Page 69 of Torin

“I spent years waiting for someone to see what he was like,” I say. “Waiting for him to go too far in front of the wrong person. Waiting for somebody to believe me.”

My throat tightens. “Nobody did.”

Torin says nothing.

“So, I stopped waiting. I started recording things. Keeping copies. Planning how to get out. Every single day, I did something.”

I look down at the screen. “Because if I stopped, he won.”

Torin reaches over and closes the laptop.

I look at him.

“I’m not asking you to stop.”

“Then why did you just⁠—”

“I’m asking you to stop doing it on your own.”

That shuts me up.

“What does that even mean?”

His hand stays on the laptop between us. “For a start? I think we need to get you out of here.”

I blink. “Out of the cabin?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Because your father just put your face all over the news. I don’t know if he can find this place, but I’m not betting your life on it.”

The thought makes my stomach tighten. “So where am I supposed to go?”

“Come back to the lodge with me.”

I stare at him. “You mean stay there?”

“Yeah. With me.”

“Torin, I don’t know how long this is going to take.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“It could be weeks.”

“Then stay for weeks.”

He says it so easily that I just stare at him.

Weeks. Living with Torin.

After last night, I can think of at least one complication.

“What about Orson? Yesterday was awkward enough when I was only visiting.”

“He feels guilty because he put your truck into a tree. He’ll get over it.”