I took a deep breath and shifted her to my hip. “Gins, we don’t want to ask for too much. I don’t know how long we’ll be staying.”
Zayn cupped my face. He stroked his thumb over my cheekbone, and while I should’ve shoved his hand away, especially while we were outside for everyone to see, I couldn’t. “Let me look after you and Ginny, boy.”
Ginny nodded in agreement so fast she rocked me like a sailboat, and it was almost unnoticeable that she’d just beencrying. How long would it take before she remembered Mom was gone and the tears came again? Whenever that was, I’d be ready. “He’s your significant other, Bubba.”
I didn’t think she knew what that meant. It was another thing I’d have to explain, though I suspected she wouldn’t care much, either. The few times we’d caught up with some friends who’d left the park—Shep and his boyfriend, Jonah—Ginny hadn’t blinked twice at them holding hands or kissing.
Zayn’s thumb was gentle against my cheek. He kissed me on the lips and it was too brief for my liking. “Pack up what you need, and then we’ll leave. You won’t come back, I promise.”
The shitty thing was that we didn’t have a lot to take with us, but I nodded and walked to the trailer with Ginny on my hip. As soon as I opened the door, Bernadette barreled out, barking wildly and running in a circle like she was trying to find the bad guy. Ginny kicked her feet, and I let her down so she could calm the pit bull while I went inside. I managed to find a few things that were irreplaceable, including my dad’s cowboy hat, important paperwork, and the few clothes me and Ginny had. Finally, I shoved Zayn’s gun in my bag and made a mental note to talk to him about it. I wanted him to keep it as far away from Ginny as possible.
When I had everything, I stared around the trailer one more time. A wave of grief swept over me.
This was the end.
The last time I saw Mom was yesterday, and when we left this place, I was leaving a piece of me behind with her.
Moose.
Keaton and Bubba lived.
But I wasn’t done with the park. Not yet. I had to get answers, and if that meant coming back during the night and cornering Manky or one of his shithead friends, I would. There was no endto this until I got resolution. Mom had taught me that word. She’d always told me that we never let things go until we got it.
I didn’t care who I had to hurt, but I wouldn’t rest until I had my revenge. Come tonight, I’d leave Zayn’s house while he and Ginny were comfortably in bed and return here.
Mind made up, I left the trailer for the final time.
12
ZAYN
The crash from somewhere—probably my den—had Keaton tensing up, but I waved my hand at him as we walked through the living room in that direction. He gawked around at the dark wood paneling from the turn of the previous century and the black marble fireplace. I loved this house. I would be sad when it came time to move. The green leather furniture gave the room a rich scent. We dropped the bags we were carrying on the love seat as we passed it.
“Whatever potentially broke, I’m not about to yell over random crap.” I smacked his shoulder lightly. “The grumpy look on your face can take a hike.”
Keaton groaned and danced his fingers around the goose egg on his temple. “Between Ginny and Bernadette, we’re going to destroy your house.”
“You won’t. At the very least, Ginny is too young to rent a wrecking ball.” I winked at him, but that didn’t do a thing for the tension that had stiffened his jaw. Okay, the joke hadn’t been that funny, but I’d at least expected a chuckle. He must really be worried about living here.
I was far less concerned about what Ginny might break than what she might find if she went looking in the wrong place. My gut tightened. Shit.“The third floor is off-limits,” I called. “It’s my office.”
Keaton gave me a small smile as I led the way toward the impending disaster.
In the den, Ginny sat on the round oak coffee table surrounded by caramel popcorn. I’d had a tin on a shelf nearby. All the DVDs and classic VHS tapes of movies I had been afraid I wouldn’t be able to stream forever were scattered everywhere. Bernadette was happily cleaning up any popcorn kernels that had hit the wooden floor.
Ginny hummed a happy song as she stuck her hand in the tin. Her cheeks were already bulging with the sweet treats.
“Ginny! You can’t take Zayn’s things without asking!” Keaton swooped in and picked her up.
“She lives here now.” I shrugged and went out to the kitchen to get him an ice pack. By the time I returned, they were both picking up the mess. He stood and gave me a grateful smile when I pressed the ice pack to his goose egg. Thankfully, it seemed to have stopped growing.
“Change your mind about a doctor’s visit?” I pecked a kiss on the corner of his lips.
He shrugged. “No headache. I’m fine now.”
I considered pushing it, but I got the idea there were only so many battles he was willing to lose today. I rubbed the back of his neck, and he grunted, leaning against me.
Something inside me tingled. Whatever faulty wiring made me upend my life every couple of years—so I could change cities and kill men who deserved it—sparked to life. Killing was my calling. But the piece of my soul that focused so fully on death seemed to be expanding to include prioritizing Keaton andGinny. I couldn’t explain exactly how I knew I would be taking them with me the next time I moved, but I did.
