Page 102 of Burn With Me

“And, just so you’re caught up, I already explained to Violet here why her parents had to die.” I glanced at Vi before turning back to my brother.

“Funny enough, that wasn’t a question you thought to ask before you turned me in to the cops. Then again, I shouldn’t be surprised coming from the brother that didn’t bother to visit me. You certainly showed your true nature.” Derek pushed away from the beam.

“Not such a perfect pretty boy after all. You have a dark streak in you too.”

I shook my head. “I tried D, but I was fourteen. They took me away from the Giltberts, and when I ended up with Lizzy we tried to find you, but by then, no one could find you. It was like you’d disappeared.” I stepped further into the barn and took in the lanterns and gasoline container.

“You are my brother. You were supposed to protect me like I protected you,” Derek screamed, his hand shaking as he pulled a lighter out of his pocket.

“Instead, you turned your back on me. You left me for dead in that place.”

“What place, D? I didn’t know where you were. The police reports were gone. No one would give us any answers.” I held up my hands, realizing I was still hanging on to the tire iron, and I dropped it on the ground with a thud.

“Do you remember the asylum fire months ago? Wasn’t in your district, but I’m sure you heard about it.” Derek flicked open the lighter and closed it again, the clicking sound loud in the quiet barn.

I glanced at Vi, who was sitting like a statue, except for her eyes that were bouncing between us.

“Yes, I remember. That was you?” I asked.

Hundreds had died in that fire. It had burned so hot and damaged so much that it was days before anyone could get inside to inspect it.

“You asked where I’d been, well now you know. They locked me up and proceeded to torture me like I was a fucking lab rat.” His hand was shaking now. “They tortured me over and over again. I’d scream your name, and begged that you’d come for me.”

He shook his head and it felt like a weight sitting on my chest. I’d feared what had happened to him, but to know that all this time my worst fears were true, hurt like a stab to the heart.

I stepped closer to Vi as Derek’s eyes drifted off to a corner of the barn like he was remembering or maybe seeing things I couldn’t.

“You okay,” I whispered, and she nodded.

“What are you doing?” Derek asked and stepped sideways, putting himself between Vi and me.

“Cut her loose, D. She didn’t have anything to do with what happened between you and me, and she doesn’t deserve to die. It’s me you wanted, so let Vi go.” Derek’s eyes went to my old knife as I pulled it from my pocket.

He flicked the ignition, and the little flame came to life in his hand. He held it over Vi’s head, her eyes wide and terrified. It was then that I noticed her clothes were damp.

Shit. Gasoline.

“D, stop this! If you want me, here I am. Kill me and end this once and for all,” I said, my hands going to my chest. Fear filled me as I stared into his eyes and silently begged him not to do this. “I hurt you. I thought I was helping, but you’re right it’s all my fault that you ended up in that fucking place.” My eyes begged for his mercy. “Please don’t hurt her.”

“I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t kill you. I walked around your house, touched your things, and sat in your chair.” My face must have shown my skepticism.

“It’s true. I watched you sleep just like I did when we were kids. Then again, at your new family’s place, the family you traded me in for.” The anger was still there, but his voice wavered.

“I watched you through the window, and I still couldn’t do it, but it was a stroke of luck that you’d decided to fuck my other target. Now, I get to hurt you without killing you…just her.”

Derek looked down at Vi, and I thought about what I’d learned in all my research about the fires.

“D, you’re no longer that scared, hurt kid. You can be better. You have been better. You’ve been going after those that hurt others. Vi is not one of those people, and if you let yourself believe me for just one second, you’d see that neither am I. I’ve never stopped loving you, D, and I’ve carried around the pain of my decision all these years.”

“She needs to die,” he said, but his voice was softer as his hand shook violently.

“No, she doesn’t. Vi never hurt you. She’s never hurt anyone, please D,” I begged. “Don’t do this. If you still feel anything for me as a brother, then please don’t do this.”

Derek lifted his eyes to mine, and I took a deep breath as the lighter closed. Vi slumped against the beam, a terrified whimper coming from her mouth. His eyes suddenly turned dark, and he ran at me, colliding like a football player taking down his opponent.

“Fuck,” I swore as my back slammed off the wooden boards, and his fist connected with my jaw. My teeth rattled with the hard impact.

“You should have let him kill me,” Derek roared as he landed a second solid blow to my jaw.