Page 35 of Scorching Lies

“This person was from our past. Someone we cut out long ago.” He says.

Dropping my palms to the table with a thud I shove my chair back, “Then tell me who! If what you’re telling me is true then you have no reason to be in prison for arson. For murder!” I’m yelling and attracting attention. Several eyes land on us, some merely annoyed, but a few are curious. I can see my fathers back straighten at the sudden notice from his fellow inmates. Turning back to me a mask drops into place leaving the cold man I saw when I first came in.

“Don’t come back, Kenna.” He barks. My name feels like daggers to the heart with the way he spits it at me.

Standing from the table, tears threaten to spill, but I refuse to show him weakness. Even with his actions I still want to please the father who loved and cherished me. He must see it on my face because he exhales a breath.

“Stay away from the Foundation. Keep your distance and trust only the brothers.”

Nodding my tongue slips out to wet my dry lips. Tasting my lipstick, the reminder has my shoulders pulling back. Standing straighter I ask the last question I have for him knowing he isn’t ready to give me more.

“If you’re innocent, why are you sitting behind these walls? What happened to the man I grew up thinking you were?”

Two steps forward and he’s in my face, “Family. Always.” He whispers. Leaning in he keeps his hands at his sides but his lips drop to my forehead as if I was that little five year old girl again. “Don’t come back.”

And then he’s walking away. Leaving me alone again to figure out the mess he left me with and the riddle that now runs on a loop in my head. He said that the Stone brothers are the safest place for me. Does that mean he knows who my Shadow is? He had my ring from the night of the fire so he had to have been in the building. Walking back towards the double doors, I let myself process the information that I got today. What little he did give me because let’s face it, I have less than when I got here now that I know he didn’t set the fire.

Running over the things I know, I list them off one by one.

First, Ryker may break me, but he’ll be my saving grace in the end.

Second, my father isn’t the murderer I thought he was, but he just might be a coward all the same.

Third, my Shadow set the fire and he’s someone from our families past, so if he’s after me then he’s also after the brothers.

Only I’m allowed to cut them down by their heels. No one will take that away from me, not even Shadow, even if that means he has to go through me. If they want to break me that’s fine. I’ll gladly let Ryker’s flame consume me, but I’ll rise stronger than before when they’re by my side. They bleed, I bleed.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

KENNA

My foot hits the accelerator, pushing my car faster down the winding road towards Hawthorne. My father’s words keep repeating in my mind, giving me more to think about when it comes to the brothers. What I don’t understand is how they could be the safest place for me when they are the ones I should fear. Not that Ryker doesn’t remind me of that every fucking day while he holds my next breath in my lungs. A dark image of the shadowed form in the hallway outside of my class that day pops into my head, reminding me that maybe I’ve been running from the wrong monster, but what would my dad know about him?

Yanking the wheel right, my tires screech across the asphalt with my speed. Coming up on my turn my foot leaves the gas, but I don’t go for the break, instead reaching for the emergency break. Pulling it at the same time as my left hand spinning the wheel, I manage to take the turn at fifty miles an hour, loving the feeling that sinks into my stomach. I can’t help the smile that forms on my face with the adrenaline. Up ahead the tall metal gate looms over me, bringing back a sense of foreboding, like my bodyknows it’s not a place of freedom, being trapped behind these bars.

Slowing down, I roll my windows down to let in the breeze. My hair whips around my face, the sun breaking through now that the tint isn’t keeping it out. Passing all of the students that linger around campus during the weekend, I pull into the parking spot I’ve claimed since the first day. Popping the gear shifter into park, I look in my rearview mirror, peering into soft grey eyes, an empty smile looking back at me. I thought today would be different. Not that I expected a warm welcome, but to be turned away after being abandoned? That shit stings no matter how much I’ve grown and if anyone else expected any different then fuck them. Feelings don’t make me weak, it's what I do with them that shows just how strong I am.

