Page 71 of Filthy Liar

Reid

She was gone. I could feel it deep in my bones. I tried to remind myself that this was the woman who’d destroyed my childhood, but all I remembered was the hopeful feeling I’d had when I’d wait by the window for her to come home.

I’d idolized my mom, and all those feelings and memories from the eyes of a child hit me. She wasn’t the monster I’d accused her of being, she was a woman struggling in this world, and she’d left it thinking I hated her.

The guilt ate away at me as I watched the cops work, my body hurting from the crying.

Maybe I’d snapped at her because I knew she’d always come back?

Sure, she’d let me down again and again, but she was still my mom, and she didn't deserve to burn to death.

I wanted to blame Ander, to punch him and take my anger out on him, but that was just my grief talking. I knew it wasn’t his fault, and I could’ve easily been the one in that house if Stefano had wanted it to happen.

I was aware that Riley had shown up and sat next to me, her shoulder pressing against mine to let me know she was there, but I barely felt it.

Was I cold? I couldn’t really feel my body.

The sun was up, so I knew a lot of time had passed, but I had no idea how much.

Someone moved to stand beside me, their hand coming down gently on my head to run their fingers through my hair.

I still didn’t move, not being able to take my eyes off what was left of the house. In any other situation, I would’ve been relieved to see the house gone, then maybe Raven could finally heal from the loss of her brother.

Forcing my eyes towards Raven, I found her watching me over Logan’s shoulder as he continued to hold her. She looked just as spaced out and numb as I did.

I should’ve crawled over to her, to hug her and tell her that everything was okay, but I wasn’t going to lie to her.

Riley let out a sigh, dropping an arm around my shoulders. “Do you think this is a message that you guys are next? Are you safe in your house?”

“I don’t know,” I managed to say, my voice rough. “My mom was in there.”

“I know. I’m sorry, Barron,” she answered, leaning into me a little.

Exhaustion from my emotions washed through me, and the fingers in my hair were almost making me sleepy. There was no way my mind could shut down and sleep though.

“I think it’s time we got home. I’ll drive,” Ander said, my brain registering that he was the one toying with my hair. When I didn’t move, he removed his hand from my hair and bent down to put an arm around me, helping me to my feet and fishing my keys from my pocket.

I looked at him, finding a determined look on his face. He was mad on our behalf, something I didn’t think I’d appreciate so much.

“Thanks,” I mumbled, trying to hold myself up properly so he could let me go.

“You’re family,” he said without hesitation, clapping me on the shoulder. “Let’s get our girl home. We can talk more privately when we’re away from the reporters.”

Riley stood too, lifting her chin at me. “You guys get out of here. I’ll tell Mom to call you when she has more information.”

I nodded, the feeling in my legs getting better the longer I stood. Beckett was pulling Raven to her feet so Logan could stand, and when he went to lift her, she swatted him away.

She looked defeated, but she was standing on her own again.

Her eyes met mine, and I motioned for her to follow me. I thought she was going to argue, her eyes flicking back to the house, but then she sighed and walked towards me.

We didn’t talk as I put an arm around her shoulders, sheltering her from prying eyes as we all walked towards the car with Beckett on our heels. Reporters started moving in our direction, and I jerked as a gunshot went off, turning to find an innocent looking Beckett behind us. Her gun was in her hand, aiming up in the air, and some reporters scattered while others started filming her as if she was about to go on a murder spree.

“Beckett!” Tyler snapped as he jogged over, three cops following.

“Oops. Did I let my problem child side out again?” she asked sweetly, not bothering to fight the cops as they took her gun and handcuffed her.

Tyler was shaking his head, giving us a look. “I think that’s your cue to escape.”

---