Page 63 of Sweet Sin

“No need to mince words,” Kelly says. “I’m one of the women from the island.”

Savannah says nothing. Who can blame her? We all heard the stories of what happened to those women on that island.

“You can ask whatever questions you want,” Kelly says. “I’m an open book at this point.”

“We won’t put you through that,” Savannah says, “but we’re happy that you’re here now.”

Kelly smiles. “I owe Leif everything.”

“I wasn’t there when you really needed me,” Leif says.

“But you were,” Kelly says. “If you could’ve rescued me from that horrific place, that would’ve been great. But I have to look at things as a whole, you know? It all led me to you.”

A look passes between Leif and Kelly.

Yeah, they’ve been through some shit too.

All this time, I’ve had so much resentment toward Leif. He didn’t visit me in prison. Didn’t even write me.

But he was over in Afghanistan, serving our country. Watching his friends go down. And Kelly… Let’s just say I was able to save a lot of my fellow prisoners from what happened to her.

“So…” I say. “Right now, Savannah’s the issue. You’ve heard the story of what went down here at my house. Why we can’t go into the backyard.” I scratch reach down and scratch Sydney behind her soft ears. “Why we have to take these two mutts here out on leashes in the front yard to do their business.”

“Crime scene,” Leif says.

“Yeah. I was more worried about the guy Savannah stabbed. I didn’t think he had a chance in hell of making it. You got him right in the carotid, sweetheart.”

Savannah simply nods.

“All I did was clock my guy in the head with his pistol. And he ended up dying.”

“I’m no lawyer,” Leif says, “but it seems like it’s an open-and-shut case. These guys trespassed on your property, held you at gunpoint. What else were you supposed to do?”

“Yeah, I get that. You get that. The ladies here get that.” I sigh. “But I’m an ex-con, man. I pleaded guilty to manslaughter once, even though I didn’t do it.”

Leif tilts his head. “Right. And you won’t tell us why.”

I shoot a fiery glance at Leif. “No, I won’t. But I served my time for that crime. Guilty or innocent, it’s all irrelevant at this point. I did my time, and they can’t get me again for that one.”

“No,” Savannah says. “But because you’re an ex-con, they’re going to look very closely at Abel’s death.”

“I know.”

“You’ve got your father’s money, your own money,” Leif says. “You’ve got an eyewitness in Savannah here.”

“Yeah, and my father and grandfather are on the case as well,” Savannah says. “Those guys came for me. Not you, Falcon.”

“So what’s the next move?” I ask.

“From an investigative standpoint,” Savannah says, “they’re going to look into this. You’re probably going to have to answer more questions, and you may want to have an attorney present when you do.”

“Fine. My old man knows lots of attorneys. Though they couldn’t help me last time.”

“They might’ve been able to help you, Falcon,” Savanah says. “You chose to plead guilty. Only you know the reasons for that.”

I don’t reply. I don’t even nod. They’re right. I didn’t pull the trigger that killed that cop who was out hunting near our property. But someone did. It was an accident for sure. That’s why it was manslaughter and not murder.

I won’t give up the guy who did it. Why should I at this point? I’ve already done the time.

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