Page 105 of Twisted Control

A cold, sick feeling slowly opens up beneath my ribs.

If Dad’s telling the truth, then Drew has been lying to me from the moment we met. I don’t know how to separate the man I fell in love with from whatever he really is.

I’ve been walking for what feels like hours, but is probably closer to twenty minutes, when an old vintage car tears past me so fast the rush of air catches my dress against my legs.

I stumble sideways, my heart jolting painfully into my throat.

They could’ve killed me.

The car disappears around the bend without even tapping the brakes. I stand there for a second, breathing hard, before wrapping my arms tightly around myself and continuing down the road.

My heels click unevenly against the asphalt. The sound feels strangely loud out here. Everything does.

About ten minutes later, another engine growls before turning the bend.

I step off the road, just as it swings around the corner.

It’s Drew.

For one stupid, instinctive second, relief punches straight through me. My whole body reacts before my brain can catch up. I actually move toward the car, ready to wave him down.

But he flies straight past me.

He doesn’t even see me.

The taillights vanish around the bend.

I stop walking.

For a moment, I just stand there on the side of the road staring after him, my chest aching in this confused, horrible way.

Part of me wants to run after him.

Part of me never wants to see him again.

The road stretches endlessly ahead of me.

I don’t know where I’m going.

I only know I can’t go back.

32

DREW

Ipull up at Grace’s place. Levi’s car is parked out front. Maverick must’ve called Ray the second he hung up on me.

Fuck.

I kill the engine, grab my pistol from the passenger seat and move toward the house. The front door is slightly ajar.

I push inside without a sound, gun raised.

Levi is waiting in the foyer at the bottom of the staircase. His own pistol hangs loose at his side.

“Told you not to be stupid, didn’t I?” he says.

For a second, neither of us moves.