Page 142 of Wicked Minds
“Do you think it has anything to do with Riley or Aurora?” Logan questions, brows pinched.
“No idea, but even if it’s unrelated, I plan on using it to get Aurora away from her.”
Logan nods thoughtfully. “If it helps us protect Aurora, then I’m in.”
I glance between them, getting the sense that I’m missing something. “Why does Aurora need protecting?”
Logan scoffs. “You mean other than the fact her caretaker is a narcissistic bitch?”
I merely arch a brow and wait.
“Your dad, obviously.”
“You think my dad will go after Aurora when he’s released? Does he even know she exists?”
“We dunno,” Logan answers, “But, Grayson, your dad…”
His eyes slide to Royce, who finishes, “He’s been sending Riley cards from prison.”
That hits me like a slap to the face, and I gape at him. “He’s what? Are you sure?” That doesn’t make any sense to me. “Other than when he was first incarcerated, he’s never even mentioned Riley. And he’s certainly never said anything about Aurora.”
“I’m sure. We saw them.”
“Creepy shit, too,” Logan interjects. “The sort of fucked up shit that looks perfectly decent on the surface, but when you look deeper, it’s just crawling with ick.”
Reeling, I slump further into my stool. It’s a struggle to hold myself upright with all these revelations. I’m not entirely sure I’ll be able to handle any more.
Perhaps sensing I’m on the verge of slipping beneath the surface, Royce brings the conversation back on track. “Let’s just see what Lydia has to say tomorrow and go from there.”
Logan nods in agreement. “Okay, so we go tomorrow night and find out what she’s after. And if it has anything to do with Riley and Aurora.”
“I’m going alone,” Royce states, tone brokering no argument.
“Like hell, you are.” Logan levels him with a flat stare.
Casting a side-eye my way before sliding his gaze back to Logan, Royce says, “Gray can’t come with me in case she recognizes him, and you need to stay here with Riley.”
Eyes slightly widened, his stare drills into Logan in a wordless conversation.
Jesus Christ, what now?“Why does he have to stay with Riley?” I question, interest piqued, but mostly, I’m just exhausted and hoping this isn’t one more horrific thing that’s going to make me feel like shit. I mean, surely, she will be fine by herself for one night?
Their gazes remain locked for another moment before Logan relents, sighing. “You’re right. It’ll be late before you’re back. We can’t leave her alone.”
“Why can’t you leave her alone?” There’s an apprehensive edge to my voice, and I can sense it, another dark revelation I’m not mentally prepared for.
The two of them share a look I can’t decipher before Royce says to me, “Riley is having nightmares.”
I stiffen, reading between the lines.Because I threw my dad’s release in her face and probably made her life a hundred times worse.
My gaze drops to the table, ashamed, and I swallow.
“She was fucked up after that,” Logan says softly, and I know he doesn’t intend for his words to slay, but fuck, they do. “She’d probably murder me for telling you this. However, fuck, I thinkyou should know, just so you can understand that Riley puts on a tough front, but she’s only human, and well, the news of your dad… it broke her.” Logan’s voice catches before he clears his throat, and I still can’t look up from the countertop. “We found her in the shower, after… attempting to harm herself.” His sigh is heavy. “I’ve never seen her look so… lost. It’s like she wasn’t even there. Her body was, but her mind, her spirit, hersoul, had fled the building.”
A rushing silence swoops in on the trail of his words, clogging my throat and paralyzing my tongue.
After a moment, Royce clears his throat. “So, I’ll go to the meet tomorrow. Grayson will stay here, and you’ll stay with Riley.”
“No way, I’m coming with you,” I argue before they can agree to anything else. I’m done being out of the loop, sitting on the sidelines. I’m a fucking mess, and I know I haven’t fully processed any of this—hell, I’m probably in a state of shock right now, but I’m fucking in. Whatever it is, from now on I want in on it. “I’ll stay in the car, out of sight. It’ll be dark, and you can park a bit away so she doesn’t see me.”
