Page 101 of Otto: The Hawthornes

“They do.”

“Why would they think that?” I shook my head. That didn’t make any sense. Aunt Lacey and Uncle Hank had seen me the day before Otto found me. I glanced up at Otto in confusion and the breath caught in my throat at the guilt in his eyes.

“I’ll explain later.”

“You’ll explain now,” I replied hoarsely.

“Give us a minute,” Otto snapped at his brother. “Stay there.”

“We’re not goin’ anywhere,” Titus replied, raising his hands in surrender.

“Yeah, sorry if I don’t take you at your word.” He ushered me into the kitchen and stood there silently, using both hands to smooth his hair back from his forehead.

“Why do my parents think I’m dead?” I asked softly, watching his face. I knew the minute that he decided to tell the truth.

“We blew up the cabin.”

“You what?”

“Quiet,” he hissed, glancing toward the living room.

“Why would you do that?”

“Better if they thought that you used the phone and the guns were destroyed,” he explained, reaching for me. “Than them realizing that we’d found them and took you with us.”

“Better for who? My family thinks I’mdead. They—they must’ve been frantic.” My mind raced.

“Your parents are the ones that rigged that shit to blow,” Otto snapped. “Who gives a fuck if they think they got what they wanted?”

I jerked backward as if he’d slapped me.

“We needed the time, sugar,” Otto said, softening his tone. “We needed to make sure you were protected.”

“You needed to make sure we weremarried,” I replied, realization dawning.

“Protected, yes.”

I stared blankly at the dish rag I’d left hanging over the kitchen faucet. The instant wedding, not being able to call my parents, staying in the house all week, it all made sense. I’d been hidden away. Again.

“Did you get the guns out of the floorboard, at least?” I asked emotionlessly.

“Yes.”

“Good. That’s good.”

“Otto,” his dad called from the living room. “Where you at?”

“Go,” I ordered, waving my hand at him. “Good luck getting Noel to keep her mouth shut.”

“Esther,” Otto murmured, reaching for me.

“It’s not like you can cover up her disappearance,” I continued, taking a step backward. “They’d notice ifshewasn’t there.”

“There you are,” Tommy grumbled from behind me. “This is a clusterfuck.”

“I’m aware,” Otto said in frustration.

“Your brother’s fuckin’ dead.”

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