I can get the truth from Gage and release Lucas of the pain of not knowing the truth of what happened that day.
“He protects me; he’s always protected me, regardless of the cost.”
“Then why, why would he murder your siblings? They were younger than you, right? They weren’t hurting you, but . . .” I swallow, terrified to bring up the inevitable. “Your momma, she hurt you, Lucas.”
He nods again and his shoulders slump. “I’m afraid, I’m afraid that my brothers and sister got caught up in the cross fire, and that . . . that would be my fault. Gage protected me, but it was my job to protect them and I failed.” He sets cold gray eyes on me. “Don’t you see? Even if I didn’t pull the trigger, and I very well could have, I didn’t protect them and they’re dead because of me.”
“Don’t do that, Lucas. Don’t put this on yourself.”
His body stiffens and he glares up at me. “Don’t put this on myself? How can you say that? It’s all on me. Gage is me! Who he hurts, I hurt!” His eyelids flicker and the rage building in his voice makes me step back. “He came and protected me, but he didn’t protect them!” Jaw tight, he punches a fist into his chest so hard it thumps. “Me! I didn’t protect them!” His shoulders tense and he breathes heavy through flared nostrils. “So stop saying it wasn’t me!”
The pain in his voice constricts my chest. “I’m sorry.”
“Why are you doing this, Shyann?” His voice cracks. “Why couldn’t you just stay away?”
“I—”
“Why!”
I squeeze my eyes shut. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry . . .” I whisper it over and over and receive no reply. I avert my eyes to the ground like a submissive dog trying to gain favor. I can hear his heavy breathing slow to calm and slowly I peek up at him. “Lucas, I’m only trying to help—” A gasp shoots from my lips and I desperately try to school my expression. “Gage.”
GAGE
This bitch is gonna die.
Right fucking now.
I rub circles into the tight muscles of my aching neck and lean back against the bed of Luke’s truck. Keeping my eyes on the nosy whore staring back at me, a slow grin crawls across my face.
“Hey, Shy. Ann.” I straighten and take a step toward her. “Just couldn’t leave it alone, could you?”
Her icy-blue eyes widen. I can practically scent her fear. My strong Shyann is finally afraid. My blood pumps with excitement. I take another step toward her.
She holds up a hand and I smirk at the way her fingers tremble. “Hang on, Gage, just . . . hear me out.”
I slide my head back and forth, then snap my eyes to hers. “Warned you plenty.” I tilt my head. “Never listened.”
“Let me explain—”
“Sick of hearin’ your voice.”
The column of her throat bobs with a thick swallow. “Gage . . .” My name shakes on her lips.
I groan and grip my raging hard-on. “Stop turnin’ me on. Need to teach you a lesson, and you makin’ me hard is gonna make this a lot more fun for me.” I shrug one shoulder. “Not so much fun for you.”
A whimper slides from her lips and fuck if it isn’t the sexiest damn thing I’ve ever heard. Breaking her down piece by piece and now she’s finally defeated. I. Win. “Please . . .” Her eyes dart around, as if she’s looking for an escape.
“Run. I’ll catch you.” I fake-lunge and she stumbles but regains her footing.
A noise catches my attention. Humming, or . . . I study the source and find it when Shyann pulls her cell phone from her pocket and fumbles to get it to her ear. “Hello?!” She’s breathing heavy and her shoulders sag in relief.
I ball my fists at my side. Dammit!
“Loreen, yeah . . .” Her eyes come to mine. “Listen, I need— What?”
I plant my feet, cross my arms at my chest, and wait. She’s gonna tell whoever is on the phone to call the cops; I’ll drop back and let Luke take over and no one plays innocent as well as the innocent. Luke won’t remember shit; they could hook him to a lie detector and he’d pass with flying colors.
Worked before.
It’ll work again.
“Oh my God, is she okay?” Shyann doesn’t take her eyes off me, as if she’s waiting for me to pounce. “Do they have any idea who did it?”
My little news reporter, always gathering information. Nosy bitch.
“Which hospital?”
Hospital?
A weird feeling comes over me but I squash it before I allow myself to question it too much while I pace, waiting.
“Okay, I’ll do whatever I can to help. Thanks, Loreen.” She hits a button and the second her eyes meet mine, she jerks. “Gage, I know you’re angry, but we need to go.”
“Like hell we do. I’m not finished—”
“Sam’s been hurt. She’s in the ICU.” Her bottom lip quivers, but she blows out a long breath and stops it. “Someone hurt her bad, Gage.”
She pushes past me and climbs into the truck while I stand there staring at the space she just vacated. What the hell? One minute she’s scared shitless, and rightfully so; the next she’s treating me like I’m her fucking chauffeur.