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“I know you don’t think anyone should operate with impunity, and I agree with you, but… that’s not the world we live in. Maybe some people can get away with more than others. Just don’t… attract attention to yourself by mouthing off about what you think you know. Please. I’m not saying you’re right about any of this, it all sounds crazy to me, but what do I know? If you are right, if some group of dangerous men is behind this… then the only way to make sure your house isn’t the next one to burn down is to keep your mouth shut.”
She looks at me like I’m a traitor and she can hardly stand the sight of me.
Then she shakes her head and stands up. “Goodbye, Brynn.”
I watch her walk away, but between the trauma fog, the swell of confused emotions I’m trying my best to tamp down, and my mind struggling to process this entire day, I don’t muster a response until she’s halfway across the lawn.
“Goodbye, Stacie,” I say softly.
Chapter Twenty-three
Brynn
“Thank you, Kylie. In other news, tragedy struck the campus of Calhoun University last night when a deadly fire tore through a fraternity house in the early morning hours, consuming the structure and claiming the lives of two students.”
Two pictures replace the still image of a house on fire, and my stomach sinks when I see Kyle’s face fill part of the television screen. The second boy pictured is the redhead from the basement who gave me the creeps. Apparently, his name was Arthur.
The news anchor gives a brief, polished blurb about each boy’s achievements, then goes on to solemnly conclude that the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
I jump when the TV turns off, filling up with dread as I look back at the man I can feel looming behind me.
I didn’t even hear him come in.
When I meet Killian’s gaze, I feel like I must have the power of Medusa because his eyes harden, and his jaw turns to granite. “Why are you watching that garbage?”
I swallow. “I was just… trying to find out what’s going on.”
“So you turned on the news,” he says wryly.
I can feel his guard is up. I can even feel him wanting to be mean to me, and I don’t know why, but I know I can’t handle it right now.
I don’t enjoy admitting it given the intimacies we’ve shared, but I’m feeling a bit afraid of him right now.
“What would you have me do instead?” I ask, trying to keep my voice level as I look up at him.
“You’ve got the primary source right here,” he states, his voice hard, not even bothering to feign innocence. “If you have questions, ask.”
I feel my eyes widening of their own volition. I try to stop it before he notices, but I’m sure I fail.
I don’t know what he expects from me anyway. I’ve never been in a position like this before. I don’t know what to make of it or how I’m supposed to react.
“So it was you,” I say softly, breaking his gaze and looking forward. Maybe it’s foolish to turn my back to him when I’m the sole witness to a couple of murders he committed with his friends last night, but it doesn’t feel dangerous. I don’t think he’ll hurt me.
“Of course it was me.”
I don’t know why I thought he wouldn’t own up to it.
I guess because it’s crazy. Doesn’t he know that?
“Did you… did you just start it from the outside and leave?”
“No. We went inside.”
We.
“Why?” I ask softly.
“Because we were about to set the house on fire, and there were a couple of guys we didn’t want to get out.”
