Abby steps right up to me with pain filling her eyes. “I know it’s hard for you to trust anyone, Drew. It’s hard for all of us, but it’s no way to live your life. You have shut everyone and everything out, and Jane would hate this. She wouldn’t want this for you.”
That doesn’t warrant a reply because I’m sick of having the same conversations with my sister. Why can’t my family and friends just let me be? It’s like they won’t rest until I’m bound to some woman. Why don’t they understand that isn’t a magical cure-all?
Unless they can resurrect the dead, there is no cure for me.
I don’t deserve happiness. Not when my actions stole that from Jane and her family.
My penance is to spend my life alone, and I’ve made my peace with it.
“There is something about her that doesn’t add up,” I tell Kai, ignoring my sister.
“I thought you had her checked out and she was clean,” Barron says.
“You what?” Abby plants her hands on her hips with a look of outrage on her face.
I actually like my sister isn’t naturally suspicious anymore. That she isn’t bitter and twisted like me, but the old Abby would’ve been as wary of Athena as me, and she would’ve been on the phone to Daniels asking him to check it out.
“I conduct full background checks on everyone I plan to do business with,” I explain.
“So, you ran background checks on every single person who pitched for this contract?”
“Yes,” I lie, rubbing the back of my neck. I’m not admitting I only verified the companies, not individual employees, because then I’ll have to explain why Athena was singled out, and it’s not a question I can answer. The truth is, I ran a background check on Athena because she unsettles me, and it freaks me out.
“Why? We don’t have anything to worry about anymore. The evil elite are dead, and things are different.” Now, her eyes narrow in suspicion. “Unless the threat isn’t gone and it’s one of your little secrets?”
“You really believe I wouldn’t tell you if I thought you were in danger?” Disbelief threads through my tone because I can’t believe my sister would think that.
A heavy sigh cleaves from her lips. “I know you would, but if you don’t want people jumping to the wrong conclusions, maybe you should open up and tell them the nature of the secrets you’re keeping.”
“The world isn’t rid of evil just ’cause we took a few monsters out, Abby.”
I can almost see the wheels churning in her mind. “So, you’re taking down monsters? Is that what you’ve been doing in secret all these years?”
“Something like that.” I shuffle awkwardly on my feet, shooting a quick glance at Charlie.
“Then I don’t understand why you won’t just tell us.” Her eyes plead with mine.
“If it was something you needed to know, I would.”
Demi blatantly glares at me, but I pretend I don’t notice.
“It’s late,” Kai says, tucking my sister under his arm. “And I think we’ve busted Drew’s balls enough for one night.”
I shoot him a grateful look.
“I love you,” I tell my sister, staring her directly in the eyes. “You’re my world, Abby, and I know you mean well, but you’ve got to drop this and let me live my life the way I want to. You might not approve, but it’smy life.”
Slowly, she nods. “I really thought you’d like her. She’s smart and hot and snarky. She’s perfect for you.”
Maybe in another lifetime, I might agree.
“Night, little sis.” I kiss her brow and clamp a hand on Kai’s shoulder as they walk off.
Demi and Charlie parked around the block behind my car, so we walk together. “You need to tell her about Jane,” Demi says when we are out of earshot.
“I don’t want to hurt her.”
“She suspects the worst already, Drew.” Demi takes my arm and looks up at me. Compassion is splayed across her face. “She knows if Jane was alive you’d be with her. She sees your pain and knows what’s causing it. She hasn’t pushed because she is waiting for you to tell her in your own time, but the longer you leave it, the harder it is for her. Please just tell her. Tell her everything. You have shouldered this burden alone for long enough.”
