“I guess you’re right. I just feel like I’ve been lying by omission this whole time.”
Lying by omission? The whole time? I covered my mouth with my hand when I felt bile rising in my throat. Everything Isabel had said about Felicity and Snapper came flooding back. About how there had been something between them. Something I didn’t know about. Something they’d been hiding.
The walls seemed to close in on me, and my heart hammered against my ribs. All those doubts I’d pushed away, all those fears I’d told myself were baseless, came crashing back with brutal clarity.
While I’d been falling in love with him, while I’d put all my trust in him, he’d been lying. While he’d been angry at his brother for betraying his confidence—he’d been keeping secrets of his own.
With my sister.
I came the rest of the way down the stairs and rounded the corner to the dining room. Felicity and Snapper were the only two there. Standing too close together, looking guilty as hell.
“So you’re angry with Kick for betraying you by not being honest,” I said, shaking so hard I could barely speak. “Yet you’ve been hiding things from me all along. You’re not being honest with me either.”
Snapper’s face lost its color. “Saff?—”
“Don’t.” I held up my hand. “Just don’t.”
He moved toward me, and I backed away.
“I want you to leave,” I said. “Now.”
“Please, let me explain?—”
“Leave!”
He stood still for several seconds, his expression devastated, his hands reaching for me even though I’d made it clear I didn’t want to be touched. Then he turned and walked to the front door. It closed behind him with a soft click that somehow sounded louder than if he’d slammed it.
I looked at my sister, who stood speechless.
I turned and ran upstairs, reached my bedroom, and slammed the door hard enough to rattle the frame. Then I sank onto my bed and let myself fall apart.
19
SNAPPER
The drive to Los Caballeros felt like it took hours even though it was only twenty minutes. My jaw was clenched so hard it ached. The headlights cut through the darkness, illuminating bare vines that blurred past my windows.
I’d lost her.
The thought kept circling through my head like a vulture waiting for something to die. Maybe it already had. Maybe what Saffron and I had built over the past two months was already gone, killed by secrets I’d kept, thinking I was protecting her.
The main house glowed with lights when I drove through the gates. Cars lined the driveway. My brothers and their families had already arrived for Christmas Eve. Through the windows, I could see movement, and when I got out of my truck, I could hear the faint sound of children’s laughter. The kids were probably wound up on sugar and excitement, counting down the hours until morning when they could tear into presents.
I stood in the darkness for several minutes before going inside. My chest felt hollow. My throat burned. How could I join my family and act like everything was fine? How could I pasteon a smile and be Uncle Snapper, who let the kids climb all over him, while everyone celebrated?
The front door opened, and Bit appeared on the porch. He was backlit by the warm glow spilling from inside, and after standing still for a few seconds, he started down the steps toward my truck.
“What are you doing here?” he asked. “I thought you were with Saffron.”
I opened my mouth to explain, but nothing came out.
“Snap?” He moved closer, and his expression shifted from curious to alarmed. “What happened?”
“It’s over.”
“Wait. What? Why—” He stopped. “Come on. Let’s walk.”
I shook my head. “I can’t. The kids?—”
