Page 143 of Unspoken Truths

“We should do the lighthouse,” she says decisively. “I’d love to get some photos there. Do you mind if we head back tonight? I just?—”

“I was thinking the same,” I sigh.

We did some exploring of the tide pools, recreation sites, and another section of the beach that has these really cool caves, but I didn’t want to overdo it. The last few experiences with hiking haven’t been the best, I don’t want to scare her.

“Do you mind?” she asks hesitantly.

“I don’t,” I say. “If he can find us, I’m a little worried someone else could. Let’s enjoy the day, and then head home.”

After finishing our meal, I still pay with cash because I don’t want to borrow trouble. Glancing over, I notice that Ignacio is doing the same. I guess he’s not completely useless. He follows us out of the restaurant, while I bury my annoyance.

“It’s not too far that we can’t walk, is it?” Rachelle asks, biting her lip. I can tell she’s trying to ignore him as much as we are.

“As much as I’d prefer to walk, let’s drive,” I suggest. “We can walk for dessert before we come back to pack.”

We found this really delicious bakery Rachelle and I fell in love with. I need my fix before we go home.

“I probably need to see Barrett when we get back,” Rachelle says, surprising me. “I’ve been in my bubble here, but going home means possible nightmares and anxiety.”

“You don’t seem very excited to see him,” I say, confused.

“I’m worried about how he’ll react about what happened in the woods,” she says. “Backtracking my steps, seeing where I may have been able to make a different choice. I’m already beating myself up enough about not simply hiding and running back to you immediately. None of this would have happened otherwise.”

“You trusted the guys to do what they said they would,” I remind her. “There’s no way you could predict the future, and Barrett can’t ask you to. If necessary, say that to him.”

Blowing out a breath, she nods, getting quiet. Something tells me she’s imagining what that conversation would look like in her head. I don’t mind the silence at all.

Unlocking the car as we arrive at the rental, I notice the way Nacio goes to an SUV parked down the street. The boy is making castration look real good right now. I don’t care how pretty his dick is.

Dropping into my car, I search behind my seat for my camera so Rachelle can take photos. It’s something I wanted to give her for her birthday, but presents clearly overwhelm her. This way, she’ll be able to take and develop any really good photos she captures. I want to frame them and put a few up in my bedroom.

“Alright, let’s do this,” I say, closing my door as I turn to face Rachelle.

Forcing a smile, she nods.

“Is he ruining the vibe?” I ask her. “I’ll fry his nuts for you, baby.”

A surprised look comes over her face as she laughs. “I wasn’t expecting that,” she says, shaking her head. “Why do I feel as if he’d drop his pants and offer his dick up to the experience?”

The fact that her mind went there makes me snicker as I turn on the car and pull it into reverse.

“It’s because you’re completely right,” I say, grinning as I drive. “Why are the crazy ones obsessed with you, baby?”

“Ugh, are they really though?” she asks, shaking her head as the ghost of a smile remains on her lips.

Yes, they are. I’m unapologetically one of them.

* * *

IGNACIO

I’m officially her stalker. I really am cursed to see her dead whenever I close my eyes. I know what her ultimate fate is with the Kings, how we’re supposed to get away with murder as our entrance into their society. I was only doing this because I was jealous of her entry into our family.

And because I’ve been secretly attracted to her since the first time I met her. Dad had me meet Rachelle and Julia the day they moved in. There was a small moving truck, and I met her in the hallway when she was familiarizing herself with her new bedroom. I treated her like shit that day too.

I pretended to be nice at dinner, and then called the guys to vent. That’s how the plan to make her pay for slithering into my life started. I wish I could take it all back, but there’s no such thing as a do-over in life.

The entire day, I follow the girls at a distance, watching how the two of them love each other and interact. A pain in my chest settles, making it difficult to breathe. I fucked everything up, because I want them both, and neither of them can let me in after everything.

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