Page 216 of Saving Her

I step back, because if I don’t, I’ll launch right through him, my headache be damned. “Did you really just say that?” I clench my fists, tighter and tighter, trying to squeeze away the need to strike.

“Are you kidding?” He focuses on my hands and scoffs. “You’re going to hit me?”

I want to. What I wouldn’t give to lay him flat for running his mouth. “Tell me why you were dodging my calls,” I snarl. “Tell me what the fuck is going on with you.”

He steps closer, getting in my face. “I already did. I had a lot of shit going on. Excuse me for not wanting my judgmental brother breathing down my neck after that woman decided to slash her wrists on my watch.”

“Bullshit.” He’s lying. I don’t know why. But that feeling Penny was talking about has taken over my gut. It’s in my fucking head, poking, poking, poking me to dig deeper.

“Don’t look at me that way,” he seethes. “I bet you haven’t spared a thought as to what I’m going through. Have you wondered what it’s like knowing your innocent daughter has spent hours alone with a rapist? A fucking pedophile? Do you have any idea what it’s like to try to console a wife whose father is a monster? To have to contemplate telling your daughter why all the photos of her grandfather are being removed from the house? Have you got any idea, Luc?”

No, I don’t.

But cluelessness doesn’t stop my anger toward his newfound attitude.

“You’re only proving my point.” I release my fists and spread my fingers, forcing myself out of the aggressive stance. “You always lay your problems on the line with me. Why have I been kept in the dark?”

“Maybe I quit wanting you to fight my battles. It’s about time I grew up.”

“You grew up earlier than any kid I know. You had to. We both did.”

“Don’t start that shit. Not everything is about our childhood.”

“Isn’t it?” I lean against the side of the sofa, feigning calm despite my throbbing pulse. “That’s why we’re here, isn’t it? Why you chose to drag us down this path instead of a normal life.”

He scoffs out a hate-filled laugh. “I never asked you to follow, Luc. It was your decision to be here.” He retreats, dragging his suitcase toward the far hall. “Thanks for the warm welcome, though. It’s always good to know you’ve got my back.”

22

Luca

I don’t bother goingto bed. There’s no point.

I’m too invested in trying to work out Benji’s role in all this.

I sit on the sofa armrest and stare at my reflection in the wall of glass leading outside. I go over everything, from the moment I thought Robert died till now. I try to figure out what Benji could be involved in, and when I don’t come up with anything easily digestible I go in search of Torian’s liquor cupboard and help myself to a bottle of scotch.

The alcohol goes down too easily. One mouthful after another, the burn helping to smother the panic as time ticks by.

“You’re still awake?” Torian strides into the room, his suit jacket discarded, his tie loosened. “It’s late.”

“Yeah.” I take a gulp of liquor and close my eyes with the swallow. The buzz has already hit me. My head swims in the small amount of alcohol.

He grabs a glass from the kitchen and continues toward me. “Do you plan on sharing?”

I pour him a generous finger and return my attention to my reflection, not wanting a distraction from my thoughts.

“Did you come up with any new information tonight?” he asks. “Any images? Leads? Answers?”

I clench my teeth, hating the reminder. “No. I’ve only got the few blurred side images of the suspected car.”

“But you still believe Penny is right about Robert?”

“Yes. Now more than ever.”

He studies me. “Why?”

Because your tiny half-brother backed her up.

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