Текст книги "Fear You"

Автор книги: B. B. Reid

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Chapter Fourteen

Keiran

Ten Years Ago

“I have a job for you, son.” I looked up from drawing in the collecting dust on the wooden floor. He left hours ago saying he would be back soon. Night had since fallen, and I was relieved that he had come back. I hadn’t eaten since last night and my stomach had begun to protest—not to mention being in the old house alone scared me. Nothing much had happened since he rescued me from the compound. He barely looked at or spoke to me. He would provide food and tell me everything would be right soon.

“A job?”

I recognized the word and tensed at the meaning of it and the look on his face. He was smiling, but it was a smile meant only for devils who knew an evil secret.

“Yes. I have heard so much about all that you have learned from your training, and now I would like to see. Can you do that for me, boy?”

He knew my master? Did that mean he knew Frank, too?

But, if he knew where I was all this time, why hadn’t he come before? What took him so long?

He waited for me to say or do something, but I continued to sit and watch him, feeling confused. Lily said daddies were nice and protected you. They weren’t supposed to do bad things and they would be upset if we did bad things.

His face had changed to anger before he smoothed it over again. “Don’t you want to make your father proud?”

So maybe killing wasn’t a bad thing. He said it would make him proud. If I make him proud, then maybe he will keep me. If I go back, then they will think I ran away and kill me.

I nodded though it was a lie. Whatever he wanted me to do, I knew it wasn’t good. I thought my father rescued me… Why did he want me to do bad stuff?

I followed him out to the main room, and immediately, I noticed a strange woman balled in the corner. She looked as if she’d been beaten or worse. I didn’t know what could be worse than being beaten since she wasn’t dead, but whatever it was, it was there in her eyes.

She made a sound when she saw me that sounded like she was in pain, but it was weak.

“No,” she moaned. Her eyes widened and tears streamed down her face, running over her trembling lips. She reached out her hand to me, but it was a sluggish attempt. She managed to lift it only for it to slump back to her side. 

She tried to speak, but she couldn’t seem to manage more than a mumble. “I think something is wrong with the lady.”

I moved forward to help her, but his hand on my shoulder stopped me. In his hand was a gun. “She’s fine, son. For now. I want you to kill her.”

“Wh–what?”

“If you simply kill her, you’ll be free.”

“But, Dad, I don’t want to hurt the lady.” It was the first time I had called him dad, and strangely, it didn’t feel right. He didn’t feel like a father. He didn’t feel like my father.

He pressed the gun in my hand and lifted it with my hand to aim. “You’ve already done this many times. What’s one more?”

The gun felt much too large for the hand I held it in. I’d only begun to practice with them before the life I knew changed drastically. It was loud, and my arm would always be sore after they made me shoot it. Each time I held one didn’t do anything to diminish the foreign and uncomfortable feelings.

The last time I used one was still fresh in my memories. It was the first time I’d ever used one on my own, and, unfortunately, I remembered my training too well.

Lily was gone.

I blinked away the tears, afraid my father would mistake them for something else. I managed to keep it steadily trained on the woman who knelt in the corner. She was much too pretty for the tears streaming down her face. Her eyes were much too bright for the sadness it held. I knew she must have been afraid to die, but why didn’t she beg and plead for her life like everyone else?

“Gabriel, my sweet boy,” she whispered soothingly, finally finding her voice. Her voice held an unnatural quality to it, and her eyes, wide when I entered, drooped. Her whole appearance just seemed to fade. “It’s okay, my little boy. Do it.”

Why was she telling me it would be okay? She was the one who would die. She must have thought I was someone else. Maybe she was looking for her son.

Suddenly, I wished she were my mom.

A strange, beautiful woman who I’d never met before but felt a connection to.

“Why are you calling me Gabriel?” I lowered the gun to study her. I couldn’t shake the familiar feelings, and the feeling that hurting this woman would be a mistake.

I looked to my father for guidance. “Dad?”

“It doesn’t matter what the bitch calls you. Do you want your freedom, boy?”

“Yes.”

“Then kill her,” he sneered. He took my hand and lifted the gun again, pressing my finger into the trigger. All I had to do was squeeze a little more, but for some reason, I didn’t want her to die.

I shouldn’t do this.

I couldn’t do this.

“It’s okay, Gabriel.” She nodded her head weakly. The tears were endless as they fell from her eyes.

