Page 101 of Wicked Truths
“Come in,” I say, staring into the mirror and seeing my sister Lia step inside. I’ve seen her enough times to know who she is by now.
“It’s me. Your sister, Lia.” She walks toward me.
“I know.”
“Do you remember me?” She pulls me in for a hug.
“Not from before, but I know you’re a good person.”
She looks at me like she’s upset that I don’t remember her. I wish I did. “Your memories will come back,” she says.
“I know. Mom told me I was dating Mateo before the accident and...”
“What the hell? No, you weren’t.”
“I wasn’t?”
“I found you arguing with him. And you told Milly that you found him and Enzo in a compromising position at a party.”
“I did?”
“So, it wasn’t a lover’s argument?” I ask, thinking about the detective’s visit.
“No. It was bigger than that. I suspect Mateo was making sure you never told anyone what you saw.”
I gasp as I turn on the chair and stare at her. “He had a motive to kill me.”
Lia walks to the bed and sits on the edge. “But he was seen fleeing from the secret exit. And why would he blatantly threaten you in the club if he planned to kill you?”
I touch my face, feeling the stickiness of the foundation on my fingertips.
“But you wanted to talk to me about something that was happening to you,” Lia says, her voice cracking slightly. “I’m so sorry that I never came to you to find out what was wrong.”
I hold her biceps as I stare at her and smell her perfume—something citrusy and light.
“But what the hell makes Mom think you’re dating Mateo?” she asks, her eyebrows knitting together.
“I might have been. I just don’t remember him.” My voice sounds hollow even to my own ears. The name Mateo stirs something in my gut—not butterflies, but something darker, like spiders crawling under my skin.
“There is no way in this life you were dating.” Lia’s voice is firm, certain in a way that makes me believe her. “He is too dark for you. He’s too dark for anyone.”
I swallow back the lump that has made its way into my throat. The metallic taste of fear lingers on my tongue.
“Anyway, I came to get you because dinner is ready,” she says. “Xander and Cole are here, too.”
“Cole?” The name echoes emptily in my mind as I walk into the bathroom and wash my hands.
“Xander’s friend from college.”
When I come out of the bathroom, she takes my hand and leads me from my bedroom. The hallway stretches before us, and the plush carpet is soft beneath my bare feet.
“We should go to the beach. You, me, Milly, some of your friends. What do you think?” Lia squeezes my hand gently.
“Dominic takes me for walks along the beach. He thinks the fresh air will help with my memories,” I say. The memory of salt air and the sound of waves crashes over me. “I like it. But Mom freaked when she found out.”
“Why?”
“She thinks I was targeted and someone actually tried to kill me.” I turn to Lia with unshed tears burning behind my eyes. My chest tightens as I ask, “What did I do?”
