“At Parkhurst,” I surmise.
“Partly.”
“And you’re still not going to tell me, are you?”
He slants pleading eyes on me. “Abby. Wecan’ttell you, and it’s better you don’t know. It would change how you feel about all of us.”
That may well be the case, but I’m sick of all this protective bullshit. “I’m sick of all the lies and secrets, Charlie!” I roar, throwing my hands up. “All it does is blindside me! I can’t defend myself if I don’t know the full truth.”
He glances sideways at me as he takes the next exit. “You don’t need to defend yourself. We’ll keep you safe. Nothing like this is ever going to happen to you again.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I explode, yelling at him. “None of you have kept me safe! The only one looking out for me is me.” I pound my fists on the dash out of sheer frustration and rage.
“That isn’t true.” He stretches his hand across the console, settling it on my thigh.
I slap his hand away. “Don’t placate me, Charlie. Don’t insult my intelligence.”
His jaw locks up tight, and tension filters into the air again.
I’m so sick of this shit.
Of living this life.
And my previous determination to escape has strengthened in recent months.
I need to get away from Rydeville. To start over somewhere else.
“Wewillkeep you safe,” he grits out after a few tense minutes.
Resting my head back, I close my eyes, knowing there’s no point continuing this fight. He will not tell me anything. “You can’t promise me that,” I say, opening my eyes a couple minutes later. “None of you can. Not while that bastard is still in control. Not while he’s still breathing.”
“He won’t be in control for much longer.”
“How?” I sit upright again.
“Drew is doing what he needs to, to win back your father’s trust, and now that Jane’s gone, there are no limitations to what he can do to ensure that happens. And—”
I swivel in my seat. “Back up there! Jane’sgone?” My eyes splay wide. “Gone where? And why?” I splutter.
Charlie slows the car down, taking the turn for a place named Loth’s End. “Drew will tell you more, but he went to her father after the shootout and told him to take the family far away from Rydeville. They left the next day.”
My mouth hangs open. “But we know where she is, right? I can still get in contact with her?”
Charlie shakes his head, drawing to a halt alongside a curb. “That would defeat the purpose. Drew did what he had to do to keep Jane safe.”
“But he loves her! They are so much in love.” I can’t believe this.
“I know, and it’s killing him. He’s—” He sighs, scrubbing a hand across his smooth jawline. “He’s not in a good way, Abby. Losing you and Jane is bad enough, but the things he has to do to keep your father and Trent from guessing his true allegiance are destroying his spirit. We both know Trent won’t let this go. You humiliated him, and he’s a fucking psycho, so Drew’s sticking close to him to ensure he doesn’t get to you.” He pins troubled eyes on me. “But I’m worried about him. About his ability to pull this off and not lose himself.”
“Now you’re scaring me.” Drew is still on my shit list because he stood by and did nothing while they assaulted me but he played no part in the crap that went down at the engagement party, and if he pushed Jane away, then I know there is tons he hasn’t told me.
Charlie takes my hand in his. “He needs you. I know he failed you, which is something he won’t ever stop beating himself up over, but he’s been trying to protect you behind the scenes for a long time, and intervening would’ve jeopardized everything.”
“Maybe if he’d told me what he’s doing I would understand, but everyone thinks they need to keep me in the dark formy protection,” I hiss.
Charlie grips my head, drilling me with somber eyes. “Itisfor your protection, Abby, and one day we’ll admit everything, but for now, just believe that we are all working to keep you safe.”
“That’s a big ask. Especially when I know you’ve all lied to me and betrayed me in some shape or form. How am I supposed to trust anyone after that?”
