Page 68 of Anchored to the Storm

The true answer for me was that Johnny and I had noticed a hidden track. The rest of the Misfits learned of the mirror the night Blue died.

I guess Finn didn’t think all the details were necessary because he answered, “Figured it out.”

Not incredibly pleased, Dale let him have that one. “Why didn’t you ask about it?”

“You’d never placed a kid in the attic before. It appeared after Johnny arrived. Thought it was self-explanatory.”

Dale’s jaw ticked. “Why do you think Johnny needed it?”

Finn’s nostril flared as he stared at Dale, almost as if wondering how many nerves to stomp on. Then he replied, “Because he is the son of the president of a deadly biker club.”

Dale’s eyes widened. Then he seemed to slip into thought. Then this caring foster father cursed, “Goddamnit. He always jumped when he heard a bike.”

Gage warned in a stern voice, “Finn, you’re putting them in danger with this shit.”

Finn took a deep breath, then told Gage, “Want Dale to be forced to watch anyone torture Harmony for answers he doesn’t have?”

I think each of us grabbed our stomachs. That thought was sickening.

Finn, with a mature side that I wasn’t very familiar with, told Dale, “Working together is the best way to protect them all right now.”

Maybe visualizing Harmony in danger, Dale snarled, “Oh yeah?” He glared at Finn. “This is what you call working together?” His teeth gritted together as his jaw flexed. “Who is the pastor to Blue, Mr. Spokesman?”

Oh, fuck.

Finn squinted. His neck strained. Then he growled, “Her father.”

Dale and Harmony jerked in their seats, both speechless; however, the table exploded into chaos. All of us guys yelled at the same time:

“What are you doing?”

“He will try to stop us!”

“We didn’t want him to know!”

I screamed, “No one will stop me!”

Dale looked at me in disbelief. “Stop you from what?”

Maybe my face said it all, but Dale grabbed his chest. “Did he kill her, too?”

The silence said it all.

Dale stood and shouted to Finn, “You knew all along! Didn’t you? I counted on you!”

Finn stood, not backing down. “What do you think I’m doing?”

“Getting them all tossed in prison!” boomed Dale.

“Stop it!” roared Harmony. She was on her feet, too, demanding, “I fucking mean it! Sit!”

We all went quiet. We all sat, a little scared of the beast we had brought to life. A woman who hardly ever cursed and spent her time baking cookies and knitting had just awakened.

This mother, even though not blood, had become a mama bear. “You are my babies and will do as I say! Or I will lose my ever-loving shirt!”

“Shit,” whispered Sarah while wiping her tears and leaking nose.

“Shit!” Harmony corrected. “Do you each hear me?”