Page 51 of Scars Run Deep

What did that mean?

Did he know about Hexwood? What I was really doing here? Had he somehow found out?

No, the chance of that was next to none. I’d covered my tracks very well.

I was just being paranoid.

With the attack by an unknown enemy in the Heretics, what we were planning against the Head Infidels, combined with the feathers we’d ruffled around town, I guess it was just on my mind, starting to get to me.

A little.

Just a little.

But nothing I couldn’t handle.

It was all part and parcel of living with so much subterfuge.

Aurora: If I thought I couldn’t handle it.

Uncle Drew: You’ve always been very capable. That doesn’t mean going it alone all the time. It’s no shame to ask for help, or to walk away when the going gets too rough.

What the—I decided to test the waters a little more directly.

Just in case.

Aurora: I’m taking classes and working a part-time job. What’s rough about that?

Uncle Drew: All sounds pretty normal to me.

Aurora: Yeah.

Uncle Drew: Made any friends?

I had made one, but that had just proven to be a charade.

Aurora: You know me. Loner and all.

Uncle Drew: Nobody then? No one special?

Shit. I tensed. Did he actually know? These questions seemed pointed.

Or maybe it was just that paranoia casting things in a suspicious light.

Could be some guilt on my end too that I was keeping all of this from him.

But I had to.

If he knew, he’d come down here and throw himself right into the middle of it. He’d get hurt—or worse. On top of that, beyond wanting to protect me, once he found out his little brother was actually alive, he wouldn’t stop until he found him, crossing any line he needed to, going up against any obstacle in his path, in order to bring my dad home. Drew Carlyle had spent a big portion of his adult life being a hero and putting himself in seriously dangerous situations through his years in the military. He was done now. He deserved the peace, deserved to be safe and secure.

And so, I did what was needed to keep it that way for him, and lied.

Aurora: Enjoying the single life as usual.

Uncle Drew: We should really do Christmas together then. Don’t want you out there alone for such a family-oriented holiday.

Aurora: I’m really okay. But if you need me back there, I’ll find a way.

Christmas had been my dad’s favorite time of year. It reminded me and my uncle of him more than any other occasion.

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