Page 104 of Cold Hard Truth

“You helped dig her grave?” My throat tightens.

He nods. “We held my dad’s the night before. I helped dig them both.”

I squeeze his hand like it can absorb his pain. I’ve spent so much time drowning in grief that sometimes I forget Sage was doing the same. We both left that house with less than what we walked in with.

Sage was close to his father. He looked up to him. He talked to him about everything, and he wanted to be a Twisted King because of him. It’s clear the weight of his grief still hangs heavy.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for your father’s funeral.”

I’m sorry I’m only alive because he’s dead.

But I don’t say that part. I swallow it down with all the regrets I’ve buried these past eight years.

“It’s probably for the best after what happened. You didn’t need to stick around for more death.” Sage sighs, planting a kiss on the top of my head. “We waited to haveEllie’s funeral until the morning after my dad’s. Kane said that was her favorite time of day.”

It was, and it surprises me that he remembered that.

“It started to rain a little in the middle of the service, but everyone just stood there pretending not to notice. It was so fucking quiet. Like how it should be when you lay someone to rest. Like the rain was a sign that she was going to be at peace even after everything that happened to her. It’s hard to explain.”

“I get it.” Or I feel it at least.

“And even after it ended, I stayed out there for a while with Kane.”

“In the rain?”

He nods against the back of my head.

I close my eyes and try to imagine the Twisted Kings cemetery. I try to imagine standing beside Sage that day and putting my sister to rest. I imagine the funeral like it can offer the serenity I never found when I ran.

“It sounds peaceful.”

“Surprisingly, given where we were.” He kisses the back of my head. “I can take you to her grave sometime if you want me to.”

“I’d like that.” Closing my eyes, the weight of sleep starts to pull me under. “Tell me more. What did you do after it was over?”

Sage starts to tell me about the muddy ground and how his boots stuck to it like he wasn’t supposed to leave. About the cool air and the music playing in the background. About how he left the compound and didn’t come back for three days.

And I drift off to the sound of his voice rocking me to sleep. Imagining I can rewrite our history in my dreams, creating one where I was strong enough to be there for him.

One where I’d let him be there for me.

33

Lyla

“I could go withyou, you know.” I grab onto Sage’s T-shirt and pull him to me.

“No dice, Lyla.” He shakes his head.

I frown, even if I know he won’t give in. Kane asked to see Sage alone, which means whatever they’re going to do, he doesn’t want me to be part of it.

Turning back to the bathroom mirror, I fix my hair up in a messy bun. “I hate that you two are still keeping me out of this like I’m not the one dead center.”

“I thought you were looking forward to time with the girls.” Sage watches me through the mirror.

“Just because I’m going to enjoy my girl time doesn’t mean I don’t see exactly why you set that up.” I glare at him. “Girls’ nightis code for you asking them to all come over and babysit me while you’re gone.”

He opens his mouth, but I spin around and plant my finger over his lips before he can argue.

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