Page 2 of Cruel Titan

Nathan leans over, whispering as he points in the air, “You’re not supposed to lie in church.”

“I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to curse either.” I can’t mask the slight smirk that peeks at my face. The only good thing Asher did is allow me to have a little more trust in Nathan. I don’t know how deep the lies surrounding my dad’s death go, but it all revolves around Asher and hopefully, not Nathan.

“Excellent point. Maybe we should try to be good for a few minutes, although I don’t think that’s possible,” Nathan teases. I appreciate his effort to lighten the moment.

“Yep. Don’t think that’s possible,” I say, watching as Candace takes a seat on the opposite side of me, wiping tears from her face.

The preacher stands in the front of the church while everyone takes a seat. I hear him say my dad’s name but after that, it’s all a blur. I stare at the picture of my dad smiling back at me. The lies he told me floating through my head as I try to accept the fact that I might never have the answers I so desperately need.

2

Quinn

Walking down the hospital corridor, I glance over my shoulder for what feels like the thousandth time. I couldn’t wait any longer to slip away from Nathan and Candace. Telling them I was going to drive around to clear my head seemed to appease them. Still, I’m terrified that someone is watching me. It’s not like I’ve seen anyone following me, but I can’t help but be paranoid since I know what happened to my dad wasn’t an accident.

A change of clothes probably would’ve made me feel better, but I didn’t want to waste any time before heading this way so I’m still in the long-sleeved black dress I wore to the funeral. I shuffle along the hallway, waving at the familiar nurse sitting at the nurse’s station. She still thinks I’m Lindsey’s sister because that’s the lie I told the night I found out Detective Davis was in the hospital. And to my surprise, Lindsey went right along with it like she knows I need some type of cover for being here because Davis’s accident has something to do with my dad’s death, which is why I feel guilty every time I look at her. Like right now, she’s curled in the chair next to his bed, legs tucked under her and arms crossed over her chest, looking towards the window.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I lightly tap on the door to draw her attention. Her genuine smile makes my heart sink even deeper as she waves me in the room.

“Hey, Quinn. You didn’t have to come visit today.”

I’ve visited almost every day since Davis has been in the hospital. It’s only right since the fact that he was snooping into my dad’s case—with my help—probably put him here. “How is he today?”

“Good.” She gives a half-smile, reaching over and placing a hand on his motionless arm. “His doctor said the swelling has gone down a lot, so they are going to start trying to wake him up in the next day or so.”

That must be a good sign. It’s been a week since they put Davis in a medically induced coma to help with swelling on his brain from the car wreck. The car wreck that the police claim was an accident, the same one I fear was anything but accidental.

“Did you need anything? Food, coffee? I can run and—”

“Quinn,” Lindsey cuts me off, moving to the couch, where she pats the space next to her for me to join her.

Stiffly, I move over to sit on the couch next to her, my posture rigid.

“I’m okay. I have everything I need. How about you? Is there anything you need?”

Slumping forward, my emotions betray me as a tear slips down my cheek. No matter how I try today, I can’t hold them in. “I’m so sorry.”

Lindsey wraps her arms around me, pulling me to her. “You have nothing to be sorry for. It was an accident … and even if it wasn’t, you did not cause it.”

“Please stop being so nice to me.” I look over at Davis, wondering how he ended up with such a patient and understanding wife. He needed it because he was anything but easygoing.

“You’re being hard enough on yourself for the both of us,” she says, leading straight into questions about how I’m doing and how my day went. I’m in the middle of attempting to talk about it when a knock sounds at the door.

Detective Taylor stands in the doorway, and automatically, I jump to my feet. He hasn’t been here once since the accident, but he picks now of all times to drop by.

Walking over to Lindsey, he gives her a quick hug, asking how she’s doing before turning to me.

“I didn’t expect to see you here, Quinn.”

“Oh, I was just visiting a friend from school and thought I’d check on Detective Davis really quick.” I move closer to the door, positioning myself between it and him. He was always the nice detective out of the duo when I interacted with him and Davis, but something tells me Taylor is more than meets the eye, just like Davis.

He turns back to Lindsey, stepping to Davis’s bedside. “I heard they’re going to start waking him up. That’s great news.”

While Lindsey relays the promising news, I watch Taylor. Oddly, his cheery words don’t match his stiff body language as he encourages Lindsey that Davis will pull through just fine.

Walking to the door, I turn as I reach for the handle, “I really should be getting home.”

“Thanks for stopping by.” Lindsey gives me a reassuring smile.