Page 51 of The Wrong Drive

“No, Em, I’m not. I’m not going with you anywhere.” I spin on my heels and head back for the cabin. Now that the bubble has burst, and reality is crashing down around me, I know the answer to everything.

“Turner?” Em chases after me. “I’ll come right back. I just need a phone to call my family and let them know I’m okay. I’m going to have to deal with Adam going missing…”

“I know,” I say, holding the door open for her. “But even though I told you I’d work on things—I’d be good for you—that doesn’t mean I can just go out gallivanting like a normal fucking person. I’m not fixed, Em.”

Her lips part, brows furrowing. “I know that. I’m sorry. I’ll go and take care of everything, and then I’ll come back. Just let me get everything sorted… I’ll stay with you. I’ll get you a phone, too.”

I close my eyes, turning to her. “Ihavea phone. Ihaveaccess to the world. Ichoosenot to use it.”

Her jaw drops. “You told me you didn’t.”

“I lied.”

She holds my gaze, hurt penetrating every inch of her face. “Okay. Well, it wouldn’t have had service anyway.” She slips pastme, heading to the bedroom. As soon as she enters, she starts sifting through her bag, digging out her purse and wallet. “I’m going to make some coffee before I go.” Em slings her purse across her body and then heads to the kitchen, leaving me there in the bedroom.

I can’t handle this. I’ll snap. I’ll hurt someone. I’ll hurt her in one way or another.The defeat hangs heavy on my shoulders.I know I told her I would be good, and maybe Icanbe good in a secure, controlled environment right now—but handling a hunt for a dead guy in my backyard? Meeting her family and trying to be normal? I’ll never fucking make it. I’m not ready for that. I don’t know how long it would take for me tobeready…

Or if I’d ever be ready.

I swallow the lump in my throat as I exit the room, the scent of coffee hitting me in the face. No matter how much I want Em, no matter how hard I promise to change, Ican’tbe there for her.

And that’s the ultimate sin.

Chapter 24

Emersyn

My heart poundsin my chest as I take the last sip of my coffee. Turner has gone silent, leaning against the counter watching me. I don’t care that he had a phone and didn’t tell me. I don’t care that he killed Adam. I don’t care that he might be borderline insane with violent urges. I don’t even care if I have to deliver warm bodies for him to fulfill his taste for violence.

I. Don’t. Care.

“Thanks for being an alibi,” Turner says quietly. “You didn’t have to. You could’ve told him the entire truth, and I wouldn’t have been mad at you.”

Furrowing my brow, I set the mug down. “What did you want me to do? Turn you in? They’d put you in prison for the rest of your life, Turner.”

He throws his hands up at me. “Have youeverconsidered thatmaybethat’s where I belong? I mean, there’s only so much someone could do, and I bet if Tommy knew?—”

I swallow hard and cut him off. “I don’t think he would change his mind.”

“I’m a danger to society.” He takes a step toward me. “There’s no coming back from that.”

“There is,” I argue with him. “I know the police officer showing up was overwhelming, but it doesn’t change what’s happened between us. I don’t feel any different about you.”

“Fuck, Em,” he grabs me, pulling me into his chest, and wrapping me up in a hug. He presses his lips to the top of my head. “Why are you such an angel, huh?”

“I’m really not,” I laugh, tipping my head back to peer up at him.

He smiles, leaning down and taking my mouth with his. He kisses me, long and deep, taking his sweet time to canvas my mouth. I grip the back of his neck as he tightens his hands on my waist.

When we finally come up for air, he presses one last kiss to my forehead and then releases me. “You should probably get going. The last thing you want to do is raise some kind of suspicion now that your truck is out, and someone knows.”

I hesitate. “Yeah, well, I just need to get a phone, and then I can come back. I had service when I was pulling up in the driveway.”

“Yeah, you can get service in some places, but it’s really spotty,” Turner says carefully, eyeing me. “Hopefully, somewhere is open today.”

“I’m sure there’s somewhere that is,” I reassure him, patting his chest. “I’ll figure something out.”

He rests his hand over mine, intertwining his fingers with mine, before pulling it away from my chest. “You’re a good person, Emersyn.”

---