Page 46 of Wicked Truths

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“Love you,” I say, my voice catching slightly.

“Love you too.” Milly pulls back, adjusting her towel. “But I need to get ready. Dad’s waiting.”

I watch her disappear into the house before turning to Poppy.

“Come on.”

Minutes later, we climb into my Audi, the leather seats still warm from the sun.

“I can’t believe I won’t see you every day soon,” Poppy says as I pull out of the driveway. “Who’s going to be my partner in crime?”

My throat tightens. I focus on the road ahead, trying to keep my voice steady. “You’ll make new friends.”

“But there’ll be nobody like you.”

I turn to her. “You could always stay.”

She gives me a tight smile. I know what it means.

After dropping Poppy off, I let the tears fall freely as I drive home.

I need to concentrate.

The steering wheel blurs in front of me and I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand.

Back home, I strip off my sundress and dive straight into the pool. The water embraces me like an old friend, but it does nothing to fill the emptiness growing inside my chest.

I turn and float on my back, staring at the cloudless sky.

The house is quiet.

Too quiet.

Milly’s gone.

Mom’s gone.

Poppy’s leaving soon.

The loneliness hits me like a punch to my gut as the pain presses down on my chest until I can barely breathe.

12

Dom

I lean back inmy chair, fingers steepled, staring at the monitor in front of me. The tracker lights up, showing Amara’s Audi gliding along the beach road, heading home.

I switch my focus to a new camera as her car pulls into the driveway.

My heart sinks as she emerges from her car, tears streaming down her cheeks, which she wipes away with the back of her hand.

My fists clench at my sides as something foreign twists inside my chest—an ache that sharpens as I watch her face.

I should have protected her better. I can’t shake off the blame that weighs heavily on my shoulders like an anchor dragging me down.

I made promises—to keep her safe, to guard her against all harm. Yet here she is, hurting in ways I can’t comprehend.

I need to deal with Mateo Conti.

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