Book 2 - Page 55 (2/2)

Sam leaned forward. “You didn’t call the cops?”

“I f**king panicked,” I shouted. “I f**king panicked and left him there. They’re treating it as a mugging, Sam. What the f**k do I do?”

She thought on my question for a moment, nibbling carefully on her bottom lip. Finally, she slid on top of me, taking my face between her hands. “Nothing. You do nothing because you’ve done nothing so far. Turning yourself in now would be the end for you. You know that, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I do.”

She made a sound of approval that reminded me of someone offering encouragement to a small child. “Does Cilla know what happened?”

I shook my head. “She was so G.o.dd.a.m.n drunk she couldn’t even say her name. Once the cops started to show, I got her out of there, took her back to our hotel room.” I shook my head once more. “No, she doesn’t know.”

When I looked into Sam’s gray eyes, I noticed how hard they’d gotten. Dropping her gaze from mine, she wrapped her arms around my shoulders and buried her face in the crook of my neck. “Good,” she whispered. “It’s good she doesn’t know.”

Three months later, my ex-wife sent me her first demand for money.

When I’m finished, both my sister and Sienna sit in a dazed silence. Sienna’s no longer gripping my hand, and I glare down at a scuffmark on the hospital floor. “That’s what Sam has on me,” I say bitterly. “His name was Bryce Roberts.”

“Bryce Roberts,” my sister repeats, and I close my eyes. “Holy f**k, Lucas.”

I look over at Sienna to find her staring blankly at the wall.

She asked, and I gave her what she wanted to know. And now, I’ve ruined things with her.

“I sent his family money. An anonymous donation,” I say, like it will help the situation. “But G.o.d, it was an accident. I swear I didn’t mean to kill him.” My voice is pleading, and Sienna moves her head up and down.

“No, I understand.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Kylie leave the room quietly. As soon as she’s gone I get up and move to Sienna’s bedside. She doesn’t recoil, but she doesn’t look at me either.

f.u.c.k.

“I love you,” I say roughly. “More than anything I’ve ever loved. And I’m so sorry this happened to you.”

At last she turns her face to me, giving me a full view of the damage that was done to her. “I know you do. And I love you too—it’s impossible for me to stop.” She closes her eyes tightly, and tears squeeze out of the corners. “I just need to think.”

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