Keiran had disappeared after delivering his promise, and Keenan and Sheldon came home with a sleepy Ken a few hours later. Keenan disappeared upstairs to put Kennedy down, and Sheldon pulled me into the living room to grill me.
“How was it?” Sheldon asked with a nervous flutter of her hands. I didn’t miss the way she looked me over for signs of abuse, and I couldn’t say it was completely unwarranted given our history and how angry he was when we left them.
“I’m fine if that’s what you’re really asking.”
“What happened?” she repeated.
I ran down everything, excluding the blowjob, but I did tell her about his threat before he left. The heat in his eyes promised things I wasn’t sure I could handle. He was taking my deception better than expected, but something told me not to be fooled by the calm. It was only a prelude to the storm that always followed.
“What do you think he’ll do?”
“I wish I knew. He’s taking this better than I expected.”
“I wouldn’t trust it. We all know how—crazy— he can get. He’s distracted now, but what happens later when we clear your name? I mean—you didn’t do it. Thompson said the arrest was a fluke to uncover a lead, which is illegal by the way.”
I didn’t hear much of what she said after that. Guilt chomped away at my consciousness. None of them believed I could kill a man much less be responsible. “Sheldon…” I started but nothing came after.
“Jesus Christ.” We both swung and faced the entrance. Neither of us noticed Keenan watching us. The knowing look in his eyes and frazzled stare made me feel like I’d swallowed my tongue. He ran a hand down his face, but his expression was frozen in place. “You did it, didn’t you?”
“What? Of course, she didn’t do it,” Sheldon interrupted, saving me from answering. “It’s Lake. She doesn’t kill people. You should ask your brother what he’s hiding.”
He turned his cold gaze to his fiancée and if looks could kill… “I think the only one hiding something is standing right here.”
“She didn’t do it!”
“Why don’t we let Lake answer for herself ?” He turned his black gaze back on me. I felt so exposed. “Lake?”
“Leave it alone.”
He continued to berate me anyway, and I just stood there taking it all in. It wasn’t easy admitting you were a murderer. “You do know they’re after my brother, don’t you? What were you thinking?”
“You’re not helping, Keenan. You’re scaring her.”
No. I shook my head, denying Sheldon’s claim, but they didn’t seem to notice as they began to argue. I wasn’t afraid. I refused to be afraid. I spent my life giving in to fear.
“I killed him,” I blurted, stealing their attention again. Wide eyes turned on me, but I didn’t see them anymore. I only saw Mitch’s blood that poured from the open hole in his throat. “I dug the knife deep in that sick son of bitch’s throat, and I’d do it again. He deserved to die. He needed to die.”
I sounded monstrous even to my own ears, but my emotions were running too wild to care. Keenan swore and ran his hands through his hair. “Does Keiran know?”
“He knows.”
“All of it?” His grilling made my palms sweat. I ran them down my jeans and nodded. Keiran knew as much as I could safely tell him. I didn’t expect Keenan to grab and pull me into his side. He looked as much at war with his emotions as I was. “I’m sorry I’m being an asshole. I don’t want to see you hurt, and I don’t want my brother to lose you. What would Ken do without her Auntie Lake?”
His gentle words affected me more than his cold accusations. “What am I going to do, Keenan? I have to fix this.”
“Let your man handle this and accept the consequences when it’s time.”
“I’m not going to lie down and cower because he throws a tantrum. We’re not those people anymore.”
“It might be better for you. Safer.”
“No.”
Rather than argue, the beginnings of a smile broke his pensive expression. “Atta girl.” He shrugged and released me. “You always have plan B.”
“What’s plan B?”
“I kick his ass for you if he gets out of hand.”
Sheldon snorted, earning a glare from Keenan. “Careful, woman. I still have tonight.” Sheldon shifted and paled as I looked between them.
“What happens tonight?”
“I know she told you where Mitch was.”
“How?”
“She told me.”
“So you think you’ll punish her for it?”
He tore his gaze away from Sheldon and smiled a cocky smile. “I know I will.”
“Well, maybe I’ll have Keiran kick your ass.”
“You could try, but I’ve grown a full inch.” He comically poked his chest out with his words. “I won’t be so easy to beat now.”