Split(59)

I don’t know how to convince him I won’t hurt Lucas. But I suppose pain to them is different than it is to me. It’s possible I’ve been hurting Lucas this entire time and not even known it.

So many questions tumble around in my head, but in order to get answers, I have to see Lucas and, worse, risk triggering Gage.

If that happens, do I trust him enough not to hurt me?

Would I bet my life on it?

I wake with a start. A firm hand on my shoulder shaking me.

Oh no, he’s back!

“No!” I thrash and kick. “Don’t touch me!” My fist connects with something soft.

“Oomph!” My bed dips. “Fuckin’ hell, Shy. You didn’t have to hit me.”

Cody?

I blink open my eyes and the room is dim, but there’s sunlight from behind the curtains.

“What time is it?” I rub my eyes and try to calm my racing heart. “What’re you doing here?”

He works his jaw around a couple times, wincing. “It’s almost noon, Merryweather.” His expression grows dim and he sets his dark eyes on me. “Some *s broke into the McKinstry house last night. Fucked it all up.”

I sit up. “What?”

He shakes his head. “Yeah, probably a bunch of kids. Anyway, the security company called and I told Dad I’d come check it out. He’s gonna stay up there one more night, come back in the morning.”

“Why didn’t security call me?”

“Said they tried, didn’t get an answer.”

I rub my forehead. Shit, that’s because I was being drowned by the alternate identity of the guy I kinda like. “Damn, I’m sorry, Code. I can go down there and take care of it and you can head back to the lake.” I swing my feet over the bed, but he stops me.

“Nah, go back to sleep. I got it. Got a guy coming with me. Between the two of us, we should have it done in no time. Besides”—he stands and peers down at me—“you look like shit.”

I throw a pillow over my head and shove my middle finger into the air.

“Dad said you’re working at Pistol Pete’s?”

“I am. Which is why I need my sleep.” I shoo him away with my bird-flipping hand.

He chuckles. “Sweet. I’ll see you there. No way I’m missing my big sister serving a bunch of drunk-ass mountain dicks. What time . . .”

The bed dips again and the sound of the curtains over my bed being opened make me want to throw something at my brother. “You said I could sleep. Shut those—”

“Gotta go, my guy’s here.” The bed bounces and his heavy footsteps retreat.

His guy is here? I didn’t hear a car pull— Oh no!

I spring from my bed and rip open the curtains. He must see the rapid movement from his leaning position on my brother’s truck, because his eyes instantly find mine.

Lucas.

I want to smile, wave, do something friendly, anything to wipe that blank look from his beautiful face. A chill races up my spine and the sting of inhaling cold water still burns in my nose. He cringes, as if he can read my thoughts, and his expression goes from blank to hurt. My arms long to comfort him, but I shake my head, slide closed the curtain, and drop back into the safe, warm cocoon of my bed.

Walk away from it all, Shyann.

Get the hell out of this town and never look back.





LUCAS


I can’t pull my eyes away from the window. As if I stare at it hard enough I can get Shyann’s face to reappear. Not that I need to actually see her to see her. Those light eyes, all that black hair, and those lips star in every dream I’ve had since we met. Every time my thoughts wander off, she’s there waiting.

I’m obsessed.

Consumed.

Totally infatuated.

But that look, her lips pulled into a tight line, jaw set, and eyebrows pulled together. That’s the face from the window, the hurt that twists her gorgeous features, and I put that hurt there.

“Yo, Lucas!” Cody jogs from the front door of Shyann’s house to me. “Thanks for helping me out.”

“No problem.” I clear my throat. “What happened?” Mind off the woman inside and on the project. Stick to work, professional relationships only, don’t get too close.

He jerks his head for me to climb into the truck. I do and he follows, firing up the four-wheel drive and pulling away from the house.

“Guess they vandalized the place.”

My eyes stay glued to Shyann’s window, hoping like an addicted junkie I’ll get one more hit before we pull away. Not even a rustle of the curtains.

“We’ll check it out, call Austin if we need to.”

I drag my eyes away from the window and turn to him. “The sheriff?”

“Yeah, we’ll need to file a report.”

I swallow hard, nerves making me break out in a sweat even in the sixty-degree weather.

Would Shyann call the cops on me after what happened last night? I don’t know the details, but she was wet, scared, and almost naked. God, what did Gage do to her? I swear if I could I’d confront him and beat him senseless.

I rub my temples, amazed still, even after all these years, how crazy I sound.

If it barks like a dog . . .

“Headache?”

“No.” Just regret.