Page 22 of Owl’s Cherished Mate

“They don’t give a shit about you!” The words erupted out of me louder than I intended. “Darren is using you, Lawson. He used Dad. He was part of the operation—he helped run the pills out of those caverns. And when it all fell apart, he walked away and let Dad take the fall. That is who you’re spending your time with. A man who will use you up and throw you away the second you’re not useful anymore.”

Lawson stared at me. His chest was heaving and his eyes were narrowed.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, but his voice had lost some of its edge.

“I know exactly what I’m talking about. Ask anyone in this town.”

“Shut up.”

“He’s dangerous. He’s not your friend, and Cade isn’t either. They’re⁠—”

“Shut up!” Lawson’s face was red. “You don’t know them like I do. Cade is the only person who doesn’t look at me like I’m a criminal. Darren checks on me. He asks how I’m doing. He showed up, Bonnie. For years. Where were you?”

The words landed hard, and they hit the same bruised spot they always did.

“You left,” he continued, his voice shaking. “Mom left. Dad’s gone. Everyone leaves. And now you want me to walk away from the only people who didn’t? Because you have a bad feeling about them?”

“It’s more than a bad feeling.”

“It’s not enough.” His chin trembled. For one horrible second, I thought he was going to cry. Instead, he hitched the backpack higher on his shoulder, pushed past me, and headed for the front door.

“Lawson, don’t.”

“I need air.”

“It’s late. You’re not leaving this house again tonight.”

“Watch me.”

The door slammed shut behind him. The sound echoed through the empty house.

I made it as far as the front porch. His shadow was already at the end of the street, moving fast. I could go after him. Heck, I probably should. Drag him back.

But then what?

Every time I went after him, he came back angrier. Every time I tightened my grip, he pulled away harder.

Parenting sucked sometimes.

I stood on the porch and watched him disappear around the corner. My hands shook as I went back inside.

My whole body did.

The house pressed in on me from every side. It was too quiet, too empty, and too full of all the things I’d said wrong, and all the things I hadn’t said at all.

I made it to the kitchen before my legs gave out. I sank to the floor with my back against the cabinets and my knees pulled to my chest.

I’d lost him.

Maybe not permanently, but I could feel him slipping away from me the way water slips through your fingers—slow and steady, no matter how hard you try to hold it.

What was in that backpack? What had he been doing for Darren tonight? Or Cade?

My phone sat on the counter above me. I reached up and grabbed it. The screen glowed in the dark kitchen—12:39 AM.

I could still go after Lawson. Maybe I should. Maybe it was what he wanted. Maybe he didn’t. I didn’t know what to do about my brother anymore, but I knew who I wanted to talk to.

Gray.