Page 138 of Diem

What the fuck does that mean? I found the box. I found Dixie’s necklace. If the other jewelry wasn’t from the other victims, then where did it come from?

Shit. Does it matter? Dad killed Dixie. End of story.

“Okay, thanks,” I mumble but I’m waylaid once again when Ramsay says, “We need to discuss your brother.”

“Ollie?” I falter and grab the back of the chair.

“Yes, something is going on with him and I think you know what it is.”

Scoffing, I wave my hand and say, “Ollie doesn’t tell me shit.”

I feel like a broken damn record and can only laugh because not a few days ago, I was saying the same thing about Diem. This is their world, and I don’t belong. Message fucking received.

Ramsay cocks his head and I say in a rush, “Ollie’s been weird for a while now. Aren’t you his brother? Shouldn’t you be asking him?”

“Maeve,” Willow interjects, and I shake my head.

“No, you have issues with him, then ask him. I’m out.”

I go to walk away and Diem steps into my path. His pretty eyes level me with a cold stare and the hair on my nape stands on end. I thought his indifference was bad, hell even his anger but the sheer hate shining back at me, it fucking burns.

“Diem,” Ramsay says but he leans into my face and says, “What are you hiding?”

My heart stumbles at the distance in his eyes and balling my hand into a fist, I slam it into his chest. He barely flinches but his nostrils flare when he grabs my fingers and pushes me back.

“The only thing I’m hiding is my hate. I hate you,” I scream.

Everything tumbles over in my heart, and I can’t stop the sobs that push at my throat. Dropping to my knees, I cover my face. I can’t breathe. I fucking can’t breathe.

Through my sobs, I flinch when strong hands pick me up and open my eyes to find Diem holding me. A bitter laugh fills my lungs and I wrench away, saying shrilly, “Don’t touch me. Ever.”

His eyes, liquid with concern, drop to ice and he swings his arms out, saying, “Gladly.”

Gladly. The actual nerve of this dick is staggering.

With a wry smile, I tap my aching lips and say, “You’re the biggest fucking hypocrite on the planet. Still sticking to the Hailey’s pregnant story? Except, oh right…it’s not yours.”

His brows flap over his eyes, and he sneers, “You wanna know who made up that shit? Go ask your saintly fucking brother.”

Images of my mom saying the same thing about my dad dance through my head, and I stagger back. Am I refusing to see what’s right in front of my face?

Penny believes Ollie’s involved. Why else would he be messaging her to back off? He orchestrated the attack at Fight Club if Hailey can be believed anyway. Now his brothers are coming to me because they’re concerned.

Holy shit. Is my brother somehow involved?

With my heart in my throat, I meet Diem’s gaze when he growls, “Mae.”

But once again, panic is pressing at my lungs. How the fuck did I end up here?

Shaking my head, I back away. Diem raises his palm but I spin on my heels and rush from the room, straight to the car before peeling out of the drive.

The entire drive, I relive the past few months. Dixie’s death. Oliver going away. Dad’s weird ass behavior. The rabbit’s foot. The panties. The jewelry box.

I don’t know what it all means but I don’t stop until I reach the police station where I present the evidence in the form of the jewelry box, relieved to hand it all off to someone else.

After I don’t know how many hours of sitting in a room while the detectives do whatever around me, I turn when my dad is led past in hand cuffs. At the last second, he raises his head and I bow my own when he smiles at me gently.

It’s not what I expected would happen, but I set it aside because I did what I had to do.

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