Page 47 of Lethal Truths

The next morning, there’s a knock on the door. Creed pauses the movie he’d put on for us and then says, “Yeah?”

The door opens and Asher and Griffin both stride in. My eyes drop to my hands folded in my lap as flashes of Griffin’s glorious body assault me. My cheeks heat, and I just know that my pale skin is betraying me right now. Christ, Prudence, pull it together. When I lift my gaze, I find Griffin watching me with this weird expression that I can’t quite work out. Almost pensive and cautious, maybe a tad embarrassed about last night, but there’s something else there, deep in his eyes, that’s like a puzzle I can’t solve.

Asher breaks the spell between Griffin and I, saying, “How is she? Any more tub attempts?”

I blink over at him, but he’s not looking at me. His emerald gaze is on Creed, which pisses me off. Sitting up straighter in Creed’s bed, I frown. “She is right here, Asher. And no, I haven’t… Look, I already apologized for scaring you guys. I’m not a risk, okay? But don’t ridicule me for struggling right now.“ I pause, my eyes burning with tears. I’ve cried enough, barely able to breathe at times, and I’m tired of it. That’s why Creed had put on a movie once I woke up today, hoping to give my mind a moment’s reprieve. It had worked, too, until Asher had to come in here and remind me of everything. “I found out the most important person in my life is gone, and I’m allowed to feel all the anguish and grief that comes along with that,” I snap, my sharp words in contrast to the tears that slip down my cheeks.

Asher’s hard expression softens a bit. He sighs, coming forward a couple of steps before stopping himself. “I’m sorry, Prudence,” he murmurs, his voice gentle and kind for once. “It’s hard, I know. I didn’t mean to…” He trails off, like he’s not sure what he wants to say. Shaking his head, he looks back at Griffin before giving his focus to Creed and I. “We need to leave. Today. We should have bolted the second I got you out from their torture chambers, but then everything with your mom and… You needed some time, and I understand that, but now our time’s up. My dad’s been calling me since three a.m. this morning. Either he knows I helped you or he’s hoping I can lead him to you now, but regardless, we can’t be here when he shows up.”

Creed shakes his head, drawing my gaze to him. “Or it’s a trap. Maybe he’s trying to flush us out of the house so they can grab us on the road without witnesses?” he says tightly. He looks around at all of us, brows raised like he’s waiting for us to get his point. “Think about it. It’s been a few days. Why haven’t they shown up already? It’s not a stretch for your dad to assume we’d have Prudence, so why have they let us sit and recover instead of charging in, guns blazing?”

Truthfully, I hadn’t thought about that, but now that Creed’s words are out in the open, hanging heavily between us, it seems more than plausible. Fear and anger and so many other nasty emotions clog my throat. “Do we have a choice, though? Stay here and wait for an attack or try to run? I think I’d rather take my chances putting some distance between myself and them.” The words taste like acid on my tongue, and thoughts of my mom try to surface. She’s the only reason I ever came here, and it feels like I’m letting her down by leaving. But I won’t allow myself to be an easy target and right now, I’m too beaten down to even think about fighting. Running makes more sense. Once I’ve had some time to pull myself back together and work out a proper plan, I’ll come back. I’ll get justice for my mom.

Asher nods solemnly. “Exactly. Even if it is a trap, we’re better off taking that risk.”

Creed and Griffin both look at me, like they’re leaving the decision in my hands. I look at the clock above Creed’s desk. It’s just past seven in the morning. “Alright, then. How long do you think we have?” I ask as dread sinks in my stomach.

“Not long enough. Pack necessities, leave everything else behind. We’re on the road in half an hour, and if your sweet ass isn’t in the car when I start the engine, I’ll leave you without a second thought,” Asher says sternly before turning and leaving Creed’s room.

I gape at the place he just vacated before rolling my eyes. “It’s like he can’t not be an asshole,“ I grumble under my breath as I scoot off the bed.

Fifteen minutes later, I’m dressed and lugging a heavy duffel bag downstairs. Creed offered to run across the street and grab more of my things for me. And by offered, I mean when I mentioned going myself, he about ground his teeth to dust. You’ll not be stepping foot outside this front door until all three of us are with you and headed for the car, he’d told me.

It was an argument I refused to have, and truthfully, I felt relieved that I didn’t have to go to the A.Chi.O. house myself. I have no idea where Heather is, but if there’s even a chance she’s back in her room plotting her next move against me, I’m not going to put myself in her path.

While Creed is over there grabbing things from a short list I made him, I packed up a bag for each of us here, with clothes and toiletries inside. Once I make it down three flights of stairs, I pause on the main floor landing and catch my breath. Each bag on its own isn’t incredibly heavy, but I was worried about running out of time so I lugged both down at once. I’m regretting that now.

The front door opens a few feet from me, and a second later, Griffin is striding inside. I peek past him to see Asher’s Hellcat parked by the curb right out front, with the trunk open for our stuff. Griffin walks right up to me, effectively cutting off my breathing with his icy blue eyes. With a small quirk of a smile, he grabs the two bags from me.

“Thanks,” I mutter as he backs up a step.

He nods, but he doesn’t move to go put the bags in the car. Setting them on the ground by his feet, he signs, Are you okay?

I breathe out a dry, numb laugh. “No, but I think you already knew that.” I’m a master at compartmentalizing, though. I refuse to think of my mom right now. I just have to keep moving. It’s worked out alright so far.

Is there anything I can do? he asks next, frowning at me as if he can see all the fragile cracks along my armor.

I shake my head, hooking my thumb over my shoulder. “I better finish upstairs. The clock’s ticking, and I don’t want to give Asher any reason to leave me here,” I say. Turning, I take the first step.

“Prudence, wait.”

Two words, so soft and hushed, so raw, and yet it’s like they were a barked command that my feet have no choice but to listen to. Slowly, I turn back to look at Griffin, finding him standing closer now. “Yes?” I ask quietly.

He rakes his teeth over his bottom lip, his cheeks turning just a tad pink. What you walked in on, he starts before wincing like he can’t find the right thing to say.

Offering him a tight smile, I say, “Was a private moment, and I’m sorry that I interrupted.”

Griffin gently grabs my hand when I start to leave again, releasing me just as quickly. Does it bother you? he asks, his face carefully blank.

I suck in a slow breath, wishing more than anything that we weren’t discussing this right now. “Asher is—“

An idiot. And he’s fucked up. But take him out of it for a second… Does me being bi bother you?

“No,” I answer softly and without hesitation. Sure, I’m shocked that Griffin likes men, but no, it doesn’t bother me. “But even if it did, it’s none of my business, anyway. You should feel free to be with who you want.” I pause, swallowing past the lump in my throat. Creed just had to give me the idea of sharing and now it’s all I can think about, even though Griffin is clearly with someone else. Someone I loathe and detest and yet still find frustratingly attractive. “I really need to head back up,” I say a moment later when all Griffin does is stare at me.

This time, he lets me retreat and I rush back upstairs like my ass in on fire. Between the clock ticking down and visions of Griffin’s nakedness fresh in my mind all over again, I try to keep myself busy and get everything finished while forcing my mind to shut down.

A few minutes later, just as I grab a couple of phone chargers, Creed’s medication, and a knife he keeps in his bedside table, Creed walks into his room. His eyes drop to the knife as I’m stuffing it into my backpack, and a crazed kind of heat lights up in his amber gaze.

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