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I stare at her, trying to understand what she’s thinking right now, but there’s nothing in her eyes. They’re as dead as they could ever be. This can’t be the end of her pla
n. All this time and all this build up for this? It doesn’t ring true; there has to be more to it.
“Out. Both of you.”
Phoebe’s lips lift up into a sneer and something flashes in her eyes briefly, what I see in their depths has a shiver rolling through me. A promise, of what I’m not sure, but I feel it in my gut that she won’t stop until she’s achieved what she wants.
She gives me one last look before turning around and walking toward the kitchen door while murmuring to herself. Turning her head at the last minute, she looks at me over her shoulder. “You’ll get what’s coming to you.”
It’s not a threat, but a promise.
Tris follows her out of the kitchen, holding the door open and looking at me expectantly.
I take one last look at Nate, begging him with my eyes to not lose hope in me before I shut off my emotions.
I walk through the door, down the hallway and out of the house.
Standing on the first step, I watch as Phoebe seems to disappear into thin air before I walk over to my car.
I stare after Amelia—or Beth, whatever her name is—wondering what the fuck is going on. That woman—Phoebe—is clearly deranged yet Tris sent Amelia packing as if he believes everything she said. We need to call the police!
I turn away from looking at the door to shove my cell in his hand, the screen showing the real article and not the doctored one that sits on the table.
“You should’ve let her talk,” I growl before running out the kitchen door after her.
“Lia, wait!” I shout when I get outside, but she doesn’t stop, quickening her pace toward the SUV. I jog in front of her, blocking her path. “It was her, wasn’t it?”
Her eyes don’t quite meet mine as she stares past me. “What was her?”
I think back to the day I walked into the pool house and tried to see what was in the package on her coffee table. “The packages; why you were acting so secretive; everything.”
She looks away, her face crumpling up before she gains control of her emotions and turns to look back at me.
“I…” She blows out a breath, her chest rattling with the force. “It doesn’t matter anymore, Nate. I’ve lost everything anyway.” She waves toward Tris’s house, her arm slapping against her thigh as she drops it, trying to sidestep me.
“Not even close.” I entwine my fingers around her wrist gently. “I just want to know the truth because I’m having a hard time piecing it all together.” She slips her arm out of my grasp and unlocks the SUV, not looking back at me as she opens the door. “I know you didn’t do it.”
Her hand pauses on the door before she says, “I want to tell you the truth.” Her gaze meets mine as she looks over her shoulder. “But not right now… I need… I—” Her ringtone interrupts us and she pulls out her cell, lifting it to her ear. “Dad.” Her tone changes—softening as her eyes close. “I’m just leaving Tris’s… yeah…” Her eyes open back up and her gaze bores into mine. “She was here, Dad… I know… Yeah, I’ll meet you there.” There’s a beat of silence and I hear a gruff muffled voice. “I love you, too, Dad.” Her throat bobs as she visibly swallows and moves the cell from her ear before she says, “I can’t do this right now, Nate.”
I take a step forward. “There’s more to this than what we’ve been told. I can help. Let me come with you and we can talk.”
She shakes her head emphatically. “No. Not right now.” She reaches her hand out to me but stops at the last second, her gaze flitting over my shoulder and widening at something. “I’ll tell you everything, Nate, but give me tonight to try and make things better before I explain it all.”
I grip my hair in my hands. “Do you know how hard it is to try and talk to you when you won’t give me a straight answer? I feel like if I let you walk away again I won’t get the chance to talk to you and sort through this clusterfuck.”
“You will,” she whispers. “I promise, I’ll explain it all tomorrow.” My eyes widen at her promise: she’s not the kind of person to make promises she won’t keep. “I swear I’ll tell you everything, I just need time tonight to talk to the detectives on my own.”
My fists clench by my sides at the mention of police. “I want to come with you. I should be there.” She sighs and it makes me even more frustrated. “Just let me help!”
Her nostrils flare. “I’m asking for one night, Nate, just give me that.”
“I’ve just found out the woman I love isn’t the person I thought she was, or at least her name isn’t. You could at least give me a minute since I’ve given you two weeks already!”
My head snaps around at the sound of gravel under someone’s feet and I see Tris walking over, but as I turn back around to talk again, Amelia is already in her car and turning the engine on.
“Amelia!” She shakes her head as she reverses her car and I run after her as she drives off, stopping after a few paces.
I turn around, directing my glare at Tris.
