And instead of standing in front of me, getting ready to end my life too, Dad would’ve been in jail.
In that moment, instead of seeing my life flash before my eyes, only one thought crossed my mind. I’d never told Hailey that I loved her. I mean, I had told her I loved her…as a friend. But I’d never told her that I was in love with her, and now I’d never have the chance to tell her.
And I would never find out if she felt the same way about me.
A loud noise came from downstairs, like the sound of someone banging on the front door, followed by shouting. None of this bothered my father. His focus was entirely on me.
I kept my gaze locked on him and took a cautious step back.
Everything happened fast after that. My father lunged at me as movement in the doorway caught my attention. His knife sliced into my body, bringing with it a sharp pain. I cried out and stumbled back.
Yelling filled the air. My father moved toward me again, his knife ready to butcher me. A loud bang. And another. My father’s body jerked forward, then slumped to the ground.
Unable to support me anymore, my legs gave out, and I collapsed.
Pain engulfed me. Pain from my wound. Pain from what my father had done to my mom and sister. Pain from all I had witnessed.
A cop crouched beside me and spoke. In my numb state, I couldn’t make out what he said.
Instead, I welcomed the darkness.
Chapter 41
Nolan
My breathing came fast and hard at the memory. The movie continued playing on the huge screen, but all I could see was the blood covering the kitchen floor, my mom’s open but sightless eyes, the blood-splattered bedding surrounding my sister’s mutilated body.
I gripped the armrests, digging my fingers into the velvet fabric.
Alyssa leaned closer to me and whispered, “Are you all right?” She placed her hand on mine and lightly squeezed it when I didn’t respond. “Nolan?”
Deep down I had always known the murders were my fault. If I hadn’t been at Hailey’s, none of the events of that night would have happened. And I’d bailed on Northbridge not only because I wanted to avoid the memories but also because I wanted to escape Hailey. I’d failed my mother and sister. I was afraid of failing Hailey too.
“I need to get out of here,” I told Alyssa.
She must have realized something major was going on with me. She whispered to her assistant, then told me, “Monica will escort you out and stay with you to make sure you’re okay.” She kissed my cheek, either for my benefit or for the benefit of the people witnessing me leave in the middle of the movie. Or maybe a little of both.
I squeezed past Alyssa and the rest of her entourage. My body no longer felt like it belonged to me. I was a walking zombie. The only thing I was aware of was the sound of the movie and the scattered whispers following me up the aisle.
I almost sagged in relief when Monica pushed the theater door open and we stepped into the lobby. My father’s final words, That’s a fuckin’ lie, pounded in my head. Had he been right? Had Mom been cheating on him?
Monica waved a staff member over. “I’m Alyssa Graham’s personal assistant. Mr. Kincaid has a migraine and needs a private place to sit for a moment.”
“Absolutely. This way, please.”
We followed him down the dimly lit hallway and stopped at a door. He unlocked it and ushered us into the small room.
“Is there anything else you need?” he asked.
“No, this is fine, thanks,” I said, dismissing him.
Once the door clicked shut behind him, I sat on the red velvet couch in the middle of the room. The space had been designed for comfort and for a quiet place to converse. But it was also like stepping into the past. Framed classic movie posters lined the light brown walls.
Monica locked the door. “Do you want some water?”
I could have used something much stronger, but I nodded. She handed me a bottle of water from the table against the wall. With shaky hands I opened it and drank the lukewarm liquid.
“I heard about what happened to your family. I’m sorry you went through that.”
I gave a slight jerk of my head in thanks. While pretending to be Tyler Erickson, I’d avoided those pitying looks and words of apology over what happened. At the time, it had been a relief because I had only wanted to focus on my future instead of my past. But something about the way she said the words made the meaning behind them sound different. She didn’t say them because she believed they were the right words to say.
“A friend of mine lost her family in a robbery,” she explained. “She was a kid at the time and witnessed their murder. She struggled for years with post-traumatic stress disorder.” Monica bit her lip before powering on. “You have that too, don’t you? That’s why you looked like you were having a panic attack in there.”
I wanted to deny it, but then changed my mind. Alyssa wouldn’t trust someone she felt could end up betraying her and those who were close to her.