Page 74 of Sins or Secrets
I rush down the stairs that take me deeper underground and stop short when I see what’s before me.The room is dimly lit with an amber light and there are pictures all over the walls of women.There are the three dead ones from our case and a few more.Along with the woman who’s currently tied to a chair with her mouth gagged.
I rush to her and undo the gag from her mouth and she starts crying hysterically.
“That’s her,” Ethan says. “The woman who was missing.”
She can’t stop crying and I can only hope he didn’t hurt her in more ways than what we can see.
Shit. I didn’t expect this. Every now and again we come across some psycho who thinks he owns the world and the people in it.
I’m about to ask her if she’s okay when I catch sight of another set of pictures on the wall of a familiar dark-haired woman.
When my brain truly processes what I’m seeing my blood runs cold.
That’s Quinn.
Billy had pictures of Quinn.
Ethan sees it too and walks over to the wall then looks back at me.
“Jesus… we’ll find him, Logan,” Ethanpromises.“He doesn’t know we’re here. I’ll get the cops on the street looking forhim.Please don’t do anythingcrazy.”
Crazy?
Me?
I want to jump back in that car and head to the lake house and see if Quinn is okay.Or better yet, I want to find Billy and killhim.Whatever he planned to do to Quinn, he’s not doingit.
I take one step to rush back through the door but Ethan grabs my arm and pulls me back with a force that surprisesme.Not many people can handle me and I’m bigger and stronger thanhim.
“Logan, let me do my job. You can’t getinvolved."
"Like fuck I can't. I'm going to fucking end him."
"Logan, listen to me. This part is not for you to concern yourselfwith.” The firmness in his voice works its way into me and the power in his words delivers a massive wakeupcall. "Please listen to me. You can't take this guy on yourself, and you cannot kill him. You will lose everything."
He’sright. I would lose everything, and don't I already know what that feels like.
Quinn isn’t mine.
She said she couldn't be with me. That's the second time I've heard her speak those words.
She can't be with me, so I shouldn't put myself at risk of losing everything.
So, I will let Ethan do hisjob.
Quinn
Dear Lilly,
I can’t thank you enough for your kindness in allowing me to see my little girl over the years.I know the risk you took by doing so.I know how hard it must have been for you to go against a man like your brother.
I might not have been there every day watching my child grow up into the beautiful young woman she is today, but the precious minutes you have given me are a gift I will always treasure.I would have gone crazy if I wasn’t allowed to see her like Peter wanted.
Seeing her one last time today was amazing, and I realized I need to stop this.She has a life now outside me and I don’t want to confuse her or ruin the stability she has with her family.So I’m leaving town and neither of you will see me again.
It’s safer this way for all of us.
I can’t put you at risk anymore, or my family.It’s selfish of me to do so and continue to do so because I can’t let go of the most precious thing I have in this world.
