Page 78 of Absolution

I jolt awake, panicked, and sweating. I scan the room, finding my bearings as quickly as I’m jarred to life. Scarlet is on my left, still sleeping. I scrub my hand over my face, forcing myself to shake the dreams off.

In the distance, I finally register the little voice calling to me. I ease from the bed, traipsing through to Emmie’s room. Still torn with the thoughts of my nightmares, I tiptoe over and lift her into my arms.

“Mmmm dddad.” She mumbles.

“This we can agree on. Nightmares suck!” I nestle her to my side and sit back in the rocker beside her crib. “How about a story?”

“Naannaa ddddad.” She giggles.

I nod with understanding. “One-day young lady, we’re gonna have a long talk about your language.”

My eyes float around the room, looking for a book to read. There’s a nightstand on my right, I pull the drawer open searching for something to appease her.

I shuffle the things around, only to come across a photo frame. I turn the light on, flipping it over to see what’s in it. My chest tightens, immediately cutting off my air.

I drop the picture, scrambling from the chair. Emmie starts crying from my stunned reaction. I’m catapulted into the past, throwing me off balance, I fall against the crib and into the floor.

“Creed?” Scarlet runs into the room, reaching for Emmie. I release her, and Scarlet sets her in the bed above me.

She kneels, checking me over. “Are you okay? What happened?”

I can’t speak. I can barely breathe. The room spins out of control, and I’m deafened by the train barreling toward us. All I can see is the wreckage that’s left behind. Her. Me.

She crawls over to it, her hand shaking as it hovers above the broken square. She turns it to the front and gasps. Scarlet crumples to the floor, sobbing as if her heart is breaking. It mimics mine, shattering from the scene playing out in front of me.

She struggles to her feet, clearing the path for me to bolt. And I do. I fight to stand, stumbling out the door. I rush to the bedroom, jerking on my pants and grabbing my shirt and keys.

“Doc.” My breath hitches on her name, as the memory of why I call her that comes to mind. My body is wracked with grief as I struggle to stay upright and get out of the door.

Scarlet follows me through the house, I yank my shoes off the floor and pull the door open. I have to get away, there’s no time for formality. Doc slips through before I can make a clean break.

Scarlet’s hand lands on mine, grasping on to it. “Please, stay.”

“I thought you understood me, Scarlet. I will not live with betrayal.” I wrench my hand away and jump from the porch. I don’t stop running until I’m in my SUV and tearing down the road. I drive as fast as I can, getting as far away from her as I can.

“She’s worse than the rest of them. She destroyed me.” I’m gutted.

My stomach twists, filling with bile from her treacherous actions. Again, I’ve trusted someone with my life with no moral compass. All she ever had to do was be honest with me.

Some people will believe a lie before the truth because it holds more than hurt. They fester and rot, even after being unearthed. Telling the truth may cause pain, but once it’s out, you can begin to heal.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Scarlet

“Do you have any idea what you’re going to say?” Reese’s question cuts like a knife, not that she meant it to.

I swallow hard, my answer is barely audible. I know what I need to say, or better, explain. He needs the truth about the photo he found of us in Emmie’s nightstand. I want to give it to him, but only if he’s willing to listen.

“No.”

“Are you going to ever tell me what happened?” Her nose wrinkles.

“Yeah, but Creed deserves to hear it first. That’s if he’ll listen to me and not toss me out on my ass.” Which is what he has every right to do but I pray he doesn’t, I love him.

“Flash him that firemuff ya got, and he’ll go down like a champ.” Her brows waggle.

“Please. Do not help. Just drive, it’s the only thing I need help with right now.”