Melissa
These women are acting like their men don’t have two men tied up in their basement. Alannah is telling Bonnie and Kristen about renovations she wants to carry out on her house. Fucking renovations! I have to sit here listening to her describe her dream home Cas has told her she can have and not freak out that the man I’m falling for is doing whatever to my brothers, that their husbands are the ones who will end their lives.
They haven’t spoken to me, occasionally one of them glance at me on the sly but I always catch them. They don’t trust me and they don’t mind making it obvious, I understand but it still feels like crap. This place has a habit of confusing me, the way they live not by any law or normal morals is like a void you fall in and struggle to climb out of. An eye for an eye, one dead man for another, always justifying the violence and somehow making you feel like they are right, even when it’s your own family.
“It’ll be over soon.”
I look up and Alannah is looking straight at me. I can see why her and Cas are together, her coldness matches his.
Is she talking about my brothers? I hated Danny when he wouldn’t save Kyle, he dismissed him like he was expendable, but now it’s happening, I can’t stand the confusion bouncing around in my mind.
“Excuse me, I need to use the bathroom.”
“It’s at the top of the stairs,” Kristen offers and I smile weakly.
I feel their eyes follow me out of the room and instead of climbing the stairs, I carry on to the front door and quietly let myself out.
I gasp in the fresh air, it does nothing to replace the sinking feeling in my stomach and it doesn’t clear any of the messed-up thoughts I’m having, but it’s hell of a lot better than being around the witches of Willow’s Peak.
I had a good life that I built for myself before Cas showed up on my doorstep. How I wish I could go back to that day and not answer the door, hide in the closest till he left and then jump in my car and drive far, far away.
Deep laughter comes from around the side of the bar and I follow the sound I’ve heard many times in my life.
I find Kyle smoking, laughing and chatting with another prospect and they both stop when they see me. Kyle has the grace to lose his smile and turns serious. The other prospect makes his excuses and leaves us.
“How can you joke around like nothing is happening?” I ask, genuinely wanting to know.
Maybe I can do with a pinch of whatever he has.
“Simple,” he says, lifting his shoulder in that arrogant way I’ve seen a lot of Lost Souls do, “I know what’s going to happen.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“What’s going on with you and Dex?” he asks, ignoring my question.
“I don’t know, he wants us to talk later.”
Which I'm looking forward to and I hope to fucking god that it brings some clarity, because I was full of shit this morning telling Dex I gained clarity last night.
“Pathetic,” he huffs, flicking his cigarette across the gravel.
“Excuse me?”
“You’ve never been so weak and pathetic over a guy before, you’re embarrassing yourself,” he scathes and I step back.
His words could knock me down with a feather, I cross my arms over my chest and put more distance between us.
“You don’t know anything about Dex…”
“Do I not? I know he admitted he used you, I know the only reason he’s been around is because Cas ordered him to be and I know the only reason our brothers are where they are now is because of him. Yet, you’re falling over yourself believing everything he tells you.”
“It’s not like that,” I defend myself.
“It’s exactly like that,” he spits angrily, stepping towards me, “They’re murdering our brothers as we speak, they’re all down in their basement torturing them and you’re telling me Dex is the one for you?”
Tears begin to pool and blur my vision. I swipe them away but more follow and fall in heavy droplets.
“So, what are you doing, pretending to be one of them?”
A cruel smile forms and the only time I’ve seen it before is when Danny promised to kill every Lost Soul for taking and keeping me.
“I’m getting close to them, and then I’m going to kill Cas.”
This is never going to end. Danny wanted power that wasn’t his and killed Oak, now he has to pay with his life, and Cayden's. Kyle wants to kill Cas and if he’s successful or not, Kyle will pay with his life. I can’t let that happen.
“You’re being ridiculous, you’re not a killer. Stop trying to be someone you’re not.”
“When they come up, our brothers will be dead and you’re going to carry on as usual. Let Dex have what he wants, it’s not like you’ll have to act with him, is it?” he smirks cockily, “He doesn’t really like you, it’s all a charade to keep us from talking. Open your eyes and stop being a fool and do not let on what’s to come. I mean it, Lissa. Cas is going to pay and as Danny can’t do it, I will.”
“It could be real…”
He cuts my hopes down and grabs my arm.
“He could never be yours. He belongs to the club and he will always put them before you. Dan was right when he said they wouldn’t kill you and I, he had everything worked out until you betrayed him bedding his enemy.”
This makes me angry.
“He said he wouldn’t come for you, I looked in his eyes and he was telling the truth. I did what I thought I had to do, for you.”
“It was all a lie, Lis. Dan is fucked in the head, but family is family. It’s a shame you couldn’t trust him.”
My head is spinning, I’m beginning to believe I can’t trust anyone anymore. Everything I once knew doesn’t exist anymore.
“By the time the sun goes down, they’ll be dead and it will be all your fault.”
“You forget, I tried to help him. I rented a new house for him to hide at when he needed it so they couldn’t track him. I only let them get him to save you. You should’ve let me in on your plans, their blood is not on me, fuck you for saying that.”
Yanking my arm out of his grip, I walk away from him. I can’t hear any more of his vile accusations.
“Whatever he wants to talk about later, play along. Don’t ruin this for me,” I hear and turn around.
Kyle has never been like Danny or Cayden. How have I missed this new version of him growing before me?
He doesn’t say anything else and walks into the bar, leaving me more confused than ever.
I’m terrified of and for him. He isn’t a killer, no matter how much he wants revenge. Cas is going to kill him and I can’t think of how to fix this.
“If you’re looking for the bathroom, it isn’t out here.”
I spin around and Alannah is scowling at me. I want to scream, to let all the mess burst out of me.
Nowhere I look has a future.