You’re not Gabriel. Just kill her. You’ll be free.

“I will always love you.”

What?

The gun went off.

The blast was loud, but I didn’t feel the pain in my arm. It reached far beyond the physical. I didn’t remember squeezing the trigger. I didn’t remember killing her, but there was one thing I would always remember hearing…

“Good job, son.” My father’s evil chuckled echoed behind me. “You just killed your mother.”

Chapter Fifteen

Lake

Present Day

There was no possibility of redemption. What was I thinking? Threatening Keiran like that was like committing suicide. The rush of it all, mingled with fear and hate, clawed at my emotions. When I went in search of Keiran after class, I merely wanted to see if he was okay. The look on his face as he left class was one I’d never seen before. It was a mixture of pain and anger, and with Keiran, who knew how deadly a combination that could be?

I only meant to peek in on him when I saw him rush off to the gym, but when I saw him playing basketball alone something compelled me to call out to him. I had known before it happened that it was a mistake, but sadly I was never one to listen to my instincts.

How could he have known about my Aunt Karen and Uncle Ben, much less where they lived? Surprisingly, I recovered quicker than I would have in the past. Keiran was much more effective in tearing me apart to near destruction in the past.

My anger was unprecedented, but the threat that followed was even more surprising. More than that, it was the realization I had meant it. I was done letting Keiran use my family against me. I was done letting him use me period.

Before today, I hoped deep down that Keiran could be redeemed but now it seemed nearly impossible. I had to figure out a way to beat him at his own game.

Keiran was guided by his ruthlessness, but I was guided by my love for my family. It was no contest on which was more powerful.

He wasn’t the only one who watched and waited. I knew he was up to something, and I knew whatever it was had to do with Mitch. It wasn’t surprising to me how closed mouth he was about his plans. So much so, prying Sheldon for information would be fruitless. For all I knew, Mitch had already been taken care.

Mitch wouldn’t go too far. His first attempt to kill his sons and brother for money may have failed, but he would try again. The only question remaining was which one would Mitch come after first this time? He used me as a pawn the first time. Would he do so again? He knew where I lived, and it could very well be my aunt who steps through the door next time.

With Keiran gone I had a chance to keep everyone safe. I was going to put him away once and for all.

I just needed to find the chink in his armor.

* * *

Instead of going home after school, I decided to pay Keenan a visit. The last time I was there, he was still very much close to death, and with Sheldon still being an emotional wreck, I figured I could step in. He had become a friend, too.

“Hi, handsome.”

Keenan startled at the sound of my knock followed by my voice.

“Lake,” he questioned. What are you doing here?”

I paused in the doorway and rethought my decision to come. His voice wasn’t cold or angry, but it wasn’t exactly welcoming. He sounded sad most of all.

“I wanted to visit a friend, and I’m sorry, but you agreed to be my friend, so I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.” I walked in and took the chair next to his bedside. He eyed me and then looked at the object I held in my hand. I had almost forgotten about the flowers I held. I thrust them awkwardly in his face, and he took them reluctantly, though I could tell he was fighting back a smile.

“I hear roses are your favorite.”

“Actually, I prefer daisies and walks in the park, but this will do for now. Besides, how can I say no to someone so beautiful?” he flirted.

Normally, I would scold him, but I could only feel hope all of Keenan wasn’t lost. Going through as much as he had could really change a person. Sometimes for better, but often, it was something much worse. I could only hope that, for Keenan, it was the former.

After a couple of hours watching the stale television shows the hospital provided, and then completing several crossword puzzles, I finally decided to ask the question at the back of my mind.

“So when are they letting you out of here?”

He piped up a little at the mention of leaving the hospital. As energetic as he always was, I knew being cooped up in a hospital had to be driving him crazy.

“It’s not prison, pretty girl. I actually spoke with the doctor today. They want to run more tests, but I should be released by the end of the week. I’ve been ordered to bed rest so it looks like I’ll only be getting a change of scenery. The doctors warned I’m not out of the woods yet. The patch on my lung won’t hold forever.”

The air in the room was stifling at the reminder of Keenan’s death sentence. Keenan made his mistakes—daily in fact, but he didn’t deserve to die. He still had so much to live for—even though he wouldn’t agree now, but something told me he wasn’t ready to die either. Judging by the hard look on his face, I knew it to be true no matter what he said.

