Page 48 of Second Goal

“He’s threatened to go to the police. To tell them about Ezra.”

“Then we’ll get you the best lawyers we can. You’re not the villain, Kiley.”

She spins in my arms. “Did you hear anything I just told you?”

“Every word.” I cup her face. “And I’m telling you that you’re not to blame. Not for Lucy. Not for Amy. And not for the fucker who hurt you.”

She exhales, her body finally melting into mine.

“I know what it’s like to blame yourself for something you can’t control.”

“But Icouldcontrol it. That’s the difference. I’m the one who let Amy take my place with that guy. I’m the one who let her start using drugs. I’m the one who left Lucy when she needed me. And I’m the one who took a life. That’s who I am.” Tears pour down her cheeks. “That’s who I’ll always be.”

“No.” I force her to look at me. “I see you, Kiley. The real you. I always have. And I see a woman with a heart so big she doesn’t realize how good she actually is. I see a girl who was hurt way too many times and had to suffer through horrible things that no one should have to go through. I see a person who tried desperately to save the people she loved, and couldn’t. And I see a warrior who fought to survive.” I press my lips against hers and taste the saltiness of her tears. “I seeyou,Kiley.”

She sags against me, her tears not stopping. I pick her up and carry her to my bedroom, lying down beside her, and letting her cry. I just hold her, my brain scrambling with all the things she told me, the protective part of me trying to figure out how to fix this so it won’t come back on her.

But I know this isn’t something that’ll go away. Even if Cruz doesn’t go to the police, this will always hang over her head, unless I find a way to fix it. So when I feel her breathing change and know she’s finally cried herself to sleep, I get out of bed and start making some calls.

The first one is to Kane.

Chapter Fourteen

Kiley

“You’re telling us everything?”My brother glares at me from across the room, blue eyes icy, and I shiver under his scrutiny.

Sitting on the couch in Kane and Brynne’s living room, I nod, pulling a blanket tight around my shoulders and curling my knees to my chest.

My brother’s jaw clenches, his lips a thin line of tension. “If there’s even one detail you’re leaving out—”

“There’s nothing else.” My throat still hurts from Cruz squeezing it yesterday, and my voice doesn’t sound like my own.

“I’m serious, Kiley.” The anger in Kane’s eyes is undeniable. He takes a few menacing steps toward me. “If there’s anything you’re leaving out—”

“She said she told you everything.” Blake steps in front of him, his voice hard, but controlled.

Brynne sits beside me and squeezes my hand. “It’ll be alright.”

I hear Kane’s heavy sigh, and I know he’s not so certain.

Noah toddles up to me and hands me a half-eaten, soggy cookie. “Kai-ee, cookie. Up. Up,” he says, lifting his arms in the air for me to pick him up. “Go park.”

“It’s time for your nap,” Brynne says, standing.

“No.” He starts to dart away, but she manages to catch him. “Go park. Now. Kai-ee.” Noah squirms in her arms, reaching for me.

“Not today, buddy,” I tell him. And after everything Kane and Brynne now know about me, I doubt they’ll ever let me take him again.

Brynne carries Noah to his room, despite his whines of protest. And I try my best not to succumb to the numbness that wants to envelop me. But it’s difficult not to fall into that dark hole where fear and pain are dulled by nothingness.

Kane and Blake are talking in low tones. And from the fierceness in my brother’s expression when he looks at me and the look of warning Blake gives him, I know they’re arguing.

It would have been so much easier to run away from this. But at least I’m no longer hiding. They all know who I am now. All the ugliness of my past exposed.

When Blake takes a call, Kane walks over to the large floor to ceiling window and looks out. He shoves his hands in his pant pockets and I can see the tension in his shoulders.

“I’m sorry,” I say quietly. “I didn’t mean to bring you into my mess. You and Brynne have been so good to me, and I’ve done nothing but cause trouble.”

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