Page 41 of Burn Me Down

“I…I’m sorry. I didn’t think past making them pay, and I was jealous of the life he was building while I seemed forgotten. I felt like I was wiped from his memory while I always thought about him.” Derek’s hands balled into fists, his knuckles going white with the strain. “Asher got to live this amazing life after I was locked up. A great family adopted him, and he has a career and a woman he loves. It must seem pretty stupid to you, but I hated him.”

I slowly stood and met him in the center of the room. “But you don’t anymore?”

“I don’t know what I feel, but I don’t think a family dinner will fix what is broken between us.”

“Maybe. Maybe not, but is it worth it if you could have your brother back in your life?” I laid my hands on his forearms, and his hands relaxed.

“Yes, I guess it is.”

“Okay, then leave it to me to make the arrangements. I’ll make sure it’s safe. You just need to promise me that you’ll come with an open mind and leave your anger at the door.”

Derek pulled me into a hug and kissed the top of my head. “I can’t make any promises, but if you can get them to agree to dinner and not call the cops, then I will do my best.”

“Perfect. I just need a phone,” I said, and he laughed.

“I have a burner you can use. Do you want to get out of this room?” He lifted his chin toward the door and the only way out.

“You serious?”

“I’m not keeping you hostage. You can come and go as you please,” he said, kissing my forehead.

“Then yes, let’s get out of this room. I need some sun on my face.”

Chuckling, Derek opened the door and led me through a dark room with big windows, but they were tinted and blocked out almost all of the light. He opened the next door, and as I stepped outside, I froze.

Confusion flooded my body, the feeling similar to when I woke up in the room after Derek took me. My stomach flipped as I glanced at the barn and the garden before slowly turning to look at the shed I’d just exited.

“What…what the hell is this?”

Derek’s smile fell as he mimicked me and looked around. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play with me. Why am I here? Is this a game?”

“I don’t understand. You asked me to bring you back here. Don’t you remember?”

I marched up to Derek. “Don’t act innocent with me. Why am I here, and where is she?” I turned to stomp toward the house that I remembered from my childhood.

“Beck, I don’t know what or who you’re talking about.”

I wheeled around and pointed at him as fear and anger whipped through my veins as quickly as my blood. “Don’t, Derek. I tell you I have feelings for you, then you play mind games with me? I don’t know why you’d want to do this to me.”

Derek grabbed my arms, his eyes wide. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Where is she?”

“Who?”

“Dora. My grandmother. This is her home. Where is she?” My eyes filled with tears. “Please don’t tell me you hurt her.” I covered my mouth as I choked back a sob. I hadn’t seen my grandparents since I was a little girl. My mother forbade it. I never received a gift or saw another photo of them, no phone calls or Christmas cards, but I had always loved this place, and it held my fondest memories.

“Do you want to help me make a blueberry pie,” Grandma asked.

“I don’t know how,” I said.

Grandma wrapped her arm around my shoulders, her warm smile making me feel confident.

“That’s okay, Sweetheart. I’m going to show you what to do.” Kissing the top of my head, she pointed to a chair. “First, bring that chair over so you can help me wash the fresh berries.”

“Mommy says it is dangerous to stand on chairs.”