I stared at him, numb.
“I’m sorry I lied to you about Jane Doe,” he added. “I didn’t want you to know the real truth. I never—never thought you’d find anything about that cold case. I figured it would keep you busy. Keep you from digging too deep. Shield you from the horror of knowing it was our own flesh and blood who did her in.”
Ash’s eyes stayed locked on mine for a beat longer.
I blinked at him. “You lied to me?”
“I wanted you to think the bracelet was hers, but only because I wanted time.”
My head started to shake as if on its own. This wasn’t happening. Was all of this Ash? The entire time?
Tears rolled down my face. “Tell me everything,” I demanded, voice shaking, trying to sound stronger than I was.
Ash let out a long, slow breath. His expression shifted as he got to his feet and pushed back his shoulders. “I’ll tell you everything, in time.” A nervous hand ran through his hair, fingers leaving it standing in uneven spikes.
“Tell me now!” I almost screamed the words.
He didn’t answer. Not right away. He moved toward the metal door. “I need to take care of some things,” he muttered. “I’ll come back when you’ve settled in more.”
I stared at him, disoriented. “Wait.” I struggled to push myself upright. “Ash, wait—”
My knees buckled. I stumbled and caught myself against the wall with one trembling hand.
But Ash was already opening the door.
“No—please!” I shouted.
Keys jingled in his hand. His movements were fast and frenzied.
I lunged, but I was too slow.
Ash slipped out, and the door slammed shut behind him. I heard the chink of the lock a second later.
My fist slammed against the door. “Ash!”
But there was no response. I was locked inside, with no way out.
32
Fox
Ithadbeenhours.
Hours of silence. Hours of looking. Hours of trying not to completely freak out over the fact that I had no idea where Skye was.
A cold knot formed in my chest as morning started to fade toward afternoon. August was busy with some work for Emersyn’s podcast. It had taken everything in me not to demand he drop everything and help me find her.
Rationally, I had no reason to panic. Not yet. August and the rest of my brothers had already done so much for me. I could wait a little longer and hope I found her on my own.
If she wanted to be found.
Part of me was terrified that she had run again. That everything we shared last night was just another moment she’d tuck away and walk out on.
I hit my turn signal hard, turning onto Center Street. I’d driven around the entirety of town three times already, searching for any glimpse of her car. I hadn’t found it.
My phone rang, making my heart leap. I glanced at the number that popped up on the dashboard screen. Whize. I hit the button on my steering wheel to connect the call.
“Thanks for calling me back,” I said curtly. The detective was one of the calls I’d made when no one else had heard from Skye.
