I knew he’d mentioned that to intimidate me, scare me into backing down.
He was letting me know that he’d do whatever it took to get what he wanted.
When I’d looked into his cold, lifeless eyes, I’d known that he wasn’t bluffing.
I’d thought that taking a loaded shotgun with me would intimidate the asshole, but I’d been wrong.
He probably never thought that I’d actually use it.
But I did. I’d lifted that gun before I could think about it, and he’d been dead a moment later.
I’ve always told myself that the police wouldn’t have done me any good until something had actually happened to Lauren.
It would have been my word against his about him killing his wife.
So, I’d gotten rid of the threat myself.
The man had killed his wife.
He’d tried to molest my sister.
The bastard was pure evil.
Still, that hadn’t given me the right to kill him. I’d realized that not long after I’d pulled that trigger.
Lauren is grown and she’s safe.
She has a bright future ahead of her.
It’s time for the true perpetrator to take the blame.
My hands were shaking when I dropped the journal into my lap, unable to read another word.
Dear God!
How was it possible that my beloved brother was the person who had murdered Cole and Asher’s father?
And how was it possible that I’d been ignorant about it for all these years?
Denial and a fierce desire to defend and protect my brother rose inside of me, but I pushed it down.
I had the proof, and I had it in his own written words.
Denial just wasn’t an option.
Tears started flowing from my eyes like a river, and I didn’t even try to stop them.
In moments, my entire world had been turned upside down.
My brother was a killer, and he’d killed to protect me?
I wasn’t even sure how to process something like that.
Keith had been a gentle, thoughtful person, and the kind of brother that most kids would love to have.
I’d never seen the side of my brother that was capable of murder, even if the victim had deserved to die.
I threw the journal on the bed, my heart aching so badly that even the sobs coming from my throat didn’t relieve the pain.
