Page 38 of Burning Your Lies

“I can provide the courts copies of my reports written by my licensed therapist. I was admittedwronglyfor schizophrenia. After further testing, they concluded it was a combination of trauma and postpartum depression. I have undergone talking therapies and am not taking any medication to control my mood. I was deemed mentally fit to make my own decisions. I can assure you I am not a threat to Elise. If anything, my desire to be her mother was my motivation to better myself.”

She holds her hand up and nods her head. She gazes at the papers, then lifts her eyes to us once more. “I have heard enough for today. Mr Rivers, if you feel a court battle will put your family at risk, I recommend securing protective detail for you all. This casewillsit in front of a magistrate’s panel, where they will solely look at the wellbeing of the child. In the eyes of this court, and the law, Mrs Ray-Hayes is deemed as her legal mother, and a mentally fit one at that. I advise you both to think what is best for the child and their safety, both physically and mentally. If there is an amicable way to resolve your issues, it would be best for all of you. Thank you.”

I stand up and awkwardly bow. “Thank you, your honour.” I practically skip out of there.

Xavier storms past me without uttering a word.

My hair whips in the wind. “I think I won that round. Don’t you agree?”

He turns on his heel and storms towards me. His face is so close to mine I can feel his sharp exhale of breath. “You willnottake Elise from me. I would rather die than let you win.”

I pretend to be scared. “Let me do the honours.Please. It would feel sogoodto choke the life out of you.”

“You won that by lying.”

“Isn’t that how you won the first game? I only learned from the best.”

His features don’t soften. His blue eyes turn to ice. “I never lied about loving you.”

“You just sat there and denied we ever existed! Don’t stand there and claim that you loved me. You loved the power you had over me. It’s the only reason you’re holding onto to Elise. Because you know for as long as you have her, you will always have me around.”

His scowl drops. He stares at me as my words hang in the small gap between our bodies. “We could have been happy if you juststopped.”

I shake my head. “No, Xavier, we would never have been happy because you are incapable of feeling anything. You are a block of ice. But don’t worry, I’m just warming up.” I walk away from him and don’t stop until I’m around the corner. I pull my phone out and hit dial. “Did you get it?” I ask when he answers the phone.

“Yeah. How did it go?”

I smile to myself. “Exactly the way I wanted.”

20

Huxley

Jordan shifts uncomfortably inthe car’s silence. He stares at the piece of paper in my hands before finally asking, “Why do you keep looking at that?”

Turning my attention to him, I shrug. “I keep wondering why Xavier hacked into the system and created a death certificate for his mother months later. We’re under the assumption he doesn’t know I’m playing the game. But what if he does? I am the only person he told about his mother’s death.”

“But Savannah knows too.”

I click my tongue. “Savannah knows hemurderedher. He told me she died. I looked for her death certificate the day Savannah was taken away, and I couldn’t find anything. But amid putting this plan together, I did one more search to be on the safe side. And this popped up.”

“Maybe he’s just covering his bases.” He grins at me. “Why are you so worried? I think you could take him in a fight.”

It’s not me I am worried about. Xavier knows my family. He knows where they live. He can have them murdered before Ieven know what’s happening. “I have people I need to protect. People who are innocent in all this.”

“Sometimes I wonder if all this is worth it,” he admits. “Even combined, our resources don’t compare to what he has. He could wipe us out,” he clicks his fingers, “like that. And then what will we have achieved? I am an only child. I’m not a perfect son, but I am all my parents have.”

An odd feeling spreads through me for the man beside me; sympathy. “You can back out. Savannah will understand.”

Jordan is lost in the past when he speaks. “I told Elliot to borrow money from Cam. I was the reason he kept bothering Sav for money. That’s the only reason he was on Xavier’s radar. I’m the reason he died.”

I don’t bother wasting my breath explaining it wasn’t his fault, because no matter what I say, it’s a guilt he will carry with him. Perhaps there is some truth to it. But, it was Elliot’s recognition of Xavier’s true character that ultimately caused his death. “He has no idea that you’re involved. Savannah didn’t mention you and Mia. She made out like she manipulated me into marrying her. He cannot kill us all. If nothing else reassures you, let that do it.” I unbuckle my belt. “Let’s go.”

Jordan lets out a shaky breath. “What are we saying again?”

“Reporters for a local paper, writing an article about Xavier.”

We exit the car and trudge up to the house. Three sharp knocks and we patiently wait. When the door opens up, we are greeted with a waft of stale cigarette smoke and a balding man. His attire is crinkled and I’m pretty sure those are food stains on his t-shirt. When he smiles, I fight the urge to recoil in disgust.

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