Page 96 of The Deadly Shallows

Caleb looked at the open curiosity in Austin’s eyes.

“Thanks, Logan.” He ached to tell her, to let her know everything about him before he fell completely head over heels for her—as if he hadn’t already.

“I don’t mind going with you.” She shrugged her shoulder, tilting her head so her ear brushed against the soft sweater she wore. “Maybe I could be of help.”

No one could help this situation—that’d been a bitter lesson learned, but as Susie’s brother, he still had to try. Try and pray—hard.

Logan and Emmy looked between them, awaiting his reply.

“Okay,” he said to Austin. “But you may regret coming.”

Austin quirked her brows but didn’t ask. She simply grabbed her jacket off the back of Rissi’s chair and handed his back to him. She’d looked adorable in it, and her lavender scent lingered.

“I’ll see you guys in the morning,” he said to Logan and Emmy as he grabbed his keys.

“Let us know if we can do anything,” Em said.

“Thanks.” He held the door open for Austin, and she stepped through.

Maybe he was crazy for taking her along, but if they were to have any type of real relationship, she might as well learn about his sister now.

“’Night, Mom,” Noah said, giving her a hug as she headed out Kenzie’s door.

“Good night, sweetheart,” Nana Jo said.

“’Night, man,” Finn said, clapping him on the shoulder.

Noah lifted his chin. “See you tomorrow.”

Gabby came next, and the minute she told Finn she’d be right out, Noah knew she was going to pull him aside. Sure enough, she tugged him around the stairs. “You’re going to tell her tonight, aren’t you?” she asked in a hushed whisper.

“Yes, she needs to know.”

“I agree, but please don’t make the decision for her. She loves you.”

He nodded, knowing if he argued, he and Gabby would be there in the stairwell debating all night. The end shot was Brooke deserved it all, and once the truth was known, despite how much she cared about him, she’d walk away. She had to.

Caleb tapped the steering wheel. “This isn’t going to be pretty,” he said, glancing over at Austin.

She waited, giving him the opportunity to continue.

He took a stiff inhale. “My sister . . .” he began, hearing his own voice crack. He cleared his throat and started again. “She and her boyfriend of the minute get into it pretty bad, and the neighbors call the cops.”

Austin reached over and placed her hand on his shoulder. Her touch was warm and soft but steady. “I’m so sorry.”

She didn’t ask the obvious. Didn’t need to. By indicating this had occurred before, she’d figured it out. His sister didn’t leave, didn’t even press charges. Worse still, she always bailed him out—them out. It’d been a string of losers and abusers as far back as Caleb could remember. She’d taken after their mom on the loser part. Thankfully, his mom had never gone for the abuser type. Just any other type. It’d cost her marriage to his dad. Cost him having a father. Cost him so much.

“It’s good you try to help,” Austin said, rubbing his shoulder.

He pursed his lips. “It doesn’t seem to make any difference.”

“But you try. You’re there. That’s what matters.”

He nodded. That’s what he kept telling himself. Praying one day Susie would walk away.

The usual red-and-blue lights swirled outside his sister’s rental home.

An officer stood talking with Susie’s neighbors to the left—the Hawkinses—who’d no doubt called it in, again. He was grateful they hadn’t stopped calling.