I’d been paralyzed with relief until I realized that’s only a tremor of what I actually felt as soon as I got the call.
They thought it was a waste of time, but I’d been right after all.
The trauma of Rory’s past attracting her like a flame to a helpless animal. Forced to let go but drawn back to the blaze. A smoke screen of false ash trailing behind.
Finn had been keeping Abram up to date the entire time before he could meet up in person. So, he was there the same as everyone else whenmyguy called to confirm her sighting.
None of them thanked me. Not that I expected them to.
Everyone instead hovering over me. The photo of Rory on my phone with an apron around her waist, pen in one hand and paper in the other. Taking orders with heavy, lifeless eyes and a messy bun that was more messy than actual bun.
My throat locks, a large knot forming all over again. I’m the reason for all this. Deceit a present friend.
Steeling my spine, I shove past my guilt. It’s time to right my wrongs. Fix what I broke. The first step had been finding her, the next, the airport.
“That the last of it?”
“Should be,” Eli answers Finn with a yawn. Closing the trunk of the SUV with a thud.
The sun is just starting to crest over the horizon as the pair round the vehicle. Abram was already inside, waiting behind the wheel.
The silence of the morning fog settles along the lower part of the trees. Dew perching itself on the leaves, readying itself for another day. Only this morning does the light feel like it has purpose again. A warmth to my coldness.
I reach for the handle.
“Whoa, where do you think you’re going?” Finn’s words stalling me.
“Did you want me to hold the door open for you?” I fire off. “Where do you think I’m going? I’m going to get Rory.” Absolutely no way I’m not.
“Not in this car, you aren’t.”
My grip tightens. White-knuckling the fibered plastic.
Finn raises his chin, an ugly glint in his eye. The look doesn’t suit him, foreign on his face, unlike mine, who wears it like a second skin.
“Thiscar is only for people who haven’t hurtmysister.”
He steps into me, and my hold drops.
“You’re just lucky I haven’t beaten your ass like you rightfullyfuckingdeserve,” he snarls. Knocking foreheads. The fighting words spouting from his mouth do nothing to hide the wild frenzy in his eyes. “Consider your foresight as your penance for that.”
He shoves me then and I let him. The pain shooting through my collarbone abandoned. Nothing can compare to how I feel inside.
Because inside I am totally and completely dead without her. The only person ever to breathe life into me currently hundreds of miles away.
No number of threats, beatings or anything can change that singular fact.
“Is that for only now or a lifetime?” I mock.
I can’t help myself. My mouth detached from my mind. Doing what it wants.
“Because if we’re talking lifetime, the only one qualified to go get her right now just climbed into the back before you did.”
Darkness flickers in my depths, looking past Finn’s half-hunched-over state and straight at Eli. Waving the tips of my fingers and winking hello.
Jumping down, Finn slams the door behind him. Shoulders swelling as torment replaces the hurt in his eyes.
My veins throb. Blood pumping wildly. So over his bullshit. He’s no more innocent than I am. Same for Abram. I may be a fuckup, but I’m not wrong, and we both know it. Finn had been as cruel to her as I had.