Chapter 6
Anna
All I needed to do was tell him? Tell Braden what? As if he would understand everything I was going through. As if I did. I had no idea what the hell I was doing. My mind said one thing while my heart longed for another. For hours, I let our conversation outside the elevator loop in my mind. I could still see him standing there, staring at me with those deep green eyes. When he took the key, I quickly turned and jogged back to Boston’s room. I couldn’t even face Braden. Was he inside right now, waiting for me? Had he decided to just sleep in his car?
“You can go if you want. It’s really late.”
Boston’s stare was just as wide as mine. I continually sipped my coffee from the room’s small coffee maker, far from tired. My mind was racing. Although Braden plagued my thoughts, my fear for Lucy kept me rooted
“Soon. First, check that one.”
I pointed to the picture of Lucy and Boston standing with the beach behind them. At the angle of the camera, the person appeared to have been higher by at least a few feet.
“Oh, that’s by our cottage. This was taken a few days after we moved in. Do you see how happy we are? How happy she looks? God, if you knew the shit she’s been through…that smile means everything to me. All I ever wanted was to make her happy—happier than anyone in the world.” His voice got choked up and he placed his small Styrofoam cup down before clicking to enlarge the picture.
“What has Lucy been through?”
Hazel eyes darted to me before they went back to gazing at the picture.
“Her mother killed herself. Her brother…well, I killed him.”
“You killed him?”
“He was crazy,” Boston breathed out. “Like, really crazy. After he got me in the head with the axe, I think the guilt ate away at him. He killed me that day, but the doctors brought me back. I was in a coma for over two months. I woke up with amnesia. When I did wake, the only person I could remember was Lucy. I loved her. I knew it before I had the strength to open my eyes. She’s all I ever wanted. Well, it turned out, she loved me too. But, Jeff…I guess he couldn’t accept that after everything else. He started spouting out stories about how we murdered a girl, and her body was in my hunting cabin. No one believed him. To calm him during one of his episodes, he convinced Lucy to go with him so he could show her proof.”
Boston’s face hardened. “He flipped out when he discovered there was nothing there. Nothing he’d seen in his mind. Like beds and furniture. He tried to blame me for taking it out, but I was in a fucking coma. I’m not sure how he expected me to do that. Anyway, Lucy got upset and decided she was done listening to him. When she tried to distance herself, he attacked her. Time went on, and he came back. That’s when I stepped in. I went after Jeff to convince him it was time to get help. The cops were already looking for him, but he tried to kill me.”
Boston pointed to the scar on his cheek. “Got me right across the face with a branch the size of a baseball bat. Damn near knocked me out, but I managed to grab a rock to fend him off. I guess with all the adrenaline, I hit him a little too hard. Lucy was devastated. First her mother, then weeks later, Jeff. I’m all she has. And then I let this happen? Hasn’t she been through enough?”
My hand came out, touching his shoulder. “This is not your fault. You cannot blame yourself.”
“But what if she was taken because of me? What if someone wants money, or what if they…what if it’s someone from my past I don’t remember? I still haven’t regained all my memories. Fuck. This doesn’t seem real.” He stood from the chair, breathing heavily as he once again began to pace. He did that a lot. Like an animal stalking the inside of a cage, ready to break free. The look in his eyes. Was it really love, or too much love? The emotion was definitely there, but I didn’t fear it, or him. Maybe because I didn’t really fear anything at all anymore.
“If this has to do with your past, we’ll uncover it. Let’s start with this photo. Who took it? They look like they’re standing up pretty high.”
Boston slowed. “My mom. She was on the dunes that align the beach.”
“Was she by herself?”
He came to a complete stop, turning and narrowing his eyes at the computer. “When that picture was taken, yes. My dad, I don’t see him often. He works a lot.”
“I don’t want to upset you, but I need to ask for peace of mind. Do either of your parents not like Lucy? Or maybe anyone close to you? Cousins, friends?”
“Oh, no. Everyone loves her. My mom was a little apprehensive of her at first because of her age, but over time, they’ve gotten close. To know Lucy…I wish you could meet her. You’d love her too. She’s the most amazing person I’ve ever met. She’s sweet and kind. Humble. God, I don’t even know where to begin. There’s not enough to define who she is.”
His hand rose as he seemed to recall something. “Take the conversation we had before we got on the plane. Lucy knows I come from money. She’s always known. I’ve offered to pay for her nursing degree. I pay for the cottage. I try to pay for everything, but she refuses not to work. She took out loans for school. She pays the utilities. It leaves her barely anything when all is said and done, but she doesn’t care. That’s the type of person she is.” His enthusiasm faded. “I made her quit before we came here. I shouldn’t have made her quit waitressing. I thought she needed to focus on school. It’s not easy for her. She had such trouble juggling classes and work last semester, it killed me watching her tired all the time, but I convinced her quitting was for the best. I keep doing that, and I neglect to see that’s who she is.”
I stood, unable to stop myself from feeling his sadness. “But you see now. And when we get her back, she’ll flourish under your new support.”
“Yes. Yes, she will.”
Although he said it, I didn’t think he agreed. If I knew this Boston, and I was damn good at reading people, he may never let her out of his sight again. It had my thoughts going back to Braden. He was waiting—waiting to make sure I made it home.
“I should go. It’s getting late.”
“Of course. Thank you so much again for all the help. Will you be back?”
Panic. His eyes were getting that wildness to them again.
“Yes. I’ll stop by sometime tomorrow. I’ll text before I do. I know your mom will be here.”
“Thank you. Really. Thank you.”
At my nod, I picked up my purse, heading for the door. Boston was right on my trail, grabbing his keycard.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to walk you to your car. I don’t like this place. You look…kind of like Lucy. It’s not safe.”
“That’s very nice of you. Thank you.”
Telling him I could take care of myself was pointless. Instead, we headed for the elevator, riding it down until we were crossing through the parking lot. When I pulled open the door, I threw him a wave.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow.”
He repeated the word, strangled, as if it were hard for him to let me leave. It had me assessing his tone as I reversed and headed for the highway. To say I didn’t see signs that something was off was a lie. Boston wasn’t your average doting boyfriend. Not any I had met. But he did love her. A lot. And he’d killed, even if in self-defense. It wasn’t something that worried me, but it wasn’t something I dismissed either. Taking a life wasn’t easy on a person, yet he killed his own girlfriend’s brother.
I exited, going down and turning on my road. Braden’s car wasn’t in front of the house. I glanced toward the garage door, wondering if he had parked inside. For the life of me, I couldn’t see him slipping into old habits. I didn’t think he’d want to push me so fast. It was late. Maybe he decided to go home since I took too long. I wasn’t sure, but I couldn’t stop my hands from shaking as I pulled into the driveway and parked. Garage. Maybe he did park in there. Could he be inside? Did I want him to be? Too many questions…too many hopes.
Opening the door, I grabbed my purse and headed toward the entrance. The knob didn’t move at my turn, and I let out a deep breath, pulling back the mat. The key. A sigh was immediate. I unlocked the deadbolt, heading inside and locking up behind me. A note on the counter had me walking over with my pulse in my throat.
Anna,
We have a body. Lock your doors and keep your gun close by. It’s not good.
-Braden