Page 22 of Vengeful Rotten Casualties

“I see.” I don’t know what else to say.Is it just a coincidence? Can life be that strange?

“Micki?” Luc’s voice is just as gruff and confused as it was when his rival first showed up—no, I shouldn’t call him that anymore. It’s clear things are different in Eastpoint. Five years ago, Luc never would have even contemplated coming to the Carter Estate.

“She’s my friend.” Avalon answers his unspoken question when I can’t seem to.

My heart is pounding. This is more than I ever could have considered or hoped for. I’d gone back to Plexton to look for her, but her trailer had been occupied by strangers. People I’d never seen before and any trace of her was long gone. Who would have guessed she’d end up right here in my path?

I glance at the ceiling briefly.Really?I think.Now, you want to give me a break? Is it because You know? Is this Your way of letting me say goodbye?Of course there’s no reply. The universe never gives any.Asshole.I return my attention to the people around me.

“I’m glad you’re here, Ava,” I say. “I looked for you but…”

She nods. “I haven’t been back to Georgia,” she says. “And I don’t plan to.”

Dean’s arm around her tightens. Even if she wanted to, I have a feeling she’d end up with company.

“Did you know about me?” Avalon asks. It’s an expected question.

“I had no idea,” I admit.Had Thomas?

“How could this have happened, then?” Avalon asks. “It can’t be a coincidence.”

“I think I can answer that.” The response comes from the girl from before—the lavender-haired girl with big eyes now cuddled up to a guy in one of the surrounding chairs. Rylie, I think Luc had called her. She sits up and glances from Avalon to me. “Thomas was involved in the Undead, and I found that Ace was actually the one to purchase that house you wanted me to look into,” she says. “I think Ace chose that area because you were being watched and it was easier.”

“I can ask him,” an unfamiliar redhead standing against the wall says.

I blow out a breath. “Does it really matter?” I ask.

Luc’s gaze is intent on my face, so much so that I can feel the burn of his attention on my skin. “I want to know everything,” he says. “Where you’ve been, why you were there, what happened—”

I cut him off. “I’m willing to tell you some,” I say. “But you don’t need to know the gory details of my life, Luc. I didn’t come back for that.”

“Then why the hell did you come back?” he demands. “You still haven’t told me. You just showed up here and bam one thing right after the other, but no fucking answers.”

“I wanted to discuss it with you alone,” I snap back.

“I want to know too,” Avalon says. “You just disappeared with no fucking warning and that note—” Avalon’s face darkens and her hands curl into the edges of the couch, nails digging into the leather so hard that they threaten to pierce right through.

I get it. It’s understandable. Their confusion. Their anger. I close my eyes and inhale a slow breath before releasing it.

“Okay,” I say, re-opening my eyes. “I get it. You’re mad. You want to know what happened. I…” just don’t want them to know how bad … how disgusting I am. I’ve only got this moment now with them, and I can’t taint it. Not any more than it already is.

“Please, Micki.” Luc touches my hand. I almost jerk it back. Almost. But I force myself to remain still as his fingers move over mine. The warmth of his flesh feels unreal. I never thought I’d feel it again. “Just tell us—tell me—what happened.”

So many eyes are on me. Questions remain unanswered. Memories assail me. I don’t want to, but I have to. I owe them that much. And with what I’m about to ask them to do—well, ask Luc to do—it’s necessary.

I swallow and count backwards from ten. I focus on the floor in front of me. I listen to the beat of my heart in my ears. Inhale the scent of Luc’s cologne. Feel the slightly scratchy jean fabric of my shorts.

“I got married,” I finally say after several beats. No one says a word, but I can feel Luc’s shock as his hands tighten over my fingers.

“Married?” he repeats, his voice low and angry.

It’s not what he expected to hear, but it wasn’t like I had much of a choice in the matter. No. When it came to Thomas Kincaid and me, I never had choices.

“He was a wealthy businessman, a client of Thomas’.” The mention of Luc’s dad has him stiffening at my side. I continue anyway. “That’s why I disappeared from Plexton.” I lift my gaze to Avalon. “I didn’t have a choice. Thomas sold my debt to him and that was his price.”

“I’ll fucking kill him,” Luc growls.

I chuckle, startling him enough that he frowns. “It’s too late for that,” I tell him honestly. “Jason Osman is dead.”

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