I doubted Keiran would let his brother die anyway. No, he would find a way.

“So, are you back now?” Keenan broke the silence.

“Yes. I figured with your brother going to jail, I had the all clear, but imagine my surprise when he didn’t go to jail after all.” As soon as I said the words, I realized my attempt at humor was poorly chosen. I watched the change of emotion cross Keenan’s features. I thought he would defend him or express his anger over me turning his brother in, but his response was unexpected.

“My brother,” he repeated harshly. “He’s not my brother. He’s not my cousin. He’s not my anything. He’s a fucking mother murderer.”

“Keenan—”

“So it was you who ratted him out, huh?” There wasn’t anger or accusation in his tone. He sounded proud, and his eyes held respect in them as he gazed at me.

“Yes, but—”

“Good. Don’t let him make you weak again. Don’t let yourself be weak again. My brother—” He paused and ground his teeth. “Keiran is dangerous. I don’t doubt that, but he also has a thing for you. I saw it years ago. Everyone did but you. That thing might not be so good for you. It could get you killed. By him or his enemies.”

“It’s hard to believe he’s only eighteen, right?” I laughed dryly.

“He’s turning nineteen in a couple of months if that helps.”

“And you, you’re turning eighteen,” I teased. “I guess that makes me the only adult in the room.”

“Why aren’t you already in college?”

“I was held back in the second grade because of my dyslexia. It was before I was diagnosed, though. My parents were devastated at the thought of me being learning impaired.” How I wish they could see me now…

“It’s almost like it was fate…”

“What do you mean?”

“You being held back, your parents disappearing… Maybe it was fate.”

“You think fate would be this cruel?”

“I just found out my father isn’t my father, my real father wants me dead, and my brother who I thought was my cousin, killed our mother. Yes, I think fate is beyond cruel. It’s fucking evil.”

Wow… Point taken. I didn’t know the extent of Keenan’s anger before, but now it was very much apparent as I watched the play of emotions on his face.

It hit me.

How could I have missed it? It was something I should have seen before.

All the jokes, the whoring, and the troublemaking were all cover-ups. Keenan was just as affected by his past as Keiran was—he was just better at hiding it.

Keenan was tormented.

“Keenan, I’m sorry about what happened to you. I—”

His dry laugh was humorless as it filled the air, cutting me off. “That’s your problem, you know that? It’s what has made you a target all these years. Stop apologizing and stop cowering. My fucked up past has nothing to do with you. You didn’t cause my mother to leave, and you didn’t cause my fucked up brother to kill her. She’s his mother too, you know. Where the fuck does he get off?” A tear slid down his cheek, and he angrily wiped it away.

Seeing him so broken and pained weighed heavy on me and I couldn’t bring myself to stay any longer.

* * *

I walked into my home after visiting Keenan to find a strange man in my house for the second time—not counting when Mitch broke into my house to leave a creepy birthday card.

I was either prone to the idea of being caught unaware or the fact he was relaxing on the couch, holding a coffee cup that read ‘I love Jax Teller’ on the front.

“Um, who are you?”

Before he could answer, my aunt came down the stairs.  “Oh… Hi, honey. Where have you been?” she questioned.

She was flustered, and I then got the feeling I had walked in on something. Their attempt to look innocent was overdone.

“I was visiting a friend. Did I interrupt?” I couldn’t conceal the surprise I felt even if I tried.

“Of course not. Uh, Lake, this is Jackson. Jackson, this is my niece I told you about.” He stood up to shake my hand. He was tall with medium brown hair and a muscular build, and I couldn’t help but admire how gorgeous he was even with the jagged scar on his right cheek. It only boosted his appearance making him look dangerous and rugged. I wondered what type of work he did that might have led to that scar. Maybe he was ex-military. He definitely fit the profile.

“It’s nice to finally meet you.” I looked at my aunt.

“Finally?” I asked and then turned back to Jackson. “I’m sorry, she never mentioned you.”

“Jackson was the private investigator I hired to help me find your parents while I was gone.”

“How did you have time?”

“My book tour was actually only a week long.” I couldn’t conceal the hurt I felt finding out that she told another lie. “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry I lied to you. I didn’t want to say anything until I had some information.”

