Page 52 of The Death of Kisses

“What happened to your face?” I asked, dread coiling in my stomach as I reached out tentative fingers to touch the bruises—that terrible reminder of the storm he wore inside.

“Lee and I had a disagreement—that’s why I came to talk to you,” he sighed, voice heavy with guilt.

“Then talk,” I challenged, crossing my arms fiercely, defensively.

He hesitated, then spoke, voicing thick with sorrow. “I haven’t been honest with you. I’m sorry.”

A cold knot formed in my chest. “I don’t like where this is heading,” I managed to choke out, swallowing hard.

“Trust me, right?” he asked, gripping my hand so tightly I thought he might crush it, like if he let go, everything would fall apart.

“Yeah, I trust you, but⁠—”

“Just listen. That’s all I ask,” he interrupted, voice pleading.

“Mike,” I warned, but he held up a finger, cutting me off.

“I’ve known for a while about the marriage proposal,” he admitted suddenly, eyes searching mine. Confusion flickered across my face—I wanted to understand, but all I felt was a terrible, shivering silence inside. My body went cold.

“My dad runs the clubs in Blackwell and Redmont.” He sighed. “We’ve been expanding, trying to grow our business.”

I didn’t care about the business; it didn't have anything to do with me but I listened carefully.

“At first, I didn’t care what happened to the Callahans—honestly, you guys were in my way with all the smuggling stuff. But⁠—”

“What are you saying?” I gasped, my breath hitching uncontrollably.

“But then I saw you at that party, watching you and Lee... and I realized I wanted something different. I wanted a partnership, not a takeover. Lee wouldn’t tell you this, but we’ve known for months just how much your family is suffering. I’ve been funneling money into your operation, secretly trying to give your family some dignity—at a great cost.” He looked down, ashamed.

My heart shattered. “You know who did it...” My voice was barely a whisper—the betrayal inside was crushing. “I trusted you.”

“Charlie, I am so sorry. I never wanted you to find out like this. Lee chose the price—we were both in this, and I didn’t realize until you asked if I knew a doctor.” His voice cracked.

“Lee?” The word escaped me broken.

“When it happened, I tried so hard to tell him—I looked at myself in the mirror and felt shame, regret, and you—” my hands trembled as I took a shaky breath. “You’re the one who let it happen.”

“Charlie, I swear I’m sorry. I only wanted to help,” he said, reaching for my hand again. I let it drop, hanging limp by my side, overwhelmed by the chaos swirling inside me.

“Mike, leave me alone.” I turned away, my heart aching beyond words.

Lilly stood silently in the doorway, and I blinked back tears, refocusing. Anna’s gentle frame appeared instead.

“Charlie?” she asked softly, hesitant.

I roughly wiped away the tears, “Mike’s just leaving.” I couldn’t bear to hold onto these emotions any longer. The shock, the betrayal—every part of this was too much. The man who did this to my family was someone Mike knew—and that was unforgivable.

My eyes locked onto Anna’s small, tender smile as she waved quietly to Mike.

The motorcycle thundered fiercely as Mike blasted down the road, a wild symphony of speed and freedom. I turned back to Anna, longing with all my heart for the happiness to flood back—those precious moments of pure bliss before Halloween, when the future was an open book and we didn’t yet know the shadows that awaited us.

41

LET’S GET AWAY

Present day - November 21st - Town of PineRidge - Population 5024 - 18 yr old

“Anna,” she chirped as she gently pressed her lips to my cheek, awakening me from my restless sleep. My eyes flickered open, filled with a pounding mixture of anticipation and exhaustion, searching her face with a restless longing.