I was frozen on the spot, unable to move. “She’s really alive?”
“Yes, Alyx.” He leaned his head back, staring at the roof. “Neon is alive.”
“Oh, my God.” I wiped at the tears with the back of my hand. “I can’t believe it. How? Where?” I shook my head. “When did you find her?”
Granite shifted against the wall and rubbed the back of his neck. “We found her that same day.”
“You what?”
He stared at me with that goddamn pity in his eyes, like I was some stupid girl who got fooled so easily.
My skin went ice cold, my palms damp. “You knew all along.” It wasn’t a question. “When you told me she was dead, you knew.”
He remained silent, standing against the wall and watching me like I was about to break apart.
I sat back down on the edge of the tub. “Why in God’s name would you lie to me about this?”
He shrugged, eyes never leaving mine. “I knew you’d want to see her if you knew she was alive, and I couldn’t let that happen.”
“Why not?”
“Jesus, Alyx. Those Pythons really did a number on her. You couldn’t even handle a simple goddamn picture of her. How the fuck would you have handled seeing her after we found her beaten up and left for dead, huh? We didn’t even think she’d fucking make it.”
I stood and finally gathered the strength to wrap a towel around me. “And you thought letting me think she was dead would make me feel, what? Better?” I narrowed my eyes at him in disbelief. “You really thought you were doing me a fucking favor by letting me think she’s dead?”
“Believe me. I did.”
“Fuck you.” The words darted out of my mouth without me even thinking it. “Fuck you, Granite.”
He snickered, a sarcastic edge to the sound. “Guess I deserved that too.”
I gritted my teeth. “You deserve so much more than that.”
“Don’t I know it.” He pushed himself off the wall and stomped out to the bedroom.
I followed him. “I want to see her.”
“See,” he spun around, “this is exactly why I didn’t tell you.”
“What? Because I want to see her?”
“Yes,” he snapped, wild eyes glaring at me. “Trust me when I say you can’t handle it, Alyx.”
“Don’t you dare tell me what I can and can’t handle. Not after everything you’ve put me through.” The accusation was loud and clear, the blame dripping from my words. Yes, I blamed him. I blamed him for everything—especially now.
“I want to see her, Granite.”
“No.” His jaw ticked, his piercing stare slicing right through me.
“Granite—”
“I said no.”
“And you also said Neon was dead. As of right now, not a single word you say means anything to me. Nothing.” I spat out the words like burning coals, then brushed past him, but he grabbed my elbow.
“Stop, Alyx. We need to talk about this.”
“Oh,nowyou want to talk.” I jerked my arm free. “Well, now I don’t want to talk to you. I want to see Neon.”