True Colors (The Masks #1)(66)

“But you didn’t.” I interrupted before he could come up with another what if. They were killing me.

He shook his head. “I don’t think you appreciate how close you came to dying today.” His annoyed look returned as he glanced over his shoulder at our cars. “Come on, I’ll take you to the hospital.”

He didn’t reach for my hand, just strode across the sand ahead of me. I crossed my arms and scurried after him, feeling like I’d just run a marathon and crossed the line with nothing to show for it. I gripped my arms in an attempt to stop the shaking and ward off the feeling of desolation.





Chapter 31




Eric fixed my car in silence. I hovered behind him as he plugged something back in, then wiped his hands on his butt and closed the hood.

“He just disconnected your spark plugs.”

“How do you know stuff about cars?”

Eric squinted against the sun, avoiding eye contact. “I don’t know that much. Gramps just taught me a few basics.”

“Do you think Mason disabled it before coming up to the house?”

“That’s my guess. He obviously recognized your car and planned to catch you here.” Eric swallowed and swiped a hand under his nose. With a sniff, he flicked his head towards his car. “I’ll follow you to the hospital.”

“Okay.” I wanted to reach out and touch him, make some kind of connection, but he strode towards his car before I could. Fighting tears, I started the engine and backed out of the small parking lot.

Fifteen minutes later we were pulling into the nearest hospital. Eric took my hand as we walked towards the emergency room, but there was no warmth in his touch. I hated it. He was there, but he wasn’t, and all I wanted to do was fall into his arms and cry like a little girl who’d scraped her knee.

In spite of the fact I’d just survived death and still had protective evidence in my pocket, I felt like my world was about to shatter into a thousand tiny pieces. And it had nothing to do with Indie or Liam, and everything to do with the guy holding my hand, but not looking at me.

Eric had to ask three different nurses before we found the others. Libby was on the phone in tears. I picked up two sentences of her conversation and realized she was talking to her mom. I gave her a weak smile, which she returned before pointing to a blue pulled curtain to my right.

I crept towards it and was about to pull it back when Indie’s willowy voice stopped me.

“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”

“I’ll be fine. It’s just a scratch.” I peeked around the curtain and saw Micah gather her fingers into his. His head was neatly bandaged and I spied a white patch of gauze through his ripped jeans.

Micah’s large, dark thumb rubbed over Indie’s white hand. The contrast of their skin was stunning next to each other. They were a beautiful couple. I knew most would think it too soon to assume such a thing, but I could see behind their masks and in their hearts they already belonged together. Micah confirmed my thinking when a soft smile pushed at his lips. “You don’t have to be afraid anymore, Indie. I won’t let Liam near you again.” He ran his finger along her hairline, freeing her face from a few loose strands.

She gave him a shaky grin. “I know.” Then she nibbled her lip, looking nervous. “Thank you for being there for me.”

“I always have.”

Her smile grew. “I know.”

“I should have stepped up sooner.” His lips pinched into a tight line of regret.

“I should have let you.” She squeezed his hand. “I used to daydream that you would come and rescue me...and you’d carry me away to safety.” Their eyes locked in an intense gaze and her pale orbs were practically glowing when she whispered, “I still remember the day you walked into school for the first time. You were so tall and strong and intimidating, but there was something about you. You gave me this small smile. Not on your lips, it was in your eyes and I knew straight away.”

“Knew what?”

She shrugged, her face blooming with color. “That I was going to fall in love with you.”

His white teeth appeared, unable to hide behind the beaming grin on his face. “Me too.” He chuckled. “I never believed in love at first sight. Thought it was bullshit...until the day I saw you, Indie.”

She reached for his face, placing her small white hand on his cheek and running her thumb over his big lips. I held my breath, unable to look away as she leaned towards him and gave him the sweetest kiss I'd ever seen. Blinking at tears, I pulled back and turned to face Eric. But he wasn’t behind me. He had moved to stand by Libby who was now off the phone and explaining everything to him in a flurry of hand movements. His expression was dark yet filled with concern.

I stepped towards them to hear what Libby was saying.

“So, Mom’s calling the police and Micah’s parents for me, and they’re gonna meet us here.” Libby sniffed. I whipped off her mask and saw a surprising strength beneath the surface. In spite of her quivers and the wobble in her voice, she was determined to bring the Donovan boys to justice.

Eric nodded at her. “Do you think the files will be enough?”

“Indie told me on the way here that there are more than just files in that folder. It’s got photos of some things they’ve done to us.” Libby blinked. “Video footage of one of my friends getting beaten and another girl who was forced to...” she swallowed. “They recorded it. They used it to keep them in line and warn the rest of us.” She looked to the ground, ashamed.