Page 12 of Truth (Wicked Empire 2)

“I was there,” I said quietly. “I didn’t do anything to stop it.”

It was the thought that had been bubbling beneath the surface for days, and I hadn’t allowed it to come up.

But now I was telling him.

“There was nothing you could have done to stop it,” he said.

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

“It’s not supposed to do anything. I’m just telling you the truth of the matter. Although…”

It wasn’t like him to trail off, to not complete a thought, even when he was pretending to be Josh.

“What?” I asked.

It was his turn to look reluctant, but then he finally spoke.

“You would cry for him? Knowing what he would have done to you, you would waste your tears?”

He seemed both appalled and disgusted, like he couldn’t understand the idea at all.

I looked at him, really looked at him, and supposed that maybe he couldn’t.

“I…”

I went limp, my shoulders slumping as Iconsidered what to say.

“I don’t know,” I finally said.

He was quiet for a moment, and then he reached up, grazed his fingers across my cheek.

I lifted my eyes to his, trying to read something in his expression.

“Can I give you a word of advice?” he said.

“I guess,” I responded.

“Don’t,” he said firmly. “Keenan doesn’t deserve one of your tears. Or another thought. Don’t give him either.”

He kept his hand on my cheek, cupping my face.

He studied me for a long moment, so long that I thought he would kiss me.

Wasn’t sure how I felt about that.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he dropped his hand, and after another long, lingering look, he left.

* * *

Amethyst

Present

“Can I get you anything else, hon?”

I blinked and then looked over at the waitress.

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