Page 107 of Twisted Redemption

I distinctly remember him telling me both of his grandfathers are dead, but I refrain from saying so. Agitating him is the last thing I want to do right now, and his tone has been getting more and more impatient.

David stands, and my body relaxes instantly at the loss of his touch.

Shit. Please don’t notice, please don’t notice, please—

“Do you want some tea, love? I made sure to get your favorite. Lavender with honey, right?”

I swallow. Why does he remember that? “I’m not staying for long. I’m just here for answers, and then I’m leaving.”

He traces a finger down my arm. “There’s no rush, Brooke. No one’s going to find you here.”

Why does that sound like a threat?

My fingers itch to press against the gun at my thigh. Anything to give me a sense of security. But I don’t move. “Just tell me more about Alex and the Graysons. I need proof.”

So far, this visit is proving to be useless. All that’s been confirmed is that David is still trying to manipulate me. I don’t believe that my brother and lifelong friends would kidnap, exploit, and sell humans for their gain. It’s just not them. I know it’s not.

But some proof—or lack thereof—would be nice. They did keep Francis’s murder from me, after all. Did they think I’d go to the police? Do they really not trust me when that’s all I’ve ever done to them?

“Sweetheart, don’t worry about it. You don’t need to know the details. I’m just glad you’re safe.” David is in the kitchen now, the tea kettle on the stove.

“I said I don’t want tea.” Then I stand. “Actually, I think I should go.”

David smiles, walking back over to me and gently pushing me back onto the couch. “I have more to tell you, love. Let’s just have some tea. Relax. I’m not going to hurt you. And I’ll let you go as soon as you let me say everything I need to say.”

For some reason, possibly the fact that he’s being so confusingly nice, I don’t believe him. So I look around the living room, unable to stop my heart from stuttering in my chest.

This was a mistake.

Where are my keys?

I glance to the coffee table. That’s where I dropped them, right? But they aren’t there. Did I leave them in the car? Toss them on the counter?

The tea kettle starts whistling, and I breathe a sigh of relief when David exits my personal space again. But my keys are nowhere to be found.

Don’t freak out. You probably just misplaced them. You do that a lot. And you were focused on fooling David when you got out of the car.

“It just needs to steep for a few minutes,” David says. “Now. You read my whole letter, correct?”

I nod, my eyes still darting around the parts of the house that I can see. Where did I put my goddamned keys?

David takes my hands in his. I try to pull away, but he doesn’t let me, his grip turning painful.

“I’ve missed you, Brooke. I was so hurt when you left me. Devastated. But now you’re back. You know I didn’t cheat on you. I never would, love. So please stay.”

My body goes still. Stay? Stay? With this monster? Assuming he is a monster. Whether he cheated on me or not—still up in the air—I don’t believe he’s telling the truth about the boys. I can’t.

“Then give me proof that you’re not involved in all of this, and that the boys are framing you.”

He sighs, giving me a smile, but he can’t hide the frustration in his eyes. “Fine.” Getting up, he heads to the kitchen before bringing me a mug of tea. “I cooled it with a few ice cubes so you don’t burn yourself. Stay here. Let me grab some documents and my laptop from my office.”

Now we’re getting somewhere. I nod, taking the mug and sipping. It’s more bitter than I prefer. He probably added too much or let it steep for too long. But it’s the perfect drinking temperature. I take another gulp. The colder it gets, the more bitter it will taste, and I don’t think David will appreciate me grimacing at the tea he made me.

When he disappears into another room, I hop up. My keys. I have to find my keys.

I’d pull out my gun, but if I do, David will go on the defensive—or possibly offensive—and I’ll never get to see the stuff he’s about to show me.

My keys aren’t in the kitchen. Or the entryway. I’m too nervous to open the garage door to see if I left them out there, just in case David hears.

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