Page 76 of Unwrapping Deviance

“I don’t,” Daniel mutters. “We’re fine.”

I drum harder, restless nerves getting the better of me. “Great.”

I dig into my back pocket and unearth my wallet. I toss a ten down and start edging to get out. I make the mistake of turning my head and I find myself caught in her big, sad eyes and soft, pouty lips. She’s staring at me like I just told her, her puppy died, and I shouldn’t give a shit, but it kicks me in the gut.

Fuck this.

I shove out of the booth and stalk to the doors. The silver bells overhead clamor wildly in my rush to escape.

I’m not running, but my strides are long in the direction of my bike.

“Hey!”

I don’t need to turn to know Daniel’s hot on my heels. Sure enough, my brother storms after me, a dark cloud of anger hanging over his head.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” he demands once he’s close enough.

“What are you talking about? I’m going home.”

“Why?”

I stare at him a long moment, trying to determine if he’s intentionally being dense. “Because I want to go home?” I mutter dryly. “Didn’t realize this was a hostage situation.”

“Don’t be stupid. Why are you leaving?” He folds his arms over his chest. “You were fine last night.”

“And this morning, I’ve decided this isn’t worth my time.”

He’s silent.

We both are.

I realize the weight of my words, the implication behind them and I know he does too.

“I see,” he murmurs at long last, taking a deliberate step back. “Have a safe drive back.”

He pivots on his heel and starts back to the diner. Anger and panic collide deep in my chest and I’m shouting words I should just keep in my head.

“What do you want from me?”

My brother stops and faces me. His features are a solid mask of fury that pulls his eyebrows low over his eyes and pinches the corners of his mouth. There’s disappointment and disgust in the fine edges, but it’s the shake of his head that hits me the hardest.

“Nothing. Go home.”

“I can’t stay,” I snap before he can turn again. “I hate that place, Daniel. Being back there, with all ofhis things,everything of Mom gone like she never existed...”

I see the anger dull around the edges. Regret and resignation has his gaze dropping to the dirt beneath our feet.

“I just ... I can’t be there, Danny. I can’t look at those damn walls and not remember the monster who would beat our heads into them until we passed out.”

Daniel moves closer until the chasm is three feet of gravel between us. “He’s dead.”

I shake my head. “Doesn’t matter. That was his house. His ... shrine. His soul is still in that place.”

He searches my face, and I wish I never said a damn thing. “It’s only a few more days.”

I suck in a breath. “It’s not just that place.”

Daniel doesn’t so much as blink. “Mira.”

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