Page 48 of Ruthless Deliverance

“We haven’t seen him around much lately either. I figured he was off visiting you.” Gus makes his way to the front of the gym as I follow behind, stopping near the exit. “Now, get your work done so you can get your tail back here.”

“Plan on it.” And I did. Especially after this visit and talking with Gus. A few quick waves and shouts of hello from some friendly familiar faces and I head out. Right now, my best bet is to pretend like I don’t know what Philip is up to. Until I can figure it all out and get my dad in the clear, I’m gonna heed Gus’s advice and trust no one, not even myself.

42

CREED

The house is dark and quiet as I make my way to her bedroom. It took a lot of convincing for Philip to agree to let me “sneak” in, but he was sold once I convinced him she would be safer with both of us under the roof since Beau knows now. I doubt he’ll make a move without me, but it was a good excuse to be near her. I’ll take all the time with her I can get. And time is now a luxury we don’t have. Only Philip and my dad both want to protect me too, but I have a feeling I’ll need protection from her when she learns the truth. We all probably will.

Pushing her door open, I slip inside the bedroom then shut it quietly. As I’m softly walking over to her bed I don’t have to guess if she’s aware of me.

“You can’t be here,” her sleepy voice whispers as I see a glint of her eyes before she turns her head away, snuggling further under the blankets. “For many reasons. And Philip is here.”

Pulling my T-shirt and jeans off, I pull the comforter back and slide under it beside her in just my boxer briefs before looping my arm around her stomach and moving her against me. “Don’t worry. He won’t find out, but I’ll deal with him if he catches me.”

“Sounds like you’re not worried about him at all. But that’s not surprising since you fear nothing.” Her voice is sleepy, but also frustrated.

“You’re worth the risk.”

She lets out a soft laugh, her body still tense against me. “But you’re not.”

Fuck. That was a low blow. But I can’t argue. “Touché.”

It takes her nearly an hour to finally relax and fall asleep. Something tells me the little headway I’d made is gone. Or maybe I never really made any to begin with. She is living a complete lie right now, and so am I. Only this is supposed to be my reality—but it’s not.

* * *

Stretching, I feel the bed empty beside me. My hand hunts for her, feeling around the vacant bed at the same time as my eyes slowly open. She’s nowhere to be seen. Not like how I’d woken last time, to her nervously shuffling around the room. Now, it’s empty and silent. And the silence speaks the loudest. After I get my jeans and T-shirt on, I head out of the room, peeking around the corner and down the hallway.

“She’s already gone to school,” Philip says dryly from behind his coffee mug as I enter the kitchen. “Surprised she left you behind.”

“I’m not. She tends to do it often.” And I need to find a way to stop it. Because one day, I worry she’ll disappear and leave me behind for good. How can someone be such a part of your life that you barely know? Fuck. I don’t know. But she is.

“Well, don’t make it a habit. I won’t let her get hurt, by anyone, even if they believe they’re invincible.” Philip dumps his coffee down the sink and exits the kitchen. He doesn’t like me, and I’m fine with that. Because his dislike for me is for her sake. That I can accept.

Once I’m in my car, heading home, I dial her number, but it only rings and goes to a generic voice mail. So I message her.

Me: Why’d you sneak out without waking me?

Dani: I’m not your alarm.

Me: Wake me anyway next time.

Dani: No. Because there won’t be a next time.

Me: We’ll see, Puppet.

There’s no response, and I kind of expected her to send me a few choice words or call me names or tell me to go to hell. But just nothing isn’t like her. She’s pulling away already. After everything, after crossing the line she didn’t want to, now she’s gonna run and hide. But I won’t allow her to do that. There has to be a way. A way for us both to get through this. Together.

Once I swing by the house, I’m dressed and ready to head to school. I can’t say I’ve ever looked forward to arriving at school this much before. But I am. Whether she’s happy to see me or not. Because with me is the only place she belongs. And no matter what I have to do to prove it to her, I will. Because suddenly my life doesn’t make sense without her in it.

43

DANI

The week’s wrapping up rather calmly considering how it started. But I’m no closer to figuring out what in the hell is going on around here. Philip claims the burner phone was a dead end. I should be able to take him at his word, but it’s not possible, not since I know he’s somehow connected with the Kincaids. And Lil Kincaid wants to act all ballsy, sneaking in the house. But I’d bet my life that Philip knew he was there and probably gave him a damn key. It still doesn’t add up though. Why would Philip be okay with Creed being around? Especially to the extent that he’d let him “sneak” into the house at night. They’ve been working together all along, so what’s changed?

“Kickoff is at seven.” Creed pulls me out of my thoughts.