AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I assume they were trying to protect you,” Micah said.
I didn’t know what to do with that. Each new question brought two or three more on its heels. What else hadn’t they told me? Had they ever planned on telling me? How much of what I’d known was a lie? A weight settled on my chest.
Devan reached out, taking my good hand and wrapping his fingers around mine. My hand was engulfed by his much larger one, and I focused on the sensation, trying to ground myself to the present as my world shifted, reorienting itself around me.
“So,” Devan said, watching me carefully as he spoke as if trying to figure out how I was reacting to all this, “that’s what Garrett meant when he said it wasn’t our place to tell you this. And I really wish we hadn’t had to. It was clearly your parents’ wish to keep you separate from it all.”
“Why didn’t my aunt tell me then?” I wondered. “Why would she even send me here if she knew it was going to be dangerous?”
“I’m guessing she didn’t think it was going to be dangerous,” Devan said. “I’m sure she doesn’t know anyone is targeting you.”
I looked between the guys. They were both leaning back against the wall, seemingly relaxed, but I could see the tension in the set of their shoulders as they watched me, as if I might explode at any second. But I wasn’t feeling…explosive. Just confused, and sad, and a little betrayed. And still not entirely convinced. It was a lot to take in.
I shook my head. “But you think that’s why Drew’s out to get me? Because our great-great-great grandwhatevers were part of some rival gang?”
Devan’s brow furrowed. “Well, not exactly. For one thing, there’s no reason to think he knows who you really are. You didn’t even know who you really are. For another…well, Drew’s a bully, and a narcissist. He obviously doesn’t like you, and he’s already threatened you because he’s afraid you’ll report him. I don’t know what his current problem is, but I imagine if he actually knew who your family was, it wouldn’t be something he’d keep quiet about. He’s definitely someone you want to keep avoiding though.”
I nodded, thinking it over. “But…wait.”I glanced at Devan, then over at Micah. “You said there’s no reason to think Drew knows who I am. So how do you know who I am?”
I seemed to be getting into uncomfortable territory, because Micah shot Devan a meaningful look, but Devan just shrugged.
“The letter.”
“Letter?” I repeated. “Wait—you mean my parents’ letter? How does…oh.” The letter had been addressed to me, care of my aunt’s address. “Moretti. You recognized my aunt’s name.”
They both nodded, somewhat reluctantly.
“And how exactly did you come to know my aunt’s name?”
That was apparently too far past the line of where their answers would extend, and their lips clamped shut. I didn’t press it. It was obvious that they were involved in this whole mess—in what capacity I didn’t know—and whether their involvement was the secret they’d been guarding so closely or whether it was something else, well, I didn’t know that either.
I had just learned that my parents were apparently involved in an organized crime syndicate. At some point I would have to deal with the fact that the three guys I was involved with clearly were as well, in some capacity or another. But that was a hurdle for another day. For now, it was too much for my brain to process, and it didn’t matter. I had the information I needed.
Until a thought occurred to me, one I didn’t like, and it slid under my skin like an errant grain of sand and made me shift uncomfortably. I leaned back so I could see them both at the same time, watching their expressions carefully.
“That means you realized who I was on the night you saw the envelope. The night Garrett went into the water, right?”
My voice was low and they both seemed to sense the change in my mood. They nodded cautiously.
“That was the night things…changed. Between us. Does that mean…” I had to stop and clear my throat. “Does that mean this,” I gestured between us, including Garrett in my vague wave, “is because of who I am?”
They shared a glance, looking confused, and I tried to clarify. “I just mean…you all try so hard to keep people away, and I have to think you never would have let me get as close as I have if I hadn’t been…you know, part of…”
I trailed off, unable to get my words to make sense, but while Devan still appeared confused, a look of horror had started to dawn across Micah’s features, and he sat abruptly upright.
“Are you asking if we’re only attracted to you because of who you are?”
Devan’s face reflected Micah’s horrified expression as he caught on, and I shrugged uncomfortably. “Yeah, well—yeah. Pretty much.”
“No,” they both said firmly, tripping over each other in their haste to answer.
“How could you even think that?” Micah asked. He leaned forward toward me, reaching out a hand to tuck an errant lock of hair behind my ear. “Besides, if you recall, the first time you and I kissed was out on the rock, a full week before you got that letter.”
Devan gave me a sad smile. “To be fair, Garrett and I knew who you were before that. I saw your aunt’s name in your phone when I added myself to your contacts. But if you want to know the truth, you’ve been all I could think about since that first day in chemistry class.”
“Oh?” My question came out in a puff of air.
“Yeah.” He gave me a lopsided smile. “When you gave me sass over my chemistry joke. You were so obviously different than the rest of the kids here, and you didn’t give a shit about it.”
