Page 67 of Sugar
“Fuck,” he says, looking utterly miserable, and lets out a resigned sigh. “You have to promise you won’t freak out.”
I narrow my eyes. “It would take a lot to freak me out.”
“You swear?”
“I won’t freak out, Kasey.” I swat at him. “Just tell me.”
He raises his brows like he might want to bet me on it.
And then he says something that decidedly freaks me out.
“I killed someone.”
I gasp, eyes widening, as I cover my mouth with both hands.
“Oh good,” he mutters. “Love that you’re totally not freaking out.”
“Youkilledsomeone?”
“Shhh,” he shushes me, looking out his window for any potential midnight onlookers. “Quiet, Ava,” he demands.
I wince. “Sorry,” I say through my fingers.
“It was self-defense,” he’s quick to say. “Rhett got caught up in some illegal card games and someone pulled a gun, shot two undercover cops?—”
“Cops?”
“—and then turned the gun on Rhett. I swear he was going to shoot him, Ava, I didn’t have a choice.”
“Holy fuckingshit.”
“The guy who hosted the game promised he’d take the fall if anyone starts sniffing around, but . . .” He trails off, looking blatantly scared.
I don’t even know where to start. “Who knows?”
“Ellis, Colt, and Wylie Jo Rustler—we were on their property, and it was Ellis’s game. The other two were at the table along with Rhett. Wells and I got there later, and Olivia stayed in the truck, but she knows.” He frowns. “Layla probably knows too.”
“Who else was there?”
“Two undercover cops who were there to investigate Ellis were both killed by a man named Maverick. None of us knew they were cops until things went to shit and they pulled their badges. Maverick had two guys with him. One was killed, one ran away.”
Shit, I think. “Do you know the man’s name? The one who ran away?”
Kasey shakes his head. “Maverick ran with a rough crowd. None of them were saints. But I don’t know any names.”
“Would you recognize him if you saw him again?”
He considers that. “Maybe? I’m honestly not sure, it’s all kind of a blur.”
“What about . . .” I try to find the right words. “What happened to the bodies? The guns?”
“Ellis dealt with all of it. I didn’t ask, and I don’t want me or my brothers knowing; I think it’s better to remain ignorant in case anyone starts sniffing around.” A shadow passes over his face again, the weight of this secret pressing down around him. “You must think I’m a monster,” he whispers, his voice breaking.
“No,” I say quickly, reaching out a hand to cup his face. “I’m . . .processing. I guess I’m in a bit of disbelief. But I know you, Kasey—you’re not a monster. You were protecting your brother. Anyone else would have done the same thing.”
He scoffs. “I wish it had been anyone else,” he admits. “The anxiety is eating me alive.”
My heart breaks at the vulnerability written in the lines of his mouth, the exhaustion I now recognize in his eyes. “Hey,” I say, tilting his face up to look at me. I scooch closer to him until my legs are pressing into his, my hand gliding along his jaw. “You’re all right. We’re going to figure this out together.”
