Once I was dressed, I looked at him, searching for any hint of his intentions. He just stood there, watching me, his eyes dark and unreadable. The silence was deafening; the only sounds were the rustling of the wind through the trees and the pounding of my own heart. I didn't want to leave; I knew if I did, it would be the beginning of my end. I already knew what he would do to me.
"Where are we going?" I finally asked, my voice barely a whisper.
I didn't want to show any weakness, but the question had slipped out before I could stop it. He didn't answer right away; instead, he took a step forward and leaned close to me. My breath hitched in my throat as he tilted his head, his dark eyes meeting mine.
"We're going to a place where we can talk..." His words were soft, like a whisper, but they were laced with a promise of pain.
He reached out and brushed a stray strand of hair from my face, his fingers lingering on my cheek. I flinched back from his touch, the action earning a cruel smirk. He grabbed my arm, his grip tight, almost bruising. Without another word, he turned and started walking toward the edge of the woods. I had no choice but to follow, my heart a frantic drum against my ribs. I stumbled after him, my legs wobbly from being bound for so long, the cold ground biting through the thin fabric of my clothes.
As we walked, I tried to calculate my options, to find a way—any way, to survive this. Brady. Julian. They were the only reasons I was still standing. I had to get back to them. I had to protect them. But as we walked deeper into the woods, away from the flickering lights and the faint promise of civilization, I knew my chances were dwindling with every step. The air grewcolder, and the shadows seemed to deepen, as if the woods themselves were closing in to devour me. The path, barely visible, led further into the darkness. I prayed it would lead me to freedom, but I was afraid it was leading me to hell.
We walked in silence for what felt like an eternity, the crunch of snow beneath our feet the only sound besides my ragged breathing. The biting wind whipped at my exposed skin, making me wish I’d had the foresight to grab a better coat. But, then again, I hadn’t had a say in anything for a very long time.
My gaze flickered around, searching for any landmark, any clue as to our destination, but the woods were a labyrinth of identical trees and shadows. I felt a growing sense of panic rise within me. Where were we going? What awaited me at the end of this ominous trek? I knew Foley, knew his cruelty, and the anticipation was tormenting.
Suddenly, he stopped, his grip on my arm tightening. He didn't turn to face me, but instead, his gaze was fixed ahead, on something I couldn't yet see. I held my breath, my mind racing, trying to anticipate his next move. The air thickened with strange tension, a palpable sense of something unseen, something lurking just beyond the edge of our vision.
He finally turned, his eyes meeting mine. The darkness in them seemed to deepen, reflecting the shadows of the woods. A ghost of a smile touched his lips.
“Oh, Fallon,” he said, his voice a low, predatory purr. He released my arm just as a wet rag was brutally placed over my nose and mouth by someone behind us. “I told you that you were mine.”
sixteen
a killer confession
Hitch
Having left Fallon and War in the woods behind the town hall commons, I rushed to find Brady, who needed help with Julian. It wasn't the first time I'd been called to Brady's aid; he was often unsure of himself. I'd never pictured him as a father figure. He never seemed the type to want kids, so when I learned about Nina's murder and Julian's existence, I was, to say the least, stunned. I'd always thought neither Fallon nor her brother would be parents. Fallon was always too consumed by whatever she set her mind to, and Brady just seemed to enjoy his single life too much.
During the time Julian was born, Fallon and I weren't on speaking terms, due to a rift caused by a falling out that had almost cost me the one thing I truly wanted—Fallon. At that point, she was working for Foley, and after what I'd done toher, I avoided her at all costs. Before then, I'd heard whispers about Fallon and Foley, but I knew she'd never willingly be with someone so... vile, so I dismissed them. So, I was entirely surprised when I heard it from Foley himself.
What I didn't know was the truth... and it would take years for me to figure it out. The day Fallon let me back into her life, I could tell what I'd heard was true, but she never confirmed it. I didn't need her to. I knew just from the look on her face whenever I mentioned his name. I wanted her to tell me on her own terms, but I was growing fucking impatient.
After helping Brady calm Julian down from a horrific night terror, we sat in the living room in front of the fire, sharing a bottle of peppermint schnapps. He had a vacant look in his eyes every time I looked at him, and I could tell he was carrying a heavy burden. Brady was just like his sister, full of secrets and always tight-lipped. It was like pulling fucking teeth trying to get either one to open up. It was as if they worked for the CIA or something. I fucking hated it, but having grown up with them, I was used to it. I didn't like it, but I'd learned to live with it.
"What happened between you and Fallon?" Brady asked out of the blue, and I knew exactly what he was referring to.
But, of course, I played dumb. "What do you mean?" I asked, feigning confusion and trying to buy time.
"You know damn well what I fucking mean, Hitch," Brady spat, his eyes narrowed, his brows pinching together in anger.
It was time to come clean about what I'd done, and I wasn't thrilled. My stomach churned, knowing I was about to say those words, and to her brother of all people. I'd never felt so low, but I knew the moment would come eventually.
"Listen, Brady, it's complicated," I said, taking the coward's way out, unable to meet his eyes as I took another swig from the half-empty bottle.
"Don't give me that 'it's complicated' bullshit!" He screamed, spit flying from the corners of his mouth as he clenched his teeth. "You fucking hurt her, I know it! She has never been the same!"
I sat frozen, guilt stealing my voice, making it impossible to speak. I shook my head and then hung it in defeat, knowing it was time to confess what I'd done to Fallon all those years ago.
"Relax, Brady. Relax," I muttered, taking another sip, wanting to be as drunk as possible to get through my confession. "I'll tell you," I said, lowering my voice to a whisper as I took another swig.
Silence fell over the room, the crackling flames of the fireplace taunting me. I leaned back against the couch and closed my eyes, reliving the moment I'd ruined things between Fallon and me. My heart raced as I tried to force the words out, but they wouldn't come. Panic rose until Fallon's image flashed behind my closed eyelids, somehow making it easier to speak.
"It was back when she was in school, I think graduating," I began, still whispering. "We were at a party, and we were both drunk, like,reallydrunk... not that I'm trying to use that as an excuse," I paused, opening one eye and looking at Brady.
"Sure as hell sounded like you were," he snapped, snatching the bottle from my hand.
"Anyway," I coughed as I pulled out a joint. "I don't know if you knew how much I fucking wanted your sister," I admitted for the first time, and it felt strangely freeing.
