Page 198 of P.S. I'm Still Yours

Us laughing on the Fourth of July.

Us lying to our moms so we could go party on the beach.

Him asking me to promise that I would treat his sister right.

“Look me in the eyes and promise me you won’t break her heart, Kane. And if you can’t, then promise me that you’ll let her go.”

Tears start spilling down my face.

Almost as though I know what Brody’s about to say before he opens his mouth.

“He…” Brody chokes. “He said my name.”

“What?” Dean presses.

“He recognized me. He fucking knew who I was, and I… I just panicked,” he says in between vomiting.

“Don’t tell me you killed him,” Dean belts out, panic consuming him. “Do not tell me you fucking killed him!”

Brody says nothing, gasping for air.

That’s all it takes for me to know.

Gray’s dead.

Gone.

And I just became the getaway driver to my best friend’s murder…

NOW

HADLEY

I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been rendered speechless in my life…

This time is different, though, because I’m more than just speechless.

I’m fucking dying.

“Brody Richards?” I’m crying so hard I can barely get the monster’s name out. “H-He killed my brother?”

I don’t know why I’m asking. I already know the answer.

I already know what he’s going to say, but I still ask stupid questions because my brain needs help processing the atrocity Kane just shared with me.

Kane can’t bring himself to speak, his jaw clenched so tight it looks uncomfortable.

A tear rolls down his face.

And he nods.

I rise off the bench, seconds away from collapsing to my knees when Kane’s arms jump to my waist to hold me up.

I recoil, pushing him off me with a gutting “Don’t touch me.”

Brody Richards shot my brother in the head.

He killed Gray in cold blood.

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