Page 104 of Kiss Me Honey Hone

There was another beat. More than a beat. An all-consuming silence where only the mechanical sounds from the machines surrounding Aaron’s bed drowned out Kenny’s thundering heart.

“Where is she?”

“She was sent to Ravenholm. A secure unit for traumatised children. After that, she went into the system. Much like you, she’ll be under witness protection.”

“I wasn’t an only child?”

“No. And when it became clear you didn’t know she existed, the authorities kept it that way.”

“You assessed her?”

“Yes.”

“Did you assess me?”

“No. They took you into care immediately. You were easier to place. Easier to protect. I had no contact with you.”

Kenny could see the wheels turning in Aaron’s mind, piecing it all together.

“She’s the one who lured Peter from the playground?” Aaron said. “The one he was trying to find, killing those who reminded him of her?”

“It appears that way.”

Aaron’s head sank into the pillow. “Was she actively involved in… what my parents did?”

Kenny hesitated, his heart breaking for the man before him. “Yes.”

Aaron closed his eyes, and a single tear crept out from the corner of his eye, carving a silent path down his cheek. Kenny swiped it away with his thumb, then stroked Aaron’s damp hair back from his forehead, trying to soothe him, even though he knew it was impossible.

Eventually, Aaron opened his eyes again. “I went through your files,” he said, cracking under the weight of his confession. “Found the stuff on Child A… thought it was me. So I stole it.”

Kenny inhaled sharply, guilt stabbing through him. “I can see why you’d do that. And jump to that conclusion.”

“That’s how Taylor got hold of it. It’s my fault.”

“None of this is your fault. When information lands in the wrong hands, it’s easy for it to be misinterpreted. Taylor was naïve to use it, and Carly was wrong to post it.” Kenny dipped closer. “Next time, just ask me.”

Aaron’s lips parted, voice trembling. “Who am I?”

“Aaron Jones.”

Aaron sniffed through a smile. “Who was I back then?”

“Child B.”

“Very clinical. How many of us are there?”

“Two.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Kenny’s chest grew heavy with regret. “At first, it was because the authorities thought it was in your best interestnotto know. And I agreed. Then… it was because I didn’twantyou to know. Didn’t want you to carry that burden too. You already have enough survivor guilt. Enough pain. Sorrow. I wanted to protect you from all of it. Because I—”Love you“—care about you.”

“Care about Child B?”

“No.” Kenny shook his head. “I care, quite a fucking lot, about Aaron Jones. Because that’s whoyouare. The person you made yourself. The one you became with no influence from anyone but yourself. You’re infuriating. Insufferable. Wild and reckless. But, fuck all the world, you’re mine.”

Aaron’s lips grew into a smile. “Gonna prove that.”

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