“I can handle it,” I say. “You guys can walk away.”
“No.” Rellik shoots to his feet, fisting his drink. “We do this together.”
My teeth grind at his words. “Your dad …”
“Was the one who threw Brenda in the river the morning after Nicholas and Steve attacked Henley at Death Valley,” he growls. “They were all in on it. Scout told them what he had done the day after. We all have our reasons, Law. They may not be the same as yours, but what has happened to Henley isn’t right. And if we don’t stop them, then no one else will.”
I sit back and nod my head. That was why Scout was so persistent that she hallucinated that night with Brenda the morning Brenda’s body was found. And why he said she needed help. “Then we’ll take care of it. Together.” My eyes find Derek, and although he looks deathly ill, he nods in agreement. He’s starting to understand the only way out now is death. And I really don’t have time to add another person to my kill list.
“How are we going to do it?” It’s Monroe who asks.
“I’ve got a plan,” I answer, pulling Scout’s phone out of my pocket.
_______________
Two hours later, I’m dragging my ass upstairs. I walk into my bedroom to check on Henley before I take a shower, but the soft light from the hallway shines through my open door and tells me she’s no longer lying in my bed. “Henley?” I step inside, looking around to find it empty.
Going across the hall, I open hers, and it too is empty. Turning to leave, I hear the shower running.
I enter the bathroom and find her sitting in the shower with her knees pulled up to her chest and her forehead resting on them, and she’s crying.
I strip off my boots, jeans, and T-shirt, leaving my boxers on, knowing she’s vulnerable right now. I don’t want her to think I want anything sexual from her after what she found out.
“Doll?” I enter the shower and sit down beside her.
She replaces her knees with her hands, covering her face and sobs into them.
I reach out and run my hand down her back, feeling the curve of her spine. “I’m sorry …”
She gets up and crawls into my lap, burying her face into my neck, and I wrap my arms around her, holding on tightly. “I’m so sorry, Henley.” I kiss her wet hair, knowing that my fucking words aren’t going to mean shit to her after what we’ve put her through.
She pulls back, and I wipe the tears from her face.
“I … I thought …” Her bottom lip quivers.
“What?” I push the wet hair behind her ear.
“I thought he had loved me then.” She swallows. “How could he … let Steve do that?” She breaks out into another sob.
I pull her into me, her face going back to my neck, and I lean my head back against the cool marble wall as the warm water hits us, and I hold her while she cries. Because that’s all I can do.
Prove to her that I’m going to be different. That I love her. That no matter what, she’s my little doll, and I’m going to cherish her. Put her in a glass case so no one can ever hurt her again.
Scout was right; we did pay to bring her back to Westbrook. His father had some connections in her stepdad’s industry, and we pulled some strings under the table to get him transferred to bring her back to us. I don’t regret that. But I do regret the series of events that we set in place since her return. I’ve hurt her more than I could ever apologize for. I don’t deserve her forgiveness, but I pray she gives it to me over time.
CHAPTER SIXTY
DAX MONROE
“WHAT IS THIS about?” my father demands, crossing his arms over his chest as we sit in his study at the house.
I’ve avoided him after I didn’t kill Henley like he wanted. I’ve been staying with Law. But I needed to make an appearance tonight.
“Law is MIA.” Rellik growls.
Mr. Law sits up straighter. “What do you mean MIA?”
“I mean, we found out today that he didn’t really kill Henley,” I state.
The Founders each look at one another, then all worried eyes are on me. “I saw him shoot her,” my father states.
“He had put your bulletproof vest on her, Dad.” I shake my head. “Then he ran with her. He’s been hiding her.” We needed to see just how much Scout has been telling the Founders. Law was pretty sure that Scout hadn’t shared the information that Henley was still alive because Scout wanted to use her against him. And if the Founders knew, they would have killed her instantly, fucking up Scout’s plan.