Page 23 of After Our Kiss

- Chapter Eight -

Georgia Mary King

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“No,” I whispered.

Lonnie reached for me; I shrank away, leaning into Conway like I could merge with his body. His grin twitched on the corners. “Come on, is that any way to greet an old friend?”

“Don't come near me!” I snapped, watching him with one wild eye. The rest of my face was buried in Conway's shirt.

“Guess you kept that spine of yours all these years,” Lonnie said. He bent down, leveling his attention on me. “Can't wait to see it break.”

I'd begun trembling, the shaking so bad that my teeth chattered.No. No, this isn't happening. It can't be real.Lonnie had spent the least amount of time with me out of his whole family, but he'd scarred me down to my bone marrow.

And he was here-just a foot away.

Conway's arm came down, circling my shoulders. “Stop it,” he said, no room for argument in his tone. “You're scaring her.”

Lonnie shot his eyes up at his brother. Then he stood straight. “That's the fucking idea.”

“You're here to watch, that's all. Remember that.”

“I know what my job is.” Lonnie squinted at me. “I'm wondering if you're the one who's forgotten what he has to do.” Then he backed into the house, making room for us to pass.

My feet were frozen to the wooden step. Conway nudged me; I dug my heels in. “No, please. I can't. I thought I could handle whatever this fucking was but Ican't,not withhim here!”

To my utter amazement, Conway embraced me. “Shh,” he murmured against my temple, comforting as fresh pancakes. “You have to go inside, Georgia.” Cupping my cheek, he turned me to face him. There was a hint in his sad smile of the boy I used to know. “We both do. We don't have a choice.”

He said we.Stunned into compliance, I let my body go soft. He helped me inside, kicking the door shut with his foot. Through the walls, the ocean and the wind howled. I was shivering as much in here as I had outside.

“I think she's cold,” Lonnie chuckled.

All three of us noticed my nipples standing out against my dress. Flushing, I blocked the view with my arms. “Keep your eyes to yourself, fucking creep.”

“Excuse me?” he asked, oddly polite. Moving from the door, Lonnie approached us. “Say that again. Please.” The undercurrent of a threat was clear.

Conway shifted, blocking me from his brother. “Did anyone come near the island while I was gone?”

“Not a one.”

“Alright, good. I'm taking her to her room.”

“Just like that?” Lonnie asked.

Conway scooped me up, and I was grateful for it. He turned his back on his brother, walking through the barren front room. The walls were all the same sea foam green color. A single hallway led further inside. Behind us, Lonnie called out, “Dad left a message for you.”

Those comforting arms turned into writhing snakes. They crushed me so hard I whimpered in shock; Conway loosened his hold. He didn't stop facing the mouth of the hallway. “What was it?”

“It was short and simple.” A floorboard creaked as Lonnie followed us. “He said to tell you 'Remember Anna.'”

I should have wondered what that cryptic message meant. Instead, I was too busy feeling sick over the fact that their dadwasworking with them. Would Facile come here? I bit my tongue to keep myself from sobbing.

Conway's heart thudded in his chest and through my skin. Part of me itched to reach up and comfort him without even knowing the source of his stress.Don't pity him,I reminded myself.He's as bad as his father-worse, for betraying me.

He breathed out, it shifted the hair on my scalp. “I haven't forgotten Anna. I never will.”

Lonnie didn't follow us through the hallway. Conway's boots slid as quietly as they could over the ground, the old wood flooring moaning in spite of his efforts.

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