Where Silence Gathers (Some Quiet Place #2)(27)

“Alexandra,” Forgiveness repeats. I’d nearly forgotten him. His lullaby voice jars me from my thoughts. Involuntarily, I look at him again.

There’s no chance to prepare myself. Whatever sharp response I had dies as those melancholy eyes manage to pierce my armor, and I’m falling into him again. His beauty is a net that ensnares. His wild hair, his nose that’s long and noble, his jaw elegant and defined. And his lips …

I will never, ever feel those lips.

What’s happening to me? It must be the choice. I’m going crazy. “Get out,” I manage. “Both of you.”

The order isn’t so effective given the breathless quality that clings to it. I hate my weakness. I despise disappointing my family. But I keep hearing those words, and they stop me from taking the next step and walking up to that door. The real reason she’s angry, though, is because she’s scared she’s lost the man she knew. The man she loved. Bile burns my throat.

I shut the door, lean over, and shove the gun back into the glove box. My glance flicks to the rearview mirror, where Revenge regards me with an indiscernible expression. Then he fades into nothing.

Somewhere in the trees, an owl calls. It reminds me that it’s late. I try to summon Anger now, anything to keep the pain away, but the Emotion doesn’t appear. There’s only a small, wistful twinge in my chest.

The being in the passenger seat shifts. I’d almost forgotten he was here. Before I can think of something to say, Forgiveness’s form begins to go transparent; he’s preparing to leave, too. Which means that he’s concluded I’m not going to use the gun tonight. Maybe I’m just not strong enough to do this.

I don’t realize I’ve spoken out loud until Forgiveness says, “Maybe you’re stronger than you realize.”

I wilt like a flower, still trying to hate him. “Why won’t you just leave me alone?” I whisper. The moon disappears among the wisps of clouds and condensation creeps across the windshield from my breath.

No, not only from my breath. From his, too. I feel the heat emanating through his clothes as Forgiveness comes closer than he ever has before. I refuse to give him the satisfaction of turning, so when he answers me, the words are puffs of air on my cheek.

“Because you keep calling for me,” he whispers back.

Instant denial rises up, and I jerk around to argue.

But Forgiveness is gone.



There are no other cars when I get home. At first I’m worried that my aunt and uncle went out looking for me, fed up with the missed calls and unexplained absences. It takes me a moment to remember Missy’s earlier text, informing me that Saul is playing poker with his buddies and she’s doing a late shift answering the phone at the sheriff’s station. Relieved, I get out of the car and climb the rickety stairs to the deck. Just as I’m about to turn the corner, though, something whines.

I jump and spin, pressing a hand to my chest. Fear stands next to me already, and he snorts when he sees it’s just the stray, standing at the bottom of the steps. His form shimmers as he leaves, but I hardly notice. The starving dog gazes at me with those big eyes, and I clear my throat. “Hey, girl. What are you—”

She retreats. That’s when I realize her hackles are raised and her teeth are bared. Before I can move or speak or blink, the stray bolts, and once again I lose her to the forest. After she’s gone, I squint at the shadows.

Strange.

Mentally shrugging, I turn back around. At the door, my phone goes off. A text from Briana. WHERE DID YOU GO TODAY? She always spells every word out. Smiling wistfully, I text an empty apology back. There’s also a text from Georgie. It isn’t so polite. I don’t respond.

I wrap my hand around the doorknob and the hinges let out a whine; the door is ajar. Not right, instinct whispers. Missy may burn things, but she doesn’t forget things. Frowning, I step inside.

The apartment is dark and quiet. Moonlight cascades over the kitchen counters and the rug in the living room. Nothing seems to be amiss. No reason for my instincts to be bristling like a threatened porcupine.

A sound reaches my ears. Faint, but I know I didn’t imagine it. Wood sliding on wood. The drawer to my desk. I freeze.

Someone is in the apartment.

It can’t be Missy or Saul. Angus would have waited for me on the steps. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. Rational thought is suddenly impossible.

Slowly, I retreat. Step by step. Back toward the door. Almost mockingly, Fear tiptoes beside me, his hand on my arm. I don’t acknowledge him. My lungs begin to shriek. Doesn’t matter. All that matters is getting outside, to the car, and away.

Wait. Maybe it’s just Andrew. No, not just Andrew. He nearly overpowered me in his office today. He wanted that flash drive. Enough to bring him to this? How do I get him out of here before Saul or Missy come home?

The gun.

I need to get to the gun in my glove box. Then I can confront whoever is stupid enough to break into the apartment where the only family I have left sleeps and eats and lives. I take another step, my heel high off the floor. Only a few more feet—

Creak.

For the second time today, time utterly stops. I feel my heart leap into my throat, and the stranger isn’t opening the drawers anymore. The silence quivers. Then there are footsteps. Coming for me. Thud-thud-thud.

I dive for the open doorway.