Page 101 of Twisted Redemption

My heart clenches. “Did Alex kill Francis?”

Blaze goes so still I think all of his organs probably froze, too. Then he swallows. Rubs his neck. And then says, “Yeah.”

I take a deep breath. Over the past weeks, I’ve thought about it a lot, and I’ve realized that I don’t care if Alex killed Francis. Our father was a worthless piece of shit who took more than he gave. He was a stain on this earth.

But with the realization that I didn’t care came another one—that I do care about being lied to. We’ve always been a tight-knit group, me and the boys. That shattered when David came and pulled me away from them, especially Blaze.

But this—they all know. I know they all know what Alex did. Hell, they were all at a bar together when my dad crashed, supposedly. So they must’ve all been in on it. Helped him.

And they kept it from me. Because they don’t trust me? Because they don’t believe I can keep my mouth shut?

“Daisy, Alex didn’t—”

I hold up my hand for him to stop. “You lied to me.”

Blaze works his jaw. “Technically, I didn’t.”

“You purposefully kept me in the dark.” My heart sinks to the floor. “Why? Why wouldn’t you tell me? He was my abuser. He had high standards for Alex, but he didn’t say the things to him that he said to me.”

“That’s part of the reason Alex killed him.”

“But he was my abuser. Maybe I would’ve wanted to help.”

They killed Francis for me. Well, not just me—for Everly, and probably for Sophia, too. He was terrible to all of us, especially my mom.

So why does this feel like a betrayal?

Because you weren’t good enough to be part of their plans. You still aren’t. You never were.

Blaze lied to you once. What’s to stop him from doing it again?

Blaze raises his eyebrows, lips slightly parted in shock. Then he shakes his head. “That’s not who you are, Daisy.”

He’s right, I think. But I won’t lie—I fantasized about killing my father a lot when I was a kid. “You don’t get to tell me who I am.”

Alex lied to me. They all lied to me. But Alex. Alex! He’s always been honest with me. He’s never lied to me before.

And then I remember David’s letter. His claims.

“Oh my god.” I shove away my food, sliding off the stool and stumbling away from Blaze.

No. Alex wouldn’t’ve lied about that. It has to be a coincidence.

But Alex never showed me any proof. He just expected me to believe him. Which I did. Which caused me to cut off all ties with the man they’re apparently framing for their crimes.

No. I’m missing something. I can’t be right.

“What?”

“David didn’t cheat on me, did he? Alex made that up too? What the hell, Blaze. What the actual hell.”

“No.” Blaze stands, stalking toward me.

I retreat until I hit the back of the couch where he fucked me not even an hour ago.

“David did cheat on you, as far as I know. Why would Alex lie about that?”

“Why would he lie about killing my father?” I snap.

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