Page 82 of Redeemed

But the boys… they ask too many questions. It’s just like Julie said. They’re too curious. I can’t let them know things. That would be bad.

Very,verybad.

“Can’t say,” I mumble.

With an exasperated sigh, Colton sits back on his heels. “How can we help you if you won’t tell us what’s going on?”

“Are you talking about the cult?” Lucas asks gently. “When you say you can’t go back, do you mean going back home?”

I shake my head. “It—it was the same boy as before. The one who pushed me.”

Lying to them kills something inside me, but I have to be careful. If they find out more information about Cornerstone, I’m not sure what they’d do, but I know they mean it when they say they’ll kill for me.

I can’t let them get hurt.

“We’ll take care of him,” Xander says firmly. “You’ll never see him again, you understand?”

“I know,” I whisper, my heart breaking a little. “T-thank you.”

While Lucas continues rocking me, Xander hands the glass back to me, and I finish the water. My heart rate settles after a few minutes, and I blink slowly, glancing around the pool house.

“What are you guys doing in here?” I ask. It’s too cold for swimming—Mark had the pool closed a week or two ago.

The three of them exchange a wary glance before Colton asks, “What did you see?”

My eyes drift to the closet. The door is closed now, but I saw what they were hiding underneath the floorboards.

“Shit,” Xander mutters as they all follow my gaze.

“What’s in the briefcase?” I ask.

“Don’t worry about it,” Colton says firmly.

My chest tightens again. “Is it something bad?”

“Hey, hey.” Lucas starts rocking me back and forth again. “Everything’s gonna be fine.”

“But what’s in there? Why do you have to hide it? Is it gonna get you in trouble?”

“No, nothing like that.” Xander keeps his voice soft as he reaches out to cup my cheek, smiling when I lean into his hand. “It’s perfectly safe, but it’s very important that you don’t tell anyone about it.”

“W-why?”

“It’s better if you don’t know that.”

“But that makes it sound really bad,” I cry. “Why is it a secret? What are you doing?”

“Haven.”Classically, Colton is the first to lose patience. “We can handle ourselves. You know that, right?”

Taking a shaky breath, I look up at him. His confidence settles over me like a warm, comforting blanket. I’ve watched him, Xander, and Lucas beat plenty of people up and scare away just as many. Together, they’re an indomitable force—at least, that’s how I view them.

Ofcoursethey can handle themselves.

“Yes.”

“Then I need you to trust us. Can you do that?”

I nod.

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