The question hung there. Then he exhaled. “Like I’d been kicked in the gut. It was difficult to believe what I saw, reading over the files the PI sent. Even though the truth stared me in the face, I didn’t want to believe it. My first thought was how this would affect my family. My parents had been through so much, Kenna too. And believe it or not, I thought about you.”
My nose wrinkled. “Me?”
“You’d been taken. I wondered what kind of life you had. If you were happy. But it didn’t take long after reading the rest of the information to draw conclusions. Then I saw you—saw the woman who took you.” His voice turned cold.
“It wasn’t always bad, you know,” I told him softly. “There were happy times. I had Ainsley and my dad.”
“I’m sure there were. But I also think you don’t know anything different than the life you’ve had. God, I was such a prick to you.”
I snorted. “That’s putting it mildly.”
A half-smile played at his lips. “I’d like the chance to show you what a family can be like.”
My heart stuttered. “A part of me thinks this is a dream or a game.”
“No games. Not anymore,” he assured.
I rested my hands over my stomach. “I don’t want to put any of you in danger. Angie won’t give up. And Carter…he hasn’t forgotten about the flash drive. If he can’t use me, he will find another means to obtain it. And now that he knows the truth about Angie…there is no telling what he will do with the information.”
“We’ll deal with Carter. Together. The five of us. And as for Angie, she won’t dare come here or send the cops. You’re safe.”
For now.But I couldn’t shake the feeling something bad was about to go down. Lies and deception had a way of untangling themselves when you least expected it. I had to be prepared for whatever happened next.
I had to stay strong.
I had to survive the disorder that was my life.
“I’m sure it’s been a long night. Come on,” Grayson hopped off the bed. “I’ll show you where you can stay.” He waited for me at the doorway and led me down the hall to the room next door. Reaching his hand just inside, he flipped on the wall switch, flooding the bedroom in light.
My eyes took a quick pan of the very girly space. “Is this…?”
He nodded. “It’s Kenna’s room. I hope that is okay for tonight. I’ll have one of guest rooms made up tomorrow.”
Wearing her clothes, sleeping in her bed… I was almost starting to feel like the sister who left, but looking into Grayson’s face, I could see that was not his intention. “Thank you, Grayson.” I smiled.
His hands shoved into his back pockets. “Stop thanking me. Seriously. It makes me feel all saint-like, and I’m definitely not.”
I chuckled. “That you are not.”
He lingered, an awkward silence falling between us. Grayson and I didn’t spend loads of time alone. It was obvious we still had to work on being at ease with each other. “If you need anything, I’m in the next room.”
I opened my mouth.
“Don’t you dare thank me,” he warned before I could form the words, knowing exactly what I’d been about to say.
I playfully shoved at his shoulder. “I wouldn’t dream of it, asshole.”
“Better.” He leaned against the wall. “You ready for tomorrow?”
Fuck. I’d all but forgotten about school on Monday. “There are some things you just can’t prepare for.”
“Like finding out your sister’s not dead.”
“Or that you were kidnapped.”
His lips morphed into a smirk. “Precisely. You got this, Josie. Or should I start calling you Mikayla?”
I made a face. “I’m not sure I can handle a name change. I’m still in the middle of an identity crisis.”