“Are you?” My stomach twists. He had no idea who Alex was to him. “Are you…” I can’t finish the sentence.
He shakes his head but I see it in his eyes, it’s always been there. He loves him.
“Henry…” I don’t even know how to finish my sentence. What do I say, don’t sleep with him as he’s really your half-brother?
“He’s safe,” he says it quietly while ducking his shoulders and now all I see is a very sick individual.
“Did you do something to him?”
Henry won’t meet my eye and when he does they are blurred with tears. “How do I know you aren’t working with them?”
“With who? George?”
“And mother.”
I place a hand on each of his shoulders and he hunches further, making me feel like a monster. “Henry, mother isn’t here. I think you need help.”
“You’re so blind.” He pushes away from me and irritation has me following him.
“You are working with them,” he says it like a statement as he continues to rotate Alex’s hat in his hand. He smiles at me.
“For you, Lucas, I am going to make an exception.”
Don’t hit him. He is making no sense. He is changing every few seconds and I can’t keep up with all the Henrys.
“I will try with Ella. Maybe your and Sandra’s children can play with Ella’s and mine.”
My control slips, my hands are around his throat, his face turns red.
“That’s it, Lucas. Kill me.”
I release him. “You’re rotten to the core.”
He laughs. “Yep, Mother sure made me suffer.”
“She’s not your mother. Your mother is Sorcha Newtown, who had an affair with our father. My mother is Elizabeth. But she’s not your fucking mother. So stop saying it.” My lungs burn painfully once I have all the words out. I don’t regret them. Henry is staring at me-and not with outrage-but it’s like a light bulb just went off over his head.
“That’s why she hates me.” He starts to laugh. “I’ve always wondered. I never thought you would solve the mystery.”
He’s scratching his arm as he looks far off with a smile on his face. “It all makes sense. She hated me because I was a reminder of the other woman. Was that the other finger?” He looks up now, but he’s still scratching his arm in the one spot.
“Yes,” I answer as I watch him piece this together.
He’s like a kid with a puzzle as he paces. “So she was killed for the affair. Mother’s doing…” He holds up a hand. “I mean Elizabeth’s doing?”
He’s back to scratching his arm, the skin turning red. “Yes,” I answer.
“So she must have been very angry with me and Declan.” He’s giggling now.
I want off this crazy train, he needs help. So much help.
His arm starts to bleed and he doesn’t stop digging his nails in the one spot. “They left the fingers up here to blame me for Declan’s death so they would finally get rid of me.”
Is he talking sense? I scratch my neck as I watch Henry.
“Your arm is bleeding.” I point out.
He stops digging his nails in. He looks at the blood and shakes his head. He won’t stop smiling.
“I really appreciate you telling me all this.” He’s looking at me like he genuinely is grateful.
I think of the rest and he needs to know about Alex before he does something that’s illegal.
“There's more.”
He’s nodding and giggles. “This is Christmas.”
I need to get out of here. “Sorcha isn’t just your mother, she’s Alex’s.”
His smile disappears and he hunches, backing away from me with a snarl on his face. His eyes dart to Alex’s hat and he’s shaking his head.
“Did you…” I can’t finish the sentence. Did he sleep with his half-brother, how do I say it without feeling sick.
“Get out.” His bark is fueled with rage and I want to tell him to calm down, but he’s marching towards me. I’m ready for him but he walks past me and down the stairs. I’m confused for a second. I follow him. He won’t slow down.
“Henry, what are you doing?” He doesn’t pause or answer me. He’s half jogging all the way to our father’s office. I don’t stop him as he pushes the door open. I’m about to tell him father isn’t here, but he is sitting behind his desk on the phone. His eyes snap up as we enter and he ends his call.
“You’re back?” I say the same time Henry starts.
“You should have told me about Sorcha.”
My father looks at me and I have nothing else to do but shrug. This is a train wreck and I am not driving.
“I should have, but you have a tendency to overreact.”
Henry walks in a circle. “I don’t overreact.”
“Henry.” The warning in my father’s voice has even me standing straighter.
Henry stops pacing. “She’s back, isn’t she?”
“Yes.”
“Are you talking about Mother?” I feel like someone just punched me in the stomach.
“The time I left you in charge, I got a call. She had broken out. She’s still missing.” My father informs me.
“She wants to hurt me.” Henry’s cries are alarming, and what’s more alarming is when my father hugs him.
“There is no need to worry. Didn’t I save you the last time?”
Henry looks up at him and nods. “Yes, Father.”
My skin is crawling. My father is doing equal amounts of damage to Henry with his manipulation.
“No one needs to be alarmed, we will find her and have her back in the hospital in no time.”
Henry looks calmer for a moment. “But what about Alex? You told me I could have him.”
“I meant as a friend, Henry. You have Ella to think of now.” My father goes back to his desk.
The mention of Ella’s name has the shock evaporating.
“So I can’t have him?” Henry pouts.
“No.” He shuffles papers, before looking back up at us both. I’ve never felt more like a child.
“Now, both of you on different occasions have barged in here, with absolute disrespect and you will have to be punished for your behavior.”
He looks from Henry to me. “I’ll let you know when I decide what your punishment will be. Now leave.”
“Oh, and Henry.” We both stop even though he is only speaking to Henry. “I found Alex.”
I glance at Henry who looks sheepish and my stomach twists painfully. What had he done?
“He’s upset, but he won’t tell anyone what you did.”
“He’s upset with me?”
My father releases an exasperated breath. “You tied him up and left him in the refrigerator.”
“Only to hide him from George and … Elizabeth.”
This is all too crazy, all too much.
“There is no need. I have everything under control.” My father reassures him and Henry seems happy with that. I follow, feeling like a ghost listening in on a conversation that I shouldn’t have been privy to.
My stomach twists and I know one thing for sure. I need to get Ella out of here.