Page 77 of The Spirit Key
I rushed to where they were and dropped to my knees, with no clue what I was doing. I recalled Silvanus’s reaction when Sofia touched him, how the anger and pain bled from him. I grabbed Tim’s face and held him still. As I looked into his eyes, I whispered, begging him to come back.
A sick smile crossed his face. “Tim is dead. This body is mine now.”
I refused to believe that. Tim was in there, because I was sure I’d know if he died. “You’re lying. I can see how terrified you are. You’re afraid that he’s going to win, and I’m going to make damned sure he does.”
Tim got his hands on the ground and pushed up, dislodging Gavin. He tore away from both me and Rachel, and stood. “You know, this only makes me hate you more.”
I grinned at him. “You said you hate me this time. Not Tim. Wanna know why? Tim’s angry with me, true, but he loves me.” I rushed forward and wrapped my good arm around his waist.
He started hitting me again, in the same spots where he’d already done damage, including my fractured arm.
“Tim, please, you’ve got to hear me. You’re my lock, and I need you. If I ever meant anything to you, fucking fight for me. Or was everything you said to me a lie? Just you trying to get laid?”
The next hits lacked the strength I knew he had.
“You wanna know when I first realized I love you? The day I died. I only made the jump because I wanted you to be proud of me, and when I went under, the one thing—theonlything—I could think of was getting back to you. I need you to do that for me now. Come back. Please.”
“Scotty?”
I leaned back and looked up into his beautiful brown eyes.
“Oh my God, what the fuck happened to you?” Tim reached out a trembling hand before he reared back. “I did that. I remember it. I… I….” He turned and lurched for a garbage can, where he proceeded to barf his guts out.
Everyone stood there, seeming uncertain. When Tim stood and swiped a hand over his mouth, his gaze darting for the door, I knew he was about to bolt. I grabbed his arm, and he collapsed against me, breaking into sobs.
“I am so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you.”
“This wasn’t you. I swear it.”
He turned slowly and stared at me, reaching for me. I leaned closer to him, determined to show him my faith. He slid his fingers along the bruises on my eyes, and tears welled in his.
“I don’t hate you. You have to believe me. Please, don’t think that.”
He was babbling, but the truth was in his words. He cared for me, and what happened hurt him as badly as it did me. I rubbed his back and whispered to him that I was okay.
When Tim finally calmed, he stepped away and looked around the room. His gaze landed on Gavin, who was wiping blood from his nose. “Thank you, Gavin and Rachel.” Then he noticed the gun at Gavin’s side. “Maybe you should have used that, huh?”
Rachel stepped over to him and smacked him on the arm. “Don’t you ever say anything so stupid!”
“It’s not stupid. I was going to kill the kids.”
“Stop saying that!” I grabbed his shirt and bunched it in my hands. “That’s not you. You weren’t the driver.”
Tim sneered. “I was too goddamn weak to stop him! That’s how you ended up hurt. That’s why I was going to hurt the kids.”
I turned to everyone else in the room. “Could you give us a couple of minutes?”
Gavin frowned. “Are you sure?”
I peered into Tim’s eyes. “Yeah, I’m sure.”
They filed out of the room, leaving me alone with Tim. I knew I ought to be nervous, considering what happened to me, but I wasn’t. I had absolute faith in Tim.
“I would have killed you. And it’s my fault.”
“No.” My voice was soft, but it made Tim stop and look at me. “He’s soaking up negative emotions like a sponge. The upset you felt over me leaving, your mom dying, all this lock and key stuff being thrust on you, and then my saying I wanted to help, even if it meant my life would be shortened? That’s what helped him gain traction. But if you think about it, you never once gave in to him. You fought him with all your strength. Sometimes there are things stronger than us, but when we stand together, we’ll be okay.”
“Do you really believe that?”