I felt the familiar ache that came whenever my parents were brought up, but this time, it wasn’t followed by anger. “That’s okay, Aunt Carissa. I know you meant well.” I turned and shook Jackson’s hand again. “Thank you for taking care of my aunt and for finding out what happened to my parents. I can’t thank you enough.”

“No thanks necessary, Lake. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

“So what’s going on?” It was the only way I could ask what he was doing here if she’d already found the answers to my parent’s disappearance without coming across as completely rude.

“Our investigation is still ongoing.”

“But you said my parents were murdered.”

“Yes,” Jackson spoke up. “But we still have to find the person who murdered them.”

“If you don’t know who murdered them, then how do you know they were murdered?”

“Are you ready to hear—”

“No.” I cut her off while taking a step back. “I don’t want to know.”

I needed to retreat fast, but Jackson’s sharp eyes held me captive. He looked like Keiran did when he was assessing me and calculating what to do next minus the heat.

“Okay, honey. Whenever you’re ready. Jackson will be staying in town for a while at a hotel, so he’ll be around a lot.” I nodded silently and turned to go.

“Lake,” he called before I could escape.

“Yes?” He pulled out a card and handed it to me. His full name and number was engraved in bold writing on the front.

Jackson Reed: Special Investigations.

“If you ever need anything, please, don’t hesitate to call.”

“Why would I need to call?” It was genuine question meant to gauge just how much he saw when he studied me moments ago. Having him here could be bad, but not because he could be dangerous. More because I had the feeling he really was good at uncovering secrets.

“I’m not sure, Lake, but I’m hoping you’ll tell us before it’s too late.”

Chapter Sixteen

Lake

The police station was fast becoming a familiar place to me. The next morning, before school began, I walked into the station with new determination and a goal in mind.

Some of the people moved about in a chaotic manner while others were stagnant, pouring over files, or dealing with frantic citizens and arrestees. I quickly signed in and made my way to the detectives’ desks where they talked amongst themselves. They were so engrossed in their conversations that they had failed to notice me until I was standing practically on top of them.

“Lake,” Detective Wilson greeted, noticing me first.

“How’s it going, Lake?”

I took in the detective’s face and noticed the haggard lines of fatigue and sleepless eyes as they stared back at me. Something told me they weren’t getting very far in the case that now made national news. It would only be a matter of time before Aunt Carissa caught wind. She normally stayed away from the news, preferring fantasy to facts. In fact, the only television she could be caught dead watching was the sci-fi channel and the Sons of Anarchy.

It also didn’t help that Keiran was the golden boy of Six Forks. Not many people were willing to believe he was involved in the grisly murder of Anya and Trevor though many still kept a wary eye. The nature of the act committed made even his most loyal fans cautious. Anya had always made it a point to tell everyone she was his girlfriend, and when Keiran barely blinked or showed remorse over her murder, it raised eyebrows. The history between Keiran and Trevor, once it came out, didn’t help either.

If Trevor hadn’t made bail, he might have been alive today. Would the same happen for Keiran?

It was still a mystery as to how he made bail after being initially denied.

Could it have been his family? It was a testament to how far his money and family connections went; the same family that no one has seen or heard of outside of John.

What happened to the good ole days when money bought you a car instead of getting you off from a double murder and a string of other crimes committed?

“I know you aren’t getting very far in the case… I think I can help.”

“How could you help?”

“Besides his two friends and his brother, I am the only one who can get close to him. I can get evidence.” The detectives were shaking their heads before I could finish. I thought they would jump at the opportunity.

“We can’t risk it. You’re testifying when this case goes to trial. That’s enough.”

“And if it isn’t? What if he’s never tried? He managed to get out on bail.”

The detectives said nothing as they studied me silently. I showed all the signs of distress but was too desperate to scare. I’d managed to give in to him once… twice already… and now he was back to threatening my family again.

“Has he threatened you? Approached you?” Detective Daniels questions. “We can place you under witness protection…” He was already reaching for the phone.

I panicked and did the worst thing I could do—I lied. “No.” I regretted it as soon as the word was spoken. “He hasn’t threatened me.”

Two sets of eyebrows lifted at my hesitation. I knew I hadn’t sounded believable, but what else could I do?

If I were placed under witness protection, I would never get the answers I needed. I would be carted off to some undisclosed location, far away. Keiran would think of a way out of being tried, and where would that leave me? Besides, he threatened my godparents. I couldn’t leave them unprotected, and I couldn’t tell the detectives he threatened them either. They would place me under protection for sure.

