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Here’s the problem: I’d call Kane to tell him what I know, then he’d demand answers I can’t give him.
He’d want to know how I found out, who Damon is—the circumstances that led to me knowing the truth.
I’d have to lie to him, too. And I can’t bring myself to do it.
I don’t know how much time I spend battling the thoughts while dancing in a cage that’s becoming the perfect metaphor for my life, but when I open my eyes and see a familiar face ascending the last step up to the second floor, my heart hammers against my chest.
Relief drops the weight from my shoulders that she’s alive.
But dread crawls up my spine for the lies I have no choice but to tell her.
Brinley’s not alone, and I wonder if Damon and his friend I recognize from the governor’s mansion are here to ensure I keep the story going.
It is what it is.
I have no choice but to play along.
I wave at Brinley when she looks up at me, throw the cage door open then run down the stairs, passing Granger in his usual spot without bothering to give him a second of my attention.
“Holy shit, Brin. Are you okay? What happened today? I’ve been worried.”
Lie.
Lie.
Lie…
Brinley asks me if I called the police to report the abduction and I lie again, assuring her that I did. Then I lie again, pretending not to know exactly who took her. I’m the unwilling actress when I ask her if I should call the cops now to report that she’s resurfaced.
I hate myself for lying.
I hate Damon even more for making me do this.
But I play along like a good little liar, my eyes following the direction of her gaze when she looks at where Damon and his friend are standing.
“Is that who I think it is?”
I know exactly who they are.
Lies, lies and more lies.
“Are those the guys who took you?”
Brinley sighs, her blue eyes locked to mine.
“Don’t call the cops, Ames. I’ll take care of that. This entire thing has been a big misunderstanding. They’re…”
She pauses, and I realize she’s lying, just like me.
“Uh, they’re new friends.”
What kind of fuckedup situation leads to best friends blatantly lying to each other? Why was I dumb enough to get wrapped up with Damon in the first place? And what have they done to Brinley to drag her in?
Neither of us are reckless.
We’re not the type to let people close.
Yet here we are, bound to whatever they’re asking of us.
