I understood it.
I deserved it, but…
I drew in a slow, steady breath, letting it out as evenly as I could. “She’ll see the truth in the end. I havefaith, Landon. I have to believe?—”
“If you’re wrong?—”
He wrenched his gaze from mine, and I was grateful for the few seconds he stared at her.
The time it took for him to say what I already knew.
“If you’re wrong, I’m leaving with her.”
The idea had been mine, but hearing him say it…clearly, forcefully, without any hesitation, it seared my chest like the brand. Burned like the poker as it pressed deep into my flesh. Running me through to puncture the vessel in my chest that beat with singular purpose.
“I know.”
He snapped his gaze back to mine.
“I already told her. If she chooses to leave, I’ll make sure you’re both able to go.”
“You know your father?—”
“I’ll take care of it, Landon.”
He stilled at the finality in my tone.
Confusion pulled at the corners of his mouth.
Followed by fear…guilt…pain.
Pushing off the wall, I looked away. I searched for Quinn in the crowd. Drank in the sight of her smiling, eyes closed and head pressed to Max’s chest.
My body shook with the desire to go to her, to explain and keep all this from happening.
But I turned back to face Landon, meeting his gaze one more time before walking away.
“I won’t make the same mistake twice.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Islept like shit. Partly because my hair hurt, and partly because I’d been put away wet.Again.
But I also couldn’t stop thinking about Kingston’s message and the dances.
So, after our giant sleepover, watched over by the guys in shifts, the last thing I’d needed the next morning was to find Vivian’s name in a group with mine.
But there it was for trial number two, which would be less murder mystery and more of an escape room.
When we entered the cabin, Max handed off the instructions and stood with his back against the front door. With a wall blocking off the living room, we crowded into the entryway, needing to figure out our first clue to go into the next area. Doing that quickly seemed like the best plan.
I stayed by Izzy as I listened to Morgan read the instructions.
“Treasure Hunters, beware. Eyeing a prize, or seeking wealth beyond your wildest dreams, often comes at a steep price. Making one wrong choice might be the difference between moving forward…or losing everything. All seekers must proceedwith caution or be lost with the treasure for good. Time is precious, so use yours wisely.”
She flipped the paper over and then reread the instructions to herself. “That’s all there is. What now?”
Angela glanced at Max, who refused to make eye contact with us, and turned back to the group. “Let’s search in here?”
