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“Hey.” A soft voice pulls my attention away. “You’re Penny?”

I turn and see this woman kneeling next to me. She’s one of the EMTs. Her gaze meets mine and then focuses on my hands. I hold them up.

“It’s not my blood.” My words come out hollow. It isn’t mine, but shouldn’t I feel something about it? Shouldn’t I feel? It’s better not to though. My dress is splattered in blood, making the peach brown in some spots.

“Okay.” She reaches out for my wrist with a vinyl-gloved hand. “Let’s take a look, just in case, yes?”

Her words are soft and calming. I let her take my hand, and she checks my pulse in my wrist. I draw in a breath as she studies my hand, probably looking for any wounds. “When can I leave?”

Her blue eyes lift to mine. A little surprised, but they soften. “Soon. We’re getting ready to get everyone transferred to the hospital.”

“I’m not hurt.” I’m broken, but I kind of like my jagged pieces. They don’t hurt as much as I thought they might.

It took Tanner Lewis to finally break me.

My gaze falls on him. My mother couldn’t manage it. Even my cold father couldn’t achieve it. But Tanner did. He took away the one thing that felt perfect in my life. That felt like hope.

Sure, nothing is perfect. I know that, but Will was real. Like the world was black and white before he came in with all the shades of the rainbow. And that’s all I needed. Someone who wanted me for me. Someone who didn’t care who my mother or father was. Someone who didn’t need something from my brother. He wanted me.

I can’t even trust my best friends. Vicky’s been spying on me for my father. I can’t trust anyone. Everything is compromised.

Except Will.

Perfect, smart, tall, and handsome Will.

And he’s gone. Something twists inside me. I pushed him away for so long.

What if they don’t know? What if one of those bastards took care of the body?

“Did they get Will’s body?” I ask softly.

Her eyes widen and she looks at one of the men in black. “Did someone die?”

“No, ma’am.” He turns away.

My brows furrow. Did they dispose of him that quickly? Before I can ask more questions, there are loud voices arguing in the hallway.

“That’s my sister in there.” Luke?

Tears fill my eyes. I don’t think he’s ever called me sister before. My cold heart thumps to life. He’s here? For me?

Then Luke is walking into the room. Jack must have left at some point.

Luke comes and squats next to the EMT. His pale blue eyes meet mine. “Hey.”

“Hey.” The tears stream down my face. Where they come from, I don’t know. I can’t seem to stop them. But suddenly it’s like I can’t breathe. The weight of everything falls over me.

No. I don’t want to feel anymore. The numbness was safe. I didn’t have to breathe when Will can’t. It’s not fair. He should be here, and I should be in that grave. Alone. Cold.

“Can we have a moment?” He turns to the EMT. “I’m her brother.”

She takes out a couple of baggies and wraps them around my hands. “We still need to collect the evidence.”

When she finishes, she stands and moves to the side, giving us what little privacy can be had in this room. This crime scene. This room is better than the cellar where Will died. Chained like a dog to the concrete. He tried to help me, protect me, and instead ended up dead.

Luke touches my shoulder. “Penny?”

My insides shatter all over again. I don’t think, I just collapse against him. But he catches me, holding me against him. He doesn’t shove me away but holds me close to his warmth.