Before shutting off the car I roll up the windows and steady myself.Show no weakness.The words of Alec Stone pop into my head. It takes more than one deep breath to keep the tears at bay for the man who taught me so much about what it means to be a leader. To own who we are, even down to what makes us the darkest of all. Finally stepping out of the car, my eyes roam the area taking in the large castle-like space, knowing that this is where I should feel most at home. By the time I reach the door to my dorm my body is dragging with exhaustion. Between being woken up last night and the way my day went today, I need a damn nap.

Going to unlock the door, my hand twists the key only to come back surprised that it’s already unlocked. Nerves have me hesitating for a split second before I shake it off. Ally must be home, logic tells me. As I push the door open my eyes are met with darkness, fingers feel around for the light switch, flipping it up, shedding light on the open space. Taking stock of mysurroundings I spot Ally’s door shut, the T.V. off, and my room door slightly ajar. The hair on my arms stands. I know I shut that door. Unease prickles my insides as my mind runs wild with possible threats, but instead of leaving myself to freak out, I urge myself forward towards my room with logic hitting me.

“Ally.” I murmur to myself.

I bet she just wanted to borrow something of mine to wear and didn’t think to shut my door all the way. Chill out Kens, nothing’s going to pop out and bite you and if it does, you’ll probably like it. Well, only if it’s from a certain snake. Toeing the door open, my gaze takes in the room still covered in lilies that I left in their place. The sweet floral aroma hits me like a ton of bricks, making my core clench from the reminder of the garden. I let out a loud laugh when I find the room empty, but it’s cut short when I see a small brown box sitting in the center of my bed. The brown standing out against the grey comforter.

Swallowing, my throat burns from the bile threatening to flood my mouth.

This box is bigger in size, but still no larger than a small shoe box. A thin red ribbon is tied in a neat bow on the top, drawing my eyes to the lid. My teeth sink into my bottom lip, biting down hard enough to draw blood. Numbness coats my skin, preventing the pain from surfacing. Last time I opened a box from Shadow there was a secret hidden with soft threats and promise, but the size of this one brings the vow for more to come.

Trembling hands reach out with nimble fingers, sweat covering my palms, I suck in a deep breath pulling the box to the edge of the bed. Looking behind me to make sure Ally hasn’t made her way back in the dorm without me noticing, I steady myself,preparing to come face to face with god knows what. The closer I pull the box the more a rancid smell pools under my nose, making my stomach curl. My chest rises faster with the need to know what’s under the lid, so I tug the silky ribbon until it falls flat against the bed, adding the only pop of color against a sea of grey.

The floral smell throughout the room starts to dissipate with the unsealing of the lid, but I keep going. Wetting my lips, I gather up every ounce of Kingston blood that pumps through my veins, and lift the top with one quick move, yanking the metaphoric band-aid off. Revealing a small gold envelope withPrincessascribbled in messy handwriting on the front. Tracing the letters I can feel the rushed anger in each letter. It’s thick and tapped on the back to hold it closed, but when I lift it black and gold paper covers a second item. Formaldehyde and rotten flesh fill my nose, making me gag from the putrid scent coming from the bottom of the box.

“Oh my god.”

I’m going to be sick. Curiosity wars inside me between the smell and the thick items in the envelope. I opt to back away from the bed and slip my fingernail behind the tape. Fuck it. Tugging it open I pour the items into my palm, revealing a stack of photos. Pictures of the garden. Ryker between my legs, my head thrown back in ecstasy, one after the other more and more photos of us. Pictures of me going into Jax’s shop, the gym, between classes, with Ally, but it’s the last two that have my stomach plummeting. One of them is of me sleeping in my sports bra and boy-shorts, my grey blanket tossed to the side. You can see my tattoo in this photo. A tattoo I know Ryker hasn’t yet been able to see fully to know what it is. Not that he’d look since it covers the one thing he refuses to look at.

The last photo is of me this morning walking into the county prison. These are freshly printed and left here which means whoever placed these in my room hasn’t been gone long. Chills spread down my spine, fear mixed with anger boils in my blood knowing someone invaded my privacy. Tracking me. Ally could have been here and been hurt. Searching my memory for anything that could point to who followed me this morning nothing comes to mind. Two steps later and I’m back up against the bed, ready to see what else I’ve been left. Flicking the paper to the side, my stomach rolls at the sight before me.

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