This is my fault. Mine. Joe didn’t decide to send someone after me. He sent someone after Lily. That’s how this stuff works, but I still want to break something, scream. I take care of my sister instead.
There’s a lot of blood, but the cut is shallow, skimming across her forehead before veering into her hairline. I don’t think it will even need stitches, but Lily’s still shaken.
So am I.
I dab a wet washcloth against my sister’s skin. “Head wounds are always so dramatic.”
“No kidding,” Mina adds, and I cut a quick glance in the other girl’s direction, gauging her reaction. Lily’s little friend is looking a bit green around the edges and some of my sister’s blood is smeared across her cheek.
“Here,” I say, offering her a clean towel. Mina dabs at her face, eyes still pinned to Lily. “Anyone see you guys?” I ask.
Both girls shake their heads. Well, that’s helpful—less people to explain the injury to—but I’ll still need an excuse for Mrs. Harrison and Bren.
Like she’s reading my mind, Lily pats my hand. She’s trying for reassuring even though both our hands are cold. “’Sokay, Wick. I’ll tell Bren I didn’t pick my feet up.” Her eyes meet mine and I know that’s my cue to laugh. Too bad I can’t even bring myself to smile.
I grab the Neosporin instead. “You can’t go back to the Harrisons’ in those clothes. Both of you need to clean up.”
Lily nods. “Mina, you can borrow some of my clothes. We’ll wash your stuff here.”
“Won’t my mom know?”
“Not if you don’t tell her.”
The other girl’s mouth wads up as she considers what my sister’s telling her. “What if my mom doesn’t recognize the clothes and gets suspicious?”
“Tell her you borrowed them from me, okay?”
Mina nods. “Yeah. Okay.” She heads upstairs, leaving Lily and me to stare at each other. That was nicely done. I don’t know whether to be proud of my sister or worry that she’s turning into me.
“So tell me what really happened,” I say.
Lily holds up one finger, waiting for Mina’s footsteps to cross the upstairs hallway. There’s something about the way my sister’s holding her mouth tight that just kills me. She looks so much like our mom it makes guilt pry into all my corners.
“I don’t know what happened,” she says at last. “Not really. It was all just so fast and then—” Lily looks away from me, scrubs one hand at her eyes. “I thought this was done, Wick. I thought we were safe.”
We were until I screwed it up. I shake my head, concentrate on working the Neosporin into her cut. Not entirely true. We’ve never been safe, but I’ve always kept it so Lily thinks we are.
“Tell me what happened,” I press.
“He came out of the woods. I didn’t see him.”
I stroke her hair, making soothing noises. Peachtree City is known for its bike paths—something like ninety miles of trails through the surrounding woods and golf courses. Some paths are used more than others and some paths are more overgrown, making them ideal hiding spots. Between cheerleading practice and school, Lily’s schedule can be calculated almost to the minute. It would’ve made finding her easy.
Lily tries to touch her cut, winces. “We were walking home and then he was there and . . . and . . .”
“Did he say anything? Do you remember what he looked like?”
“He said Joe sent him.” My sister’s eyes go flat. She swallows and looks up at me. “He had me by my collar and Mina was too scared to run and when he brought the knife down . . . I kneed him. Really hard. You would have been proud.”
I smile. “I’m already proud.”
“I’ll tell Mina she can’t say anything. I’ll say it was because of my dad and it’s a secret and I’ll get taken away if she tells.”
“That doesn’t make any sen—”
“It will to her. She doesn’t know life like we do.”
“True.”
Lily wraps both arms around me and I hold her tight, feeling her shoulder blades press through her shirt.
“I miss Mom,” she mumbles. “I miss her so much. I’m never going to get over that, am I?”
I hesitate. “No. Probably not.”
She sniffles, curling tighter against me. “Why’s Joe doing this? Is it because you won’t work for him anymore?”
“Yeah.” And a few other things that I should tell Lily and I don’t because now she’s smiling up at me like I’m a hero.
“I’m proud of you too,” she says. “I was lucky. You think if he comes after me again I’ll be that lucky once more?”
No. I kiss Lily’s forehead. “You’ll never have to be that lucky again, Lil. I’ll make sure of it.”
Mina reappears in Lily’s clothes. She’s moved past worrying about whether her mom will notice she’s changed and is now worrying about whether they’re going to be late for dinner. I’m starting to have serious concerns about if the girl will be able to keep her mouth shut.