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I shake my head. “Not yet.” Can a monster like him even be caught? I seriously doubt it.
There’s no hope for me, but Wynn can get away with Lanston. As long as they are away from me, Crosby won’t follow them. He only wants them because they’re close, because they mean something to me.
They can be happy.
They can live on without me.
“I’ll take care of him when he comes back… I’m sure he’ll be here again in a few weeks.” I lower my eyes, thinking of how I’ll kill the man who’s haunted me for such a long time.
Lanston’s face pales. “Has he been coming back often?”
“Yeah.” I keep my eyes on the floor. “Like clockwork. I never thought he’d hurt you two though… I know what I have to do now. I want you to promise you’ll take care of Wynn.”
Lanston’s eyes widen and he fists the sheets. “No. She’s in love with you, Liam. The three of us can get out of this. Let’s just leave; he won’t be able to find us.”
I shake my head. “He’ll know. He always finds me.”
He’s quiet for a few minutes before muttering, “I told her about Crosby.”
My head snaps up in fury. “You didn’t.”
His hazel eyes are hard with resolve. “I did.”
I shouldn’t be surprised. They’re so close and I’ve refused to tell her myself. Surely things have been odd enough for her to seek answers elsewhere.
Crosby.
Lanston is as far in the dark as she is. That’s where they need to stay.
“Thanks for saving me back there.” Lanston cautiously touches the wound on his head. The pain medication has probably taken most of his agony away, but I grab his hand and stop him from exploring too much of the damage. He was hit with a fucking machete, he’s lucky his skull wasn’t cracked clean open.
“I should’ve killed him,” I mumble mindlessly, staring at the bloodied bandages wrapped around Lanston's head. The wound starts at his forehead and ends at the back of his skull. I don’t have the heart to tell him that they had to shave part of his head in order to stitch him back up.
I make a mental note to stop at the gift shop later and get him a new hat.
“I’m sorry that I didn’t… that Icouldn’t.” My hands tremble against my legs. Why couldn’t I force myself to do it? I had him… I could’ve.
“Who is he to you exactly? No more secrets, Liam. No more lies.” Lanston sets his hand on top of mine and my heart aches with the kindness he’s always shown me when I don’t deserve it.
“He’s my brother.”
32
Liam
Twelve Years Ago
Marissa saton my lap and laughed at something I was too damn drunk to remember saying. I took another long sip from my beer and looked down at my phone.
Goddamnit.
I’d missed four calls from Neil.
I left the party and walked down the street in the dark, stumbling and cursing as I called him back.
“Liam? Where the hell have you been? Are you fucking drunk again?”
I laughed and tossed my beer can into one of the neighbor’s trash bins left on the side of the street. “Sorry, Neil. Sorry. I’m walking now. Can you come—hic—pick me up?”
