Page 86 of Hidden Scars

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“Not being able to say it.”

“Don’t be. I understand. Besides, I can see how you feel about me in those gorgeous eyes. You can’t hide from me, sweetheart. Now, movie or should we call your brothers first?”

“Call the goon squad. Let’s get this over with.”

* * * *

“So, did either of you actually see him?” Trey asks as we all gather around my dining room table.

“No, but it had to be him. I left the necklace at the house when I left.”

“What’s the deal with the necklace, Em?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, why did he give it to you?”

“It was a gift.” I focus on the floor, avoiding my brothers’ stares, and hoping to get out of this without having to tell them the ugly truth.

“No shit, Emma. A gift for what?” Tucker snaps, clearly losing his patience already.

“What does it fuckin’ matter?” Nix barks. Both of my brothers look to Nix in shock and then back to me. Nix is usually pretty levelheaded but I can tell all this is stressing him out and he knows I don’t like talking about this.

“Uh…what just happened?” Trey asks.

“She doesn’t like talking about this. Why does it matter why he gave it to her?” Nix growls and I lean into him. I’m so thankful for his support through all this. Besides my brothers, no one has ever stuck up for me like this.

“I think it’s important.”

“Why? Why is it important, Trey?” I ask, getting irritated that he’s not answering the question.

“Because if we know why he gave it to you the first time, maybe we can figure out what he meant by leaving it for you now.”

Well, damn.

When he says it like that, it actually makes a lot of sense. I don’t want to talk about this though. I don’t want my brothers to know these things; just the thought has my stomach churning.

“I don’t know if I can,” I whisper.

Nix pulls me into his body. His lips brush over my ear as he whispers, “Close your eyes. It’s just you and me here, baby.” I follow his instructions. Closing my eyes, I imagine only telling my story to Nix.

“It was one of his ‘I’m sorry’ presents. He said that he needed me and that he couldn’t live without me. That I was his heartbeat.” I release a breath after I finish and open my eyes to see both of my brothers staring at me.

“How many ‘sorry’ presents were there, Emmy?” Tucker asks, his voice soft. Anguish fills his green eyes and my own burn as tears well up.

“It doesn’t matter right now,” Nix comments, rubbing his hand across my back. Soothing me.

“I wish you would tell us everything, baby girl,” Trey urges and I shake my head.

“No.”

“So, what does him leaving the necklace here now mean?” Tucker asks. We all look at each other as we try to work through it. It hits me all at once. The tires, the notes, and now the necklace.

He can’t live without me.

He won’t live without me.

“It means he isn’t going to let me go,” I whisper and Nix’s entire body goes rigid underneath me.

“Well, he’s S.O.L. cause I’m not letting him anywhere near you.” He pulls me closer, loops his arms around me, and kisses my cheek. Almost like he needs me for comfort. It occurs to me that I don’t know what Ryan will do if Nix tries to stop him. The thought of Nix getting hurt is too painful to even think about.

“Yeah, what he said,” Tucker says and Trey nods in agreement. I’m thankful for their protection but I can’t shake the feeling that it may not be enough. Who knows what Ryan has planned? I don’t think I even know what he’s truly capable of.