Page 103 of Charlie
“But maybe I could pretend that I’ve changed my mind and go back to be with Liv. I could help protect the children.” I shook my head and gave a rumbling sigh from my chest.
“What is it?”
“I just remembered something that happened after Liv and I came home from work today. We found Nathan sitting in the pond in the back yard, blue lips and all. Liv tried to tell me that Conor was behind it, but I refused to believe it. In order for him to do something like that he’d have to be a…”
“A psychopath?” she suggested.
“Yeah.”
“Heisa psychopath. A sneaky, cunning predator who spins a net of lies so tight around people that they can’t see what’s real or not. He has zero empathy and God only knows what else he has done to mess up those innocent children. He certainly had no qualms about placing a snake in a child’s bed to give him nightmares.”
“Jesus Christ.” I looked up to the dark sky above us. “I can’t believe I trusted that man. I saw him as my friend and mentor.”
“Aye, but at least now you see behind his polished façade.”
“I should go back and help Liv. It’s not right that she’s there as a one-man army.”
Kit kept walking. “Conor would read ye like an open book and ye’d make everything worse. Ye’re not the lying type, are ye? The moment he starts to press ye, I reckon ye’d tell him what a grand gobshite he is.”
“Probably.” I ran to keep up with her.
“I don’t blame ye. I would too. It’s impressive that Liv has been able to keep her mouth shut this long.”
We had reached my hotel and stood outside with our hands in our pockets to keep warm.
“Do you live far away?”
“About forty-five minutes, but I’m staying at my brother’s place tonight. He’s got an apartment in the city and since he’s working tonight, he won’t be disturbed by my late arrival.”
I rocked back and forth on my feet. “I know it’s late, but if I go to bed now, I won’t be able to sleep. I still have so many questions. How about a drink in the hotel bar?”
“Sure!” Kit smiled at me. “That sounded American, didn’t it? I’ve practiced, ye see.”
“Very impressive.” I opened the door to the hotel and we walked through the lobby to the hotel bar.
“Tell ye what, ye get us a round, while I head to the jacks. I’ll just have a mineral.”
I had lived long enough in Ireland to know that the jacks was a restroom and a mineral a soft drink.
“Coke okay?”
“Aye.”
Finding a place at the bar, I ordered a beer and a Coke, and took off my jacket. With Kit gone, I took out my phone and texted Liv.
Charles: I’m sorry for bringing you into this. I had no idea who Conor really was. Tell me what I can do to help.
There was no answer. It had been half an hour since Liv had texted Kit and it was now close to midnight. Either she had fallen asleep or she was mad at me and ignoring me on purpose. I closed my eyes and blamed myself for being such a naïve fool and for not listening the many times Liv had tried to warn me that Conor might not be who I thought he was. Looking back, I couldn’t believe how patient she’d been, just waiting for me to wake up and see the truth. She had been so subtle with her hints, until today when she took Nathan’s side. Why hadn’t I listened to her?
Confusion and fear crept down my neck. Why had she been in that bathroom with Conor when she knew what he was like? And what would happen now that her mission of getting me out was over? I couldn’t bear the thought of never seeing her again, but at the same time I could understand if Liv was disappointed with me for leaving her without at least talking to her to get her side of the story.
Lowering my head, I ran a hand through my hair. I’d been such an idiot for believing Conor’s lies. A headache was brewing from the overload of drama in my life and the realization that I’d blown it with Liv.
Emptying my glass of beer, I nodded to the bartender. “I’ll need another one, please.” I would need a lot of alcohol to numb the crushing pain of self-blame in my heart.
CHAPTER 25
The Next Level
