He sneered at me. “Fucked her in your bed. Did you know that? Those thousand-thread-count sheets you loved so damn much. She came back to me every time she wasn’t getting what she needed from you. How does it feel to know that the perfect little façade you wear is nothing but a lie? That you’re just second-fiddle to your junkie of a brother?”
“I don’t think I’m better than you. I just know I have a heart. And whatever you do to me, you won’t make me lose it.” The one thing I could hold on to was my character and the fact that Icared. I didn’t use booze or drugs to turn off those feelings, even when Eli was determined to throw the worst of my mistakes and pain in my face.
“Get off your high horse. You destroyed Carissa. You’ve ruined everything for me. But now, you’re gonna know what it feels like, too.”
30
Laiken
Brett pulledhis squad car to a stop in front of the Grangers’ ranch house. “Want me to go in with you?”
I shook my head and sent him my best imitation of a reassuring smile. “No, I’ll be fine. I’m sorry you have to wait for me. Do you have a book or something? I shouldn’t be too long.”
“Laiken, I’m on duty. I just want to make sure you’re safe.”
“Right.” Because some crazed person was out there, dead-set on taking out everyone from the accident. Except it hadn’t been an accident. It was an attack. Both then and now. “Thank you.”
He squeezed my shoulder. “We’ll find him. Promise.”
I nodded and climbed out of the car. But I knew better than most that lots of promises never got fulfilled—ones of forever, and ones of tomorrow. I started up the steps to the front porch when the front door burst open. Gilly charged across the space, pulling me into her arms. “You’re okay? You’re not hurt?”
I hugged her back, inhaling her familiar scent that was so comforting. “I’m fine. I’m sorry I gave you guys a scare.”
Gilly pulled back but kept a hold of my shoulders. “Kay’s beside herself. Needed to see you with her own eyes. I guess I did, too.”
I squeezed Gilly’s hands. “I’m so sorry I upset her.”
“She’s upset because she cares.” Gilly guided me into the house. “And Boden? How’s he?”
My throat burned with the onslaught of memories. The crack of the bullet. All that blood. “He’s going to be fine, but a bullet did graze him.”
“Holy hell. Some idiot hunter. They need to give people eyesight tests before they give them a gun. Someone who doesn’t know the difference between an elk and a human being has no business having a firearm.”
I could’ve corrected Gilly, but I didn’t want to make her worry any more. I could already feel the frenetic energy coming off her in waves. “Hayes will find whoever it is, and they won’t be able to have a gun for much longer.”
Gilly grunted and walked me into the living room. Kay sat in a similar position to the one I’d found her in the last time I was here. On the couch, staring out at the fields.
Gilly cleared her throat. “Look who came to see you, Kay. Laiken’s here, and she’s just fine.”
Kay’s head whipped in my direction, her eyes frantically scanning my body. “Not hurt.”
I eased down next to her on the couch and took her hand. “I’m good, Kay. Just had a little scare is all.”
She blinked a few times. “A scare…”
I glanced at Gilly, worry settling in my gut. Kay was far from well. Gilly gave a small shake of her head as if to say, “Not now.” I turned back to Kay. “I’m all right now. I promise.”
Her eyes struggled to focus, but she finally zeroed in on me. “Who were you with?”
Her voice trembled as she spoke, and my stomach clenched. “I was with my friend, Boden.”
Friend wasn’t the right term, but we hadn’t exactly discussed what we were.Boyfriendseemed like such a ridiculous term as adults.
Kay’s fingers tightened, her nails digging into the back of my hand. “Boden.”
“He’s in town doing some research with Ramsey Bishop.”
Those nails dug so deep, I knew they’d leave marks. Kay’s eyes blazed. “You’re cheating on my boy?”