Page 176 of Anger

“That’s a shame,” Luca answers. “Like Emily said, he’s a great guy. You simply need to see past the walls he puts up.”

Walls?

I want to laugh.

What Damon has built around his mind and heart is an impenetrable fortress, with one narrow passageway used to shoot arrows at any person who dares attempt to walk through.

I believe he’s a great person. I’ve seen that side of him in rare moments. But trusting him is too difficult for me. Especially if he can’t keep his word.

“Okay, well…”

Both of their expressions shatter as if they’re upset about my response.

“We should get going,” Luca says as she pushes to her feet with Emily following along with her. “The plane should be here in a few hours to pick us up.”

“Great. Then I can grab Brinley, and we can go home.”

They stop in their tracks and turn back to me. Luca must be the spokesperson because she does most of the talking.

“I’m afraid that’s not possible. Not until we work out the problem with the governor. He’s probably looking for both of you right now. And if he finds you—“

“He’ll what? Torture us for information?”

She shakes her head. “You’re not understanding. How much has Damon told you about us?”

Unsure if Damon was allowed to tell me anything, I play dumb. All the events over the past couple of days has set me on edge.

Missing servers.

The flash drive.

Cars blowing up and a corrupt governor.

Oh! Eight shitty fathers who enjoyed torturing their kids.

It’s all very James Bond movies, and my brain is on overdrive. I have no idea who knows what, who’s lying or telling the truth, or whose pen is actually a teeny tiny gun used for discreet assassinations.

To keep myself out of this shit, I know nothing.

It’s as simple as that.

I shrug and purse my lips. “He hasn’t told me much of anything.”

My mattress shifts from their weight dropping down onto the end of the bed again. Luca takes up her usual spokesperson role.

“We’re planning lunch by the pool tomorrow at my place. If Brinley and you would like to join, it’ll just be us girls. That way we can explain everything to both of you without the guys around.”

Lunch by the pool.

I mean, I’ve seen it in movies and magazines and stuff, but I’ve never actually attended one.

“Sounds good,” I say with a too-wide smile. Playing along with all this is becoming one hell of a chore.

“Great.” Luca and Emily both give me too-wide smiles, and I feel a little better about myself for not being the only one pretending.

They finally leave, then I catch a few more hours of sleep before the plane shows up.

The flight home is uncomfortable with small little groupings here and there, behind the hand comments and whispered conversations.

---