Page 133 of Watch Me Burn
We’re both willing to kill for her.
Cade comes into the room. “Everything is set. Sheriff is five minutes out. Do we need to go over the story one more time?”
Luna walks to the sink to wash her hands. “I know what I have to say.”
We head back to the house, Shadow sticking close to Luna’s side. We climb the front steps. Luna’s front door is still hanging off the hinges, but Cade will secure it after the sheriff sees the scene as we’ve set it. I’ll have a new one installed first thing in the morning. A fucking steel one.
“Remember,” Cade says. “As far as you know, Caleb Hunter is alive. You have no idea where he went, and you’re just grateful Damien showed up when he did.”
She lifts her chin, breath catching in the night air. “I can do this.”
The sirens grow louder, red and blue lights flashing between the trees.
Luna reaches for my hand, her fingers threading through mine, and the simple gesture lands in my chest like a gift I don’t deserve.
“No more lies between us after tonight, Damien.” Her gaze locks onto mine, unwavering despite the horror of the last hour. “Promise me that.”
“No more lies.” I let the vow settle between us, knowing it changes everything.
“Then we better make this one count.” She squeezes my hand once before releasing it, preparing herself for the performance we’re about to give.
The sheriff’s cruiser pulls into the driveway, headlights sweeping across the front of the house. As she climbs out of her car, I catch Luna’s eye one last time.
She gives me the slightest nod, and I know we’re committed now. Partners in this deception, bound together by shared secrets and mutual protection.
Sheriff Mills approaches with her hand resting on her gun, taking in the scene with sharp, intelligent eyes.
“Luna, we got a call about an armed intruder.”
And so, the lies begin.
Chapter thirty-four
Luna
Ican’t stop staring at my hands. Caleb’s blood is gone, but I can still feel the sticky, viscous sensation of it beneath my fingernails. Karen sits in front of me with her notepad and pen in her hand while Damien and Cade work on making sure the front door can be closed and secured for the night.
The speed with which they cleaned up and staged the scene to match our story is a little disturbing, but I refuse to dwell on that.
“Luna?” Karen’s voice pulls my attention back. “I need to go over your statement one more time.”
I look up from my hands to meet her keen gray eyes. Her gaze feels like it’s stripping away layers of me, searching for the lies beneath the truth. Or is it the truth beneath the lies? I’m not even sure anymore.
“Of course.” I sound steadier than I feel. “Whatever you need.”
We’re sitting in my living room, the same space where hours ago Caleb broke in and threatened me. The same space where Damien…
No. Don’t think about that now.
“So, Caleb arrived around seven.” She reads from her notepad. “He attacked you, shot Shadow, and then Mr. Wolfe showed up unexpectedly, scuffled with Caleb, and then he fled the scene without either of you realizing he left until after he was gone? Is that correct?”
“Mostly.” The lie we’ve constructed feels wrong as it leaves my lips, like I’m choking on words that don’t belong to me. “I was expecting Damien at seven, so his arrival wasn’t unexpected, but Caleb showed up a few minutes before.”
From his position by the door, Damien watches me with those intense blue-gray eyes that see straight through to my soul.
“And he said he was here to take you with him?”
“Yes. I have no idea why he thought I’d go anywhere with him. I guess that’s why he pulled out his gun.”
