Page 46 of The Unravelings

Was it JJ? Hux? Mack? It would have been out of character for them to hurt me.

But their eyes! Their eyes were the same. The same shade. The same shapes. Everything about that night is crystal clear. Every interaction. Every voice I heard. Or didn’t hear.

My brain pounds as a headache starts. No! No! He did it. They killed me. I saw them with my own eyes. He can’t sob and confess his innocence when he’s not.

So why is he confused about why I’m still here? He doesn’t want to finish the job? Is he acting?

Is he… Truthful? Lying?

God! I can’t fucking tell. My palms sweat. My fingers fucking ache. I need my trusty friend Jack Daniel’s again. I need to hide and never face these boys again.

I want to disappear.

I blow out a breath, trying to count to ten and calm myself down. This is all becoming too much too fast. Too fucking real. Too overwhelming.

Those brown eyes gaze straight through the green contacts concealing the color he once knew, penetrate directly through my soul, and prod for answers.

Answers I don’t have.

My body breaks out in another cold sweat, bringing every ounce of emotion to the surface until tears burn the backs of my eyes and threaten to spill over, but I don’t let them. I won’t give JJ the satisfaction of getting to me.

I squeeze my eyes shut, concealing everything from him. JJ has trained under Franco to analyze people and their actions. He can probably read me like a damn book. More than that, he was always the more perceptive one. Able to suss out the liars and cheats with one look. Like he read their minds.

“You were there that night.” A quiver doesn’t conceal anything in my voice as I say it aloud. “You…you, Hux and Mack. You were there when…when Franco slit my throat and—” I roll my lips together to keep them from trembling more.

God fucking damn it. Why can’t I open my eyes and stare him down? Why can’t I face this monster who left me to die? Instead of becoming a whimpering girl who is on the verge of crying.

I’m better than this. I’m strong and capable. I can do this. Right? For fuck’s sake. Why am I such a weenie around them? They’re a job. A damn job! I have to buck up and play this like the agent I am.

I am Agent Seven.

I got this.

Maybe.

“No!” His frantic voice echoes off the walls. “We weren’t in town, Liv. What are you even talking about?” Panic edges into his voice, climbing an octave and brimming with every emotion under the sun. It pierces my aching, confused heart, sinking deep and taking hold.

My eyes pop open immediately, tears wetting my heavy lashes.

How dare he deny what they did?

“Yes, you were. I saw you. I heard you!” I raise my voice, attempting to get away from him again, but he won’t let me. His grip tightens, and his forehead presses heavier into mine, confining me to this room. This spot. Just us. “You were there!” I whisper-shout through the emotions barreling through me.

Were they really gone?

“You didn’t,” he breathes. “Me and Mack and Hux were in Vegas. The only one who left at any time was Hux because Franco needed him somewhere else, but he didn’t come back here.” My spine stiffens. “We weren’t here, Livy. Think back. Remember? We left⁠—”

“We’ve got to go to Vegas,” Mack grumbles. “It’s so dumb. I don’t want to leave you.” He snuggles his face into my neck, forcing me to giggle.

“Mack. It’ll be okay,” I breathe through my laughs. “You’re going on a mission. Like true little heirs.”

Hux scoffs. “If I had my way, I’d stay here.” His eyes dip down my body, lust pouring off him.

“Yeah, I bet you would,” I quip.

“No.” I attempt to shake my head. “No. That’s not true. You’re a fucking liar!” I shout, struggling against him as my lungs tighten. “A liar! You came back! You came back, and you did this!” I cry out, shaking my head and refusing to believe the lies spilling from his lips.

“Breathe, Spitfire. Fucking breathe for me,” he says, clasping my face between his palms and forcing me to look at him. “We’ll figure this out, okay?”