“What if I can get you the information you need without setting him up or getting close to him?”

“Naturally, we are inclined to use any information we can get so long as it’s done legally.”

“How are you planning to get this information?” Detective Daniels questioned. I could see the suspicion in his eyes.

“By using my wits.”

* * *

As soon as I had left the station, I headed for school and phoned the one person who could help me get the information I needed. “Jesse, we need to talk. Can you meet me?”

“Sure, but what is it about?” He sounded hesitant and nervous, but I shrugged it off thinking he may have been distracted or busy.

“I need your help digging up more information on Keiran.” An extended silence fell over the line so I checked the connection. “Jesse?”

“I don’t know…”

“What do you mean?” Just a few weeks ago he was insisting on helping me and now he was hesitating? Something was up.

“The guy is under investigation for a double murder. Do you really think this is the best time to piss him off by playing detective?”

“Just a few short weeks ago you were insisting I do something about him.”

“That was before he murdered two people, Lake. It’s obvious he is something much more than your average bully. I just don’t want you getting hurt.”

“If I don’t stop him, he will hurt more than just me. Please, Jesse. I don’t know who else to ask.”

I could hear him take a deep breath and release it. “Lake, I have something to tell you. It’s about Keiran.”

“Yeah?” My heart was already racing but from what? Anticipation? Fear?

“I saw him while he was in jail.”

Whatever I had expected him to say, it wasn’t that. Why would Jesse visit him in jail?

“W—wh—why?” I stammered. Not only was my heart racing now, but my mind was racing at a catastrophic speed, as well.

“He asked me to.”

“And you went?” The hitch in my voice was a testament to the turmoil I was currently feeling.

“I didn’t exactly have a choice. His henchman paid a visit to my home. I’m just glad my family wasn’t here.”

“Who?” Oh, God, did he send Mario?

“Keiran called him Q.”

Quentin! I never would have thought Quentin would be involved in something like that. He was the silent and brooding type, but he didn’t give me the impression of a criminal. The realization of how far Keiran was willing to go had me reeling. It wasn’t until Jesse’s next revelation that I lost it.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“He threatened my family if I told you. I hadn’t realized how dangerous he really is, Lake. I’m sorry for pushing you before. I had no clue what you were really up against.”

I swallowed down the guilt that rose up. Jesse’s apology reminded me of what I was asking him to do. His reluctance now made sense, but it also strengthened my resolve and my need to fight back.

Keiran was done collecting victims.

“Jesse… We need to do this. He’ll hurt our families if we don’t.”

“What can we do? This guy is like a cat. He always lands on his feet, and it’s like he has nine lives or something.”

“He’s not invincible, Jesse. His lives will run out sometime, and he has weaknesses, too. It’s about time we found them.”

When he released a reluctant breath, I knew I had him. “All right. Give me a week or two.”

* * *

I was on edge all day, and it had everything to do with Keiran never taking his eyes from me. Even during the periods when we didn’t share a class, he always seemed to be around before and after each class. I knew him well enough by now to know he was making his presence known.

He may not be able to approach me, but this was still his kingdom. He had eyes and ears everywhere so I constantly found myself in the vicinity of a henchman or two. Yesterday, we each issued threats, and it seemed as if we were both intent on keeping them. Other than watching me during class, and each time we passed in the hall, he proceeded to ignore me while I failed to reciprocate.

By lunch, I was too freaked out to be able to endure sitting through lunch in the cafeteria surrounded by him and all his faithful followers. It seemed as most people were slowly but surely getting over his involvement in Trevor and Anya’s death. The cafeteria might have been bearable if Sheldon wasn’t skipping to hide God knows where and Willow hadn’t disappeared to argue her way into a better grade. This might have been the third time this week. I think she was also looking for reasons to skip lunch and avoid Dash.

I ventured outside, prepared to eat my lunch in the frigid air that I didn’t exactly care for, but I figured anything had to be better than risking my sanity or dignity. The night before last was still very much fresh in my memories. Even now, I could feel my body tingle from the remembered sensations of all I allowed him to do to me.

I was a total lost cause when it came to having the common sense needed to ignore my body’s demands. It helped that the sun was out, which might have helped to make the cold bearable. Normally, I would run to the library whenever I needed to hide from Keiran, but my secret hiding place wasn’t much of a secret any longer.

