Page 71 of Between Dusk and Dawn

I inhaled deeply, knowing what I was about to do would destroy me. Knowing damn well I was about to face all my demons, the ones I’d tucked away, and I would have to be myself—my true form.

I took one more deep breath as the pounding on the door continued.

"Enzo, do not drag me away. I swear to God, I will tell Rain, and then?—"

She stopped the moment I opened the latch and pulled the door open.

"Hey, Ember," I said in the quietest, softest tone I could muster. Enzo had his arm around Ember’s waist as they both tried to balance on the small top step. I felt like I was in a movie. It was as if time had frozen along with all five of my senses, because I stopped being able to hear the commotion outside and stopped being able to smell the hay on me, as Ember stood in front of me with her jaw on the floor.

"Get the fuck off me." She wrestled out of Enzo’s grip before pushing past me and looking at the apartment. I stared back at Enzo leaning against the frame. My phone buzzed incessantly on the counter, but I didn’t dare pick it up.

"He’s going to go ballistic," Enzo whispered.

"Get out of here," I demanded, and Enzo shook his head.

"Over my dead body," Enzo barked back.

Ember cut through our hushed argument. "She’s right. Get out of here. I need to speak to Maddy." I shivered at the sound of my former nickname.

I’d never forget the day Walsh told me Maddy was the name I used when I was trying to fit in. I shook my head, glancing over at Enzo to give him a pleading look.

"I am waiting outside the door." Ember nodded at him, so I agreed. My phone was still ringing on the counter, so I pressed the off button. If he wasn’t here to help me with this, then he wasn’t privy to me whenever he needed. Plus, he had the fucking cameras. He could watch.

"Do you want something to drink?" I asked, crossing my arms in front of me. Ember only shook her head before taking a seat on the couch. I followed into the living room, plopping in a chair on the opposite side of the room.

"So—"

"Walsh," we said at the same time.

"You can go first," I offered, bracing myself for whatever she was about to hurl at me. But she sat there on the couch with her arms out, leaning toward me as if she was inspecting me.

"He married…you?" she asked, and I nodded, not able to form words.

"Was this to get back at me? Piss me off? I haven't heard from you in four years, Maddy."

"Yeah. Not since the last time you punched me in the nose." I gave her a smile to let her know I wasn’t being serious.

"What is this?" She gestured around the apartment before leaning back on the couch to look out the window that led directly to the pool.

"Oh, it's where I am currently living," I answered. God, this was so complicated.

"This isn’t fucking funny." Ember straightened her back. "Why are you here? Where is my brother? What is going on?"

"I don't actually know where Walsh is?—''

"You don't?"

I shook my head, then asked. "Do you?"

She nodded. "I have a general idea of where he is."

I bit my lower lip to stop the anxiety from creeping in again. His sister knew where he was. They’d been so close for so longthat she could be privy to his inner workings, but I had no idea where he was. He could be on the other side of the planet for all I knew.

My voice was measured yet revealing the uncertainty that plagued me when I said, "I genuinely don't know where Walsh is. Our connection has been complicated, and recent events have only added to the confusion."

Ember's eyes bore into mine, a mix of skepticism and concern. "Complicated how?" She pressed.

Taking a deep breath, I wanted to tell her everything, but I needed to start from the beginning. "Remember the story I told you about my old roommate when we were living together?" I hesitated, gauging her reaction.

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