I take my free hand and press it to her face, relishing the feel of her soft skin against my palm.
“I fucked up, so bad, Killer. Tell me how to fix this. I’m sorry, please tell me how to fix this.”
She jerks away from me, putting too much space between us.
“Drop dead, Killian. There is no way to make things right. You sent me a text message just to get me to my parents' home—knowing damn well the police would be there. You nearly got me killed, which then led to Carter’s attempt on his own life. And if that’s not enough, you got me thrown into an asylum. Not just any asylum, but one that you knew would be the worst place for me. You knew what I endured and used it to hurt me. You’re a monster, Killian, and all I want is for you to disappear. Permanently.”
Her words, although not surprising, cause the aching in my chest to grow. I knew she wouldn’t simply forgive me. I don’t deserve it anyway, but I’m going to prove to her that I’m not the man she thinks I am. I may have done terrible things in the past, but this is not who I want to be with her moving forward. There is one thing she accused me of that I did not do.
“What text message? I did not send you a text. Ever.”
“Forget it!” She yells and turns away from me.
Knox takes her into his arms and lifts her. She wraps her arms and legs around him, and he walks to the black sofa. Taking a seat, he speaks softly to her.
“Tesoro. Please tell us about this text message.”
She lets out a long, frustrated breath.
“That night, before I left, I got a text message. It was from an unknown number and said, ‘I’m old. Let’s finish this. I’m tired of hiding.’ The sender wanted me to think it was my father. I texted the number back and asked where he was. The response was, ‘At our home you forced us to destroy.’ I got your gun just in case, and I think you know the rest.”
I glance at both of my brothers before responding to her.
“And you think it was me that sent the messages?”
Turning her head, she glares at me, her eyes full of venom.
“I know it was. You sent the message and acted like you were following me with concern when you set it all up. Don’t bother trying to deny it. It was YOU!”
“I take full responsibility for the things I have done—but this, it wasn’t me. But of course that won’t matter to you now. In your eyes I’m guilty of everything.”
I storm off to one of the three bedrooms down the hall. It’s bad enough that I did the things I did, but she’s also blaming me for things I knew nothing about. That’s the problem with this situation. She will always think I’m a monster. How could she think otherwise?
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
THE HEATHEN
Iwatch Killian walk away, acting like he’s hurt that I’d even think hecouldbe responsible for the text messages. Given what he did, it’s not a far stretch. Yet, the way Carter and Knox look at each other right now makes me feel like I’m being a bitch.
“What? You both believe him? Great. After what he did, you’re taking his side?”
I know I sound like a child throwing a tantrum, but I can’t help the way I feel. And right now, I want to be mad. I’m not ready for forgiveness, and I don’t know if I ever will be.
Carter moves closer to me and kneels as I tuck my hands under my legs.
“We are not taking his side, Little Heathen, but I’m not sure he sent the messages. You have every right to be angry with him. Not sending those messages doesn’t change what he did. We just think they came from your family.”
Knox asks, “Do they have your number?”
I shake my head no and then nod.
“Jedediah doesn’t, but I’m sure he could get it from my sister. He searches all rooms weekly. If she didn’t hide it well enough, it’s possible.”
I fight the tears threatening to fall for my sister.
“What is it, Tesoro?”
Hanging my head down, I release a shaky breath before speaking my fear out loud, making it feel more real.
