Page 100 of No Apologies
He hated the accusation he heard in his twin’s voice and sighed, “You were never supposed to find out.”
“Does that make it okay in your mind? Lying to me?”
“I never lied to you.”
“Bullshit.” Cash snapped. “You lied every time you told me you fought in that cage to control the anger. You lied every time I asked if we were okay or if there was anything I could do to help with money. You looked me right in the fucking eye and lied to me when you told me that we were out, that we were clean.”
“You were clean. Are clean. That’s all that mattered.”
Cash snorted, “Maybe to you but your safety definitely matters to me and you lied to me about it.”
“I was never in any real danger.”
“Tell that to the thugs that beat you half to death.” Cash’s jaw twitched again, “You know what, it doesn’t matter to me why you lied. I can’t change that but we’re done with it now, Colt. Do you hear me? No more lies. You’re out and you’re staying that way.”
“So you think I should be fine with Sky putting herself in…” Colt started to speak but then he got a good look at the gravel road his twin turned the truck down and his throat tightened as all of the hair on his body stood up, “Where the hell are you takin’ me?”
Cash shot him a look out of the corner of his eye but said nothing. Colt’s heart started to thump too hard and his fists were already clenched with the need to defend himself.
This was the road to hell, the place he’d sworn he would never go again. Cash had promised him, on the day he cut ties with their father for good he’d sworn that Colt would never again have to come back here. Even as the truck bumped up the uneven one lane road, he couldn’t believe Cash would go back on his word like this. Couldn’t believe Cash had lied to him. And God, as the sick, scared feeling twisted his guts, he suddenly understood how Cash must have felt when he was blindsided with everything Colt had kept from him.
“I… I get it. I get it okay? I’m sorry. I’m sorry. You don’t have to do this. I get it.”
He hated the fear that tinged his words. Hated that this place, that man, still had the power to make him feel like a scared little boy. But that was what Decker had beaten into him right up there at the crumbling shack of a house where he’d grown up. No matter how old he got, no matter how much time went by or how much distance he put between himself and that bastard, this place made him feel just as small and stupid and worthless as he had when he was a kid.
“Colt?”
Cash’s voice broke into his thoughts and he realized he’d started panting. Adrenaline was coursing through his veins. It numbed the pain but not the panic.
“Colt. Breathe.” Cash ordered, concern deepening his tone, “We’re not going up there. That’s not where we’re going.”
Colt sucked in a gulp of air, “It’s not?”
“No, of course not. I told you I’d never make you go back there and I meant it. I’m not taking you home. Promise.”
Some of his panic receded but not all of it. He felt shaky and unsure. He shot his twin a questioning look and Cash reached out and squeezed his shoulder reassuringly.
“Promise.”
He blew out a breath because he believed him. He always believed Cash because Cash didn’t lie to him. He was the liar. Cash was the good twin and his promise only reinforced that he’d always been better.
“Wh… where are we going?”
“To see Remy.”
That made him blink and he looked around at the overgrown fields on either side of them, “What? Out here?”
“Yeah.”
“I thought he was staying with Link?”
“Yeah.” Cash took the left where the road split and headed down towards the creek instead of up the hill towards their parents’ house, “He was but he moved out here yesterday.”
“Yesterday?”
Colt’s head was spinning again. He’d shot through too many emotions in too short a time. From anger to fear to panic to… damn that felt like guilt. He swallowed hard when Cash remained silent and let him catch up.
“After he found out about my deal with Link?”
