Page 63 of After Our Kiss

- Chapter Twenty-Three -

Conway

––––––––

Ireached for her in the dark. I searched, hand moving, eager to find her familiar shape. When I opened my eyes, she wasn't next to me in the bed. “Georgia?” I called softly, sitting up to scan my room.

My windows were covered with wooden boards to keep out prying eyes and winter storms. They let in enough light to tell me it was daytime. Velvety blue shadows drifted over my walls. They hung on every chair, on my discarded shoes, but not on the woman I loved.

She was gone.

Rubbing my neck, I swung my legs over.She went to get a glass of water.I remembered that vividly.I must have fallen asleep before she came back.A spark popped in my brain.Ifshe came back.

Changing into warm clothes and my boots, I hurried down the hall. This building was huge but Georgia had only a few places she could be. I checked her room first, cracking the door so hard and fast that it bounced off the wall.

No Georgia.

Fear started to cling to me. It nipped my heels as I raced through the house, searching the bathroom—had she wanted another bath? I searched the kitchen, and finally, the island itself. If Georgia loved anything it was being outside.She's here; of course she's here.It was impossible for her to be anywhere else.

Rounding the corner of the house, towards the docks, I saw Lonnie heading my way. His shoulders were swinging, eyebrows crunched low, making his pale eyes rotten-apple-black. I went to speak as we came together, but he was quicker. “She's gone.”

“What?” I asked, pulling up short. “How can she be gone?”

“She took one of the boats and left.” He clutched at his hair, his fury tangible. “Why didn't you listen to me? She used you! Her act was obvious as hell!”

No. It can't be.I wouldn't believe it. Storming past him, our arms slamming together so roughly he was thrown off balance, I ran towards the dock. The chain link gate was half-open. There was only one boat strung up on the post in the water, and still, I stood there, searching the waves for several minutes.

Lonnie was right. She'd taken a boat and fled.

“I told you,” he said behind me. “You always think you know better. Well, now our sister dies because you were too weak to do your job.”

He was hammering it home over and over. “Stop,” I said, glaring hotly at him. “Shut your damn mouth. IknowI fucked up.”

“Do you, though? Or are you happy she got away?”

“I'm not...”

“Who matters more to you, brother. Georgia or Emily? Your sex toy or your flesh and blood?”

It was tempting to shove him into the waves. Instead I stomped up the path and back to the house. I had my own demons eating my heart. I didn't need Lonnie helping out.She really left.My mind was divided; she'd promised me she'd stay. I'd thought we'd worked it out, so that she was fine with playing along... fine with saving my sister...

...And fine with being used to trick my father.

That was your mistake,I told myself grimly.You thought she was fine being used. Who would be okay with that?My hastily crafted plan made over our body heat in bed involved her risking much more than me. I didn't want Facile to touch her. I would have stopped him from doing it.

Had she not believed me?

Of course not, idiot. Why would she?I'd tortured her. I'd humiliated her. I'd gone from being the one person she believed in, to showing her that monsters are real. That we're always waiting in the shadows until the time is right.

She said you weren't a monster.She'd lied to me.

But that felt wrong. It didn't... fuck, it made no sense. She'd told me she loved me. I'd felt that phrase sift through my blood and strengthened my soul. It had beenreal.

You know you can love someone and still betray them.

“Hey,” Lonnie said, waving his hand at me. He'd followed me into the front room of the house. “You still in there?”

Shaking myself, I eyed him closely. “I'm fine. I'm thinking about what has to happen next.”

---