Page 132 of Amnesty

With wide, angry eyes, he told me, “Do not come outside. No matter what you hear.”

“But—” Oh my God, he was going back out there!

“Promise me!” he snapped.

I balked. “I can’t.”

“Call the cops. Stay inside,” he ordered again, then rushed outside. The moonlight glinted off the red-stained blade of the knife as he went.

How do you choose between the past and the present?

You don’t.

The past is gone; it isn’t coming back. The future is just a promise, not a guarantee.

But the present, that wasthechoice. It was now, and without it, there would be no future.

Right now, my heart beat for Amnesia. It always would.

It was an easy choice.

I nearly collided with Sadie as I catapulted out the door.

The second I saw that hook on the back of that boat, I knew. I’d been played. We’d all been played.

Sadie included.

Though I knew she was responsible for that stab wound in my girl, though I knew she had deep-seeded hate against Amnesia, I still couldn’t blame her.

She was the biggest victim of all here. Part of me would always be responsible for that.

The true villain was outside, and his arrogance would be his downfall.

The door to the house slammed behind me as I rushed outside. Knowing Am was inside, away from him, was the only thing allowing me the single-minded precision with which to end this once and for all.

I’d die before I let anyone in the house. I’d take my last breath defending her if that’s what it took.

“What are you doing?” Sadie demanded, glancing past me to the door.

“It’s okay now,” I told her, slipping an arm around her waist. “The police are on their way.”

“What?” She yanked away from me. “No!”

“They’re going to help us, Sadie. They’re going to take him away where he can’t hurt you ever again.”

“We had a deal!” she wailed, looking over toward Daniel.

“Don’t look at him,” I said, taking her hand. “Look at me.”

She listened, her round, terrified eyes seized by my stare.

“What deal?”

“He’s taking her away, back to the island, so you and I can have our life back.”

“I’m not letting him take her!” I growled, momentarily losing my cool. Jesus fucking shit, I was losing my patience.

She started to cry, deep wails that frankly made me worry. “But if he doesn’t take her, then he’ll take me. I don’t want to go, Eddie. I want to stay here with you.”

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