Page 123 of Tanner

“Show me how to do it.”

28

TANNER

Father showed Missy how to kill our mother.

Mom had created this amazing life for him, and he threw it away for a piece of ass.

I’m going to be sick.

My elbows dig into my thighs, which are spread wide as I hang my head between them. The room is filled with an eerie silence as Jalynn plays more audio files from her flash drive. She copied the contents of Missy’s computer and brought it back to us.

I glance up to catch a peek of Austin and Bryce when she shows them the photos and home movies on Bryce’s home computer. I hear them discussing the dates. Missy was young. Really fucking young.

Bryce’s hand is on his hip, his head is down as he pinches the bridge of his nose. Austin starts pacing, rubbing the back of his neck like he’s going to wear it down.

Harper comes over and rubs my head. “You’re sweating.”

Bryce is immediately at my side, his hands on my back. “Take deep breaths, Tanner. Try to relax. It’s going to be okay.”

Austin rushes over and stops a few feet away from me. “Should I call a doctor?”

“I’m fine!” I yell adamantly.

Bryce leans away from me with his hand up. Harper is looking at the three of us in utter confusion.

I explain, “I had a breakdown after our mom died. I was in the hospital while these guys prayed over me. I was a kid then, but I’m a man now. I can handle this.”

Austin runs his fingers through his wavy hair. “This situation is so fucked up. No one would blame you if you couldn’t.”

I give him a lopsided smile. “How are you?”

Austin is a notorious runner. Instead of dealing with shit, he submerses himself in his vice of choice—women, liquor, or racing.

He swallows hard. “Been better, little bro.”

Jalynn takes the flash drive out and tosses it to me when I motion that I want it. This tiny device holds the master plans of my mom’s murder. I can’t decide if I want to curl up in a ball and cry for my mom or go out and beat the living shit out of my father.

“We need to confront him.” Bryce states.

“I’ll kill him,” Austin says.

Jalynn walks over to him and rubs her hands over his arms. She doesn’t say a word, but when she entangles her fingers with his, he lets out a huge breath.

“Why confront him at all? We can take this to the police and let them deal with it,” Tessa offers, having just come back from the kitchen with a bottle of scotch and three glasses.

“Not until he deals with us. He needs to look us all in the eye when we tell him we know. Then, we go to the cops,” Bryce states. He’s still wearing his tuxedo, as are me and Austin, whose tie is undone.

“Then, let’s go.” I stand up, taking my jacket off and throwing it on the couch. “There’s no time like the present.”

We head toward the door, but Harper holds us back. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea. You’re emotional right now. There’s no knowing what you’ll do.”

“I second that. Austin, you’ll land yourself right in prison.” Jalynn agrees.

“You know what happens if you go to jail,” Tessa adds. Harper looks at her in confusion. “Their mother’s will stipulates that, if any of them are convicted of a crime, they forfeit their shares to their father. They’ve already tried to get Austin arrested for street racing and Bryce for sexual harassment.”

Harper’s eyes pop out of their sockets.