Page 68 of Liars

I glanced at her, catching flashes of her face under the flickering streetlights. She was shaken but still holding it together. Barely. Most people would’ve crumbled under half the shit she’d been through lately, but Kaylor was still standing.

I didn’t know whether to admire it or be pissed about it.

“We should talk,” I said, breaking the silence.

Her head snapped toward me, her brows furrowing like she couldn’t believe I had the nerve to suggest something so reasonable. “You can save me the I told you so. I’m already beating myself up.”

Fair enough. “I’m not saying anything.”

“Why not? I wish you would.” Her voice sharpened, cracking under the weight of frustration. “Yell at me. Blame me. Do something. Anything but this calm silence. I can’t take it.”

I exhaled, my eyes locked on the road. “What do you want me to say? That you had no business being there? That you don’t belong in our house?” My fingers flexed against the wheel. “That?—”

“You made your point.” The silence stretched again, thick and suffocating, until she finally spoke, her voice quieter this time. “Why do you hate me?”

I clenched my jaw. “Maddox hates everyone.” I didn’t want to explore my feelings about her. This was a dangerous road to travel.

She let out a bitter scoff. “I didn’t ask about Maddox.”

I didn’t answer. I didn’t want to. This was a dangerous road to travel.

Her tone hardened. “What did I do to deserve all of this?”

“It’s complicated.”

She let out a hollow laugh, shaking her head. “That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the only one you’re getting.” I glanced at her. “You’re better off not knowing.”

Her fingers curled into fists. “So, what? I’m just supposed to sit back and take it? Let you and your brothers treat me like garbage because it’s complicated?”

My jaw worked. What was I supposed to say? That my dad was a bastard? That Maddox and Mason saw her as a threat to the balance we’d spent years maintaining? That I couldn’t stop thinking about her even though I knew I shouldn’t?

None of it would change a damn thing. None of that would make this any easier.

“Does this have anything to do with your dad? With me living with you?” She hesitated, then her voice dropped to a whisper.“Because I didn’t have a choice, Kreed. Have you ever stopped to think about how I feel? What I’ve lost?”

My chest clenched. “Yes,” I admitted. “We just don’t give a shit, little raven.”

Her breath hitched, and she shook her head. “You’re evil. All of you.”

I smirked. “I think that’s the first compliment you’ve ever given me.”

“You want to hate me? Fine. But it won’t compare to the hate radiating inside me.”

My smirk faded. “We’ve been too easy on you. That ends tonight. The only thing you should feel when you think of us is fear.”

She let out a harsh breath, then turned toward me, her eyes burning. “Is that why you nearly beat that guy to a bloody mess? Because you’ve been too easy on me? I’m not buying it, Kreed.”

I groaned at the sound of my name on her lips. I didn’t know what it was about how she said my name, but it stirred something within me.

She studied me like she was trying to solve a puzzle. “You’re not as bad as you want everyone to think. And I bet Maddox and Mason have a heart buried somewhere under all that cruelty and sarcastic humor.”

A cold, hollow chuckle slipped past my lips. “You’ve got us all figured out, huh?” I flicked my eyes toward her. “Then you don’t need my help.”

She exhaled sharply. “If you hate me so much, why did you stop me from leaving?” Her voice broke, but she didn’t stop. “I want to leave, Kreed. Can’t you see that? It would make more sense to help me, not keep me here.”

“For the same reason you can’t leave.” Because the truth was, she couldn’t leave.

---