Page 200 of Releasing 10
I didn’t dare look at him, keeping my attention trained on Gibsie’s back as he disappeared from my line of sight.
“If Caoimhe were here, she’d be so disappointed in you.” He sighed heavily. “Hugging the person responsible for her death.”
Come back, I wanted to scream, but all I could do was tighten my hold on the ropes of the swing and pray he could somehow hear me.Please come back.
“He filled your sister’s head with poison,” he continued to say, tormenting my mind with self-doubt. “It’s her birthday today and she’s not here to celebrate it because of that little prick, so don’t you ever forget who’s truly responsible for her death.”
“This is his fault!” Grabbing the back of my neck, he forced me to look. To lean over the edge and see. “She’s dead because of him. Because he got in her head. My brother’s big mouth killed your sister.”
“Help her! Please do something!”
“Say it, munchkin.” His hand tightened on the back of my neck, and he pushed me so far over the rail that I couldn’t touch the ground anymore. “Tell me you understand.”
“Please,” I wailed, shaking violently as my eyes tracked my sister being swept up in the current. “You have to help her!”
“There’s nothing I can do to help her. Gibsie saw to that when he filled her head with lies.” He set me back down only to turn me around to face him. “Say it, munchkin.” He gripped my throat and pushed me against the barrier. “Tell me you understand what happens when you lie.” He slammed me against the rail again. “Tell me who’s responsible for this? Who told lies and killed your sister?”
“I…” Tears trickled down my cheeks. “…he did.”
“And who’s he?”
Another tear rolled down my cheek. “Gibsie.”
“And what’ll happen to your little boyfriend if you even think about telling lies about me like Gibsie did?”
“No!” I clenched my eyes shut. “Please don’t hurt him.”
“Say it!” He squeezed my throat tighter. “Where will lover boy end up?”
“In there,” I strangled out, body growing limp against the railing at my back. “With her…”
Shaking my head, I clenched my eyes shut and tried to force the images from my mind.
“You know you’re unstable, don’t you?” he said then in a sad tone. “Your mother can’t escape death forever. One of these days, it’s going to catch up with her,” he told me. “And when she dies, you’ll be alone, with no sister or mother to love you.”
A pained sob escaped my lips, but he just kept talking.
“Catherine’s on borrowed time, and we both know she’s the only thing standing between you and that mental hospital Mike has planned for you.”
His words caused fear to rise up inside of me and sent my mind spiraling.
“If I were you, I would keep onnottalking,” he continued in a soft, gentle voice that made my skin crawl. “Everyone already thinks you’re insane, so no need to fuel the fire with crazy ramblings—notthat anyone would believe you, either way.”
I knewhewas looking at me.
I could feel his eyes burning the side of my face, but I didn’t dare turn my head.
Instead, I focused on the dirt trail my shoes made in the grass under the swing.
“I’ll be leaving town soon, munchkin,” he told me. “Once I finish my leaving cert next month, I’m leaving Ireland. I’m going to do a bit of traveling before college.” Another sigh escaped him. “I’m going to miss our special visits.”
My skin crawled, while my stomach heaved and my mind screamed in protest.
No!
Don’t think about it.
“I wish we could have another night together, but I’m afraid the last one will have to do.”
