Page 20 of Treacherous

"Well damn," I mused before picking up pace again. "It's a small world." Smiling I added, "They're nice girls, and Hope's family are lovely."

"Yeah," Layton replied uncomfortably. "I still don't know how they can live there," he added before shuddering. "It freaks the hell out of me."

I narrowed my eyes. "What does?"

"That house," he whispered. "You know, because of the murders."

My feet stopped moving.

My heart stopped beating.

"What are you talking about?" I whispered.

Layton frowned. "I thought you knew…shit," he mumbled before sighing heavily. "Brace yourself, Irish, you may need a whiskey after this."

****

Noah

People say your teenage years are supposed to be some of the most memorable years of your life.

Well, I didn’t want memorable. I wanted manageable.

Nine months.

Thirty-six weeks.

Two-hundred and fifty-six days.

Reading that letter this morning had severed what hope I'd secretly drummed up for my eighteenth birthday.

I knew I had to keep going after reading her words. But I wouldn’t do it forever. I'd spoken to Low. He had a plan.

Freedom was within my reach.

I could practically taste it.

All I had to do was be patient – and keep breathing…

Flexing my knuckles I stared dispassionately at the man swaying in front of me with blood rushing from his face and forced myself to swallow the bile that was rising in my throat.

I kept my eyes locked on my opponent's face – not daring to look away – focusing on my target before extracting the final blow.

He dropped to the ground, eyes closed and body jerking.

I closed my eyes and swallowed my groan of disgust.

Two-hundred and fifty-six days until I'm free…

****

Teagan

"Thanks a bunch, Uncle Max," I screamed the minute I stalked through the front door. I knew he was home because his stupid car was in the driveway.Oh, it was on like the donkey-Kong.

Stalking through the hallway, I marched into the kitchen, leaned over the table and glared at his rapidly receding hairline until he looked up from his newspaper.

Layton was right. I did need a whiskey – I needed several of them.

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