I looked around for a place to sit. The ground was my only option after the school administration decided to have the benches removed when students made it apparent they would rather hang around and sit on the benches than at desks in the classrooms during class.

I eyed the only tree on school grounds and made my way over to it. It wasn’t until I reached the tree that I had noticed it was currently occupied.

“Hi, Collin.”

A head full of red curls snapped up, and when his bright blue eyes landed on mine, his eyes widened in surprise as if he couldn’t believe someone would actually speak to him. He looked ready to bolt. I’d never before talked to him. Unlike me, he was better at blending in with the shadows despite his overly bright features. He was known as the bug boy because of his fascination with bugs.

“H—hi.”

“Can I sit?”

I tried to appear as non-threatening as possible. He was perched under the only tree on school grounds with a thin book in his lap. It didn’t look like our standard textbooks so I figured it must have been something he checked out from the library.

“Sure. Um… if you want.”

I smiled and sat down with my lunch tray. The ground was softer than I had thought, and when I leaned against the tree, I found myself relaxing. After Keiran and my latest fallout, I was officially dubbing this my new place to eat. I could effectively avoid the cafeteria and ignore the demands of my clueless vagina.

“What are you reading?”

“The History of the Ctenocephalides canis.”

I didn’t have the slightest clue what that meant. “What’s that?”

“Fleas.”

“Oh… is it any good?” I was surprised when he actually blushed and wondered why my question made him react that way.

“It’s okay.” He ducked his head back into the book and I decided to leave him alone. For the rest of lunch, I picked at my food until the bell rang. Collin didn’t waste any time dropping in for his books and hurrying away without a word or backward glance.

“Lake! You are one hard person to find.” Willow flounced up to the tree, and when she was close enough I held up my hand for a boost.

“Sorry. I forgot to text you.” I brushed the seat of my pants off before grabbing my bag.

“So did you manage to avoid detection?”

“For today.”

“You can’t hide forever, Lake.”

“I know. That’s exactly why I’m planning to do something about it.”

* * *

DECEMBER

It had been two weeks since Keiran, once again, pulled us in a direction of no return. We haven’t spoken since our argument in the gym. The days had been filled with long hours of school and tension each time I passed him in the hallways, met his eyes across the expanse of the cafeteria, or felt his presence in class.

Each time I’d see him, he looked tense and distracted. The weirdness kicked in when I realized that sometimes he wouldn’t notice I was even around. The anxiety I felt whenever he overlooked me frustrated me the most. When would I ever kick the spell he had over me?

“Lake? Lake!” My aunt’s raised voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Huh?” Oh, right… My aunt had been talking to me for the past five minutes.

“I asked if you submitted your applications for early admission? The deadline was a few weeks ago, wasn’t it?”

Aunt Carissa made it a mission to remind me of college every day. She also made sure to review every application I filled out and pushed me to fill out as many as possible. She was also pushing for me to stay close to home.

I had the feeling my aunt was going to have a harder time letting go than I was. How could I tell her it was my plan and every wish to get as far away from Six Forks as possible?

This place had taken ten years from me, and I wasn’t about to let it have more. Deep down, I knew it wasn’t the city I grew up in, but rather who the city kept within that I needed to run far and fast from.

“Oh… Yes, I submitted them all before the deadline.”

“Well, where did you go just now? You looked distracted. Is there anything you need to talk to me about?”

Damn. She was fishing.

Ever since she introduced me to Jackson, she’s watched my every move with a critical eye. I knew it wasn’t out of mistrust because, though I haven’t been honest these last few months, I hadn’t given her a reason not to trust me. She was worried.

“Aunt Carissa, I’m fine. School is fine,” I offered, beating her to the punch before she could ask.

“If you’re sure…”

“I’m sure, Aunt Carissa. How’s the investigation going?” I asked to distract her.

Her face fell, but she quickly recovered. “It’s going, Lake. Jackson is actually coming over tonight while you’re gone. He thinks he’s found something.”

I didn’t want to fall into the emotional trap that was my parents, so I kissed her cheek, grabbed my bag, and rushed out the door. I had a dinner date with Jesse that I had been anticipating for two weeks. It was the first time he could get away, and I needed answers.

My parents would still be dead after Keiran was behind bars…

When did I become so cold?