Page 144 of The Devil We Know

I take off at a sprint, not even realizing the sheer distance between us and them. Sure enough, after a few feet, that figmenttakes shape, and I stop so abruptly that Tony and Declan run into the back of me, almost knocking me flat.

We three stand there, standing abreast, looking on in shock as it all coalesces, a month's worth of agony and despair boiling inside me.

I don't dare move, open my mouth, or blink for fear that time and space will crash, and when I open my eyes, none of this will have been real.

Tony's hand on my arm draws my attention to him, and when I turn to face him, he’s staring back at me, wild-eyed. “Is that who I think it is?”

“I think so,” Declan replies breathlessly. He reaches a hand out for me, but instead of grabbing me, his hand slides down my arm as he falls to his knees, his eyes squeezed shut in such a manner it’s as if he doesn’t dare look.

I squeeze my own eyes shut, taking in a few long breaths before forcing myself to open them, and sure enough, the two figures are still there, yet closer now.

Yanking Declan to his feet, we hurry toward them, my heart pounding in my chest, every tear and bellow of agony merging into this one moment.

But then, I stop again. Only this time, Declan and Tony stop with me, both of them realizing at the same moment that things are not as they seem.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Tony growls.

I grind my teeth, and Declan’s hand squeezes my arm as he turns away, his pained expression focused on the back of the house.I know without asking, we all thought the same thing and felt the same moment of relief when hope tried to overtake grief, which makes it hurt all the more.

Bright blue eyes meet mine, matching pain reflected back at me as Agatha says, “I’m sorry. I meant to have you speak to Ryan first.”

I deflate. We all deflate.

Whether we want to admit it or not, even before we saw the top of that dark head in the distance, we all thought the same thing.

We were being called home.

58

Split Decisions

Matt

We all remain quietas we slowly make our way inside.

Well, except for Tony.

Tony mutters, curses, and kicks the dirt as only Tony can do. But this time, it makes me feel a bit better.

Once we’re inside, Ryan and Agatha walk to a sitting area on the far side of the room. They motion for us to sit, and even though I’d rather do anything other than sit, I do so anyway—manners and all.

Sometimes, I wish I was Tony.

At first, no one says a word. Each of us sits there staring at the floor or the ceiling or just off into space, seemingly incapable of coming up with words to explain how we’re feeling.

Numb.

Finally, after a long spell of silence, Declan speaks up, his voice strained. “What is all this? Why are we here?”

Agatha lifts her hands in front of her. “This is Dare’s dream.”

I frown. I look to Tony and Declan, who are both frowning. Turning my gaze back on Agatha, I sigh heavily and then reply, “A dream we never knew anything about.”

“Apparently, he’d been planning this for a long time,” Agatha replies, her voice devoid of emotion. “He purchased this property like a decade ago and only just started building in the past year or so.”

Tony squints, his lips pressing together in irritation for a moment before he opens his mouth and asks, “And where is here?”

“Montana.”

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