his words pummel me in the face again?

What's the point of waiting for someone who's so damn scared she won't stop running from the past?

God, he's right, and I'm still living like I'm afraid of my own shadow. "It'll be fine, I'm sure, even if it feels pretty difficult right now." She pushes the door open to the formal dining room.

Sure enough, Dexter and Archer are arguing again, although their voices hold a little less vitriol than usual. Delly sits at the head of the table like the queen she is, massaging her temples.

I see Colt at the other end of the table. He's checked out of the conversation with his earbuds in, playing a game on his phone.

When they see me, everyone goes silent. Archer pulls out an empty chair next to him.

"Have a seat," he says, unusually kind. Not that he's ever unkind, it just seems extra gentle, coming from a human bear.

Plus, I doubt Archer Rory ever makes being gentle a habit.

I look at Juniper for guidance, but she takes the seat beside Dexter. They exchange a slow, heavy look that feels like an entire secret conversation condensed into a wordless second.

Ugh, I miss that.

I had it with Patton.

He hasn't told his family about our argument, I'm sure. I get the feeling he hasn't said much, even to his brothers, before he decided to disappear.

"Let's say a prayer. We owe it to this family tonight—and to little Arlo," Delly says. I look down at the meal in front of me. It's simple enough, beef brisket and whipped potatoes with some collard greens. I'm in awe that anybody had the energy to cook.

"He was tight-lipped about the details." He swallows, still not looking at me. "Honestly, it's not my place to—"

"Screw that, Archer." My anger boils over, and I struggle to contain it.

I've burned enough bridges with this family already. "I need to know." "It's—"

"My business."

He sighs, knowing I've won.

"All right, dammit. He asked me not to tell you," he growls. "But he went after Evelyn himself. Left a few days ago. He said he was heading to Miami first, and from there, anywhere else he can get a lead on her. And before you ask, no, no one's heard anything."

The shock pins me in my chair, the iciness spreading to my hands. I drop my fork. Holding anything now feels impossible.

Of course he went after Evelyn. I already knew that. But hearing confirmation hits different.

On the one hand, she's an old lady. He's much younger and he's a Navy veteran. He's strong and he works out regularly. He's more than capable if anything goes horribly wrong.

But Evelyn poisoned Arlo right under our noses without anyone noticing. A horrible feat I'm still not sure how she managed.