Page 99 of The Two Last Moments

That I’m a horrible person who lies, steals, and cheats.

But Quinn’s reaction surprises me. “So, what if it’s true?”

I turn my head to look at her, words evading me for a second.So what?Isn’t that obvious? “If it’s true, how can Danny ever forgive me? How could anyone see past the things I’ve done?”

At some point, Danny is going to decide he can’t stand it, can’t standme,anymore. He might claim he doesn’t care. But the resentment is going to grow, eating away whatever we try to build.

That’s my greatest fear. That I’ll ask Danny to stay, and he will, but he’ll end up hating me for it.

Quinn sits back a little and fixes me with her fiercest expression. If I was a criminal defendant in her courtroom, I’d be quaking.

“Lark, if that guy Z is your brother, then it’s no wonder you have a hard time trusting yourself. He’s probably undermined you for years of your life. Told you that you weren’t good enough. That’s what abusers do. But you got away from him when you came to West Oaks. Sure, Danny helped you along the way. Nina too. Butyouescaped him again when Kathy Sullivan pretended to be your aunt.”

“Sort of.” I didn’t get far. But…I did realize just in time that Kathy was up to something.

“Andyougot away from him today. You’re already fighting back, and you’re alreadywinning. Every battle with him, you’ve won.”

“I didn’t think of it that way.”

“You should. You seem pretty tough to me. But it’s not my opinion that counts.Youare the one person who gets to decide who you are. Nobody else. Not me, not your creepy-ass brother, not even Danny. The question is, who do you want to be now? Let’s say all the worst things you fear about your past are true. Can’t you still move forward? Let yourself be happy?”

I shift my gaze to the window, with its view of the garden outside. “What if I’m too cynical for that?”

“Hey, you do you. That’s the whole point, isn’t it?” She bumps my shoulder. “Be whoever you are today. Right now. If Danny wants to be with that gal, he should be so lucky.”

Danny. The best thing that’s ever happened to me.

What if I find out the truth, and it’s just as bad as I fear? Is there a way forward for Danny and me? I know he would say yes. That’s what he’s been saying to me since our trip to Solvang. I think I’ll always be cynical, but I want to have faith in him. Inus. And in myself, too.

He’s always been willing to stay with me. I’m the one who’s been running. I need to tell him thatIwant to stay. I want to be with him, facing whatever comes at us together. Iamstrong enough for that. I have to try.

“I think I’m in love with him.” I stand up. “I’m going to tell him.”

“Good for you, girl. Go get your man.”

“I will, but it’s your turn next. If I can find a way to be happy withmymessed-up history, then you should be able to ask out a certain sexy older bodyguard.”

“Ugh, we’re not talking about me.” She grabs my arm, and we go out into the hall. Near the living room, we nearly collide with Cliff, who’s striding through the entryway with purpose, as if he just came through the front door.

“Is Danny still here?” Cliff asks.

“He should be,” I say.

Matteo walks in from the living room, a line appearing between his eyebrows. “Danny took off about half an hour ago.”

I cross my arms. “Hewhat?”

Aiden strolls in next. I didn’t even realize he was here. “Yep, Danny left on some kind of mission. Made it sound life-or-death important. But he insisted that Matteo and I stay here.”

I swear, if Danny ran off to do something stupid because he thinks it will help me, I will never forgive that man.

Quickly, I send off a text to his phone, asking where he is. Then I turn my attention back to Cliff. “Why did you need Danny?”

“We found the guy who attacked you today. He’s in custody.”

Quinn hisses as she inhales, grabbing my arm. I can’t even make myself breathe.

“A neighbor spotted someone sneaking into a house that’s for sale, and the perp had blood streaming down his face,” Cliff explains. “We picked up the suspect nice and easy. He was polite enough to have an ID on him. The guy is named Zander Richards.”

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