Page 95 of All Your Lies

I shake my head while I continue to stare at the empty concrete where Brad was.

“The same thing still stands. Find him, then call me. I have somewhere I’m trying to go.”

Without waiting for a response, I spin around and head back to my car. I place the gun on the passenger seat so I don’t burn my backside, and then drive away.

Pushing open the door to my condo, I’m greeted by the sight of chaos that remains from the other day. I rush to my bedroom and start clawing through the scraps of material and anything else I can find for the little black box with the red bow. If something happened to it, it would tip me over the edge.

Tears fall freely to the ground as I sit on my hands and knees while searching everywhere for the box. My hands finally feel something under my bed, and once I grab onto it, my eyes close in relief.

Sitting on the floor, I press my back against the side of the bed, my fingers trembling as I open the box and carefully retrieve the note.

When you need direction, I will guide you, and when you need reassurance, I will comfort you. I will forever be by your side. I love you. — Your future husband, Gage

Clutching the note against my chest, I surrender to another overwhelming wave of tears, letting them escape without restraint as I sob uncontrollably. What if he doesn’t make it? I can’t do this without him. I can’t live without him by my side. He’s the love of my life. My best friend.

The sound of footsteps approaching causes my eyes to widen, and without hesitation, I draw my gun and point it at the door.

With her hands raised in surrender, Jenna materializes in the doorframe. She looks significantly healthier compared to how she appeared just two days prior.

“You can kill me if you want. I won’t allow anyone else but you to do the honors.”

“Do you still want all the best songs played at your funeral?” I ask.

“Only if my death is sufficient, and you take pity on me.”

A small grin touches my lips, which causes her to grin as well. Despite the unresolved matters between us, my intuition tells me she has genuinely been on my side, offering her protection all these months since we’ve been friends.

Once I ensure the safety is on, I securely stow the gun in the back of my pants.

“I was just getting to the good part. Do you want to listen with me?” I say, holding out the iPod.

“I thought you’d never ask,” she says as she walks over, does a spin, and then sits cross-legged with a grimace.

“How’s the leg doing?”

“I’ve had worse,” she says with a sad smile.

“At some point, I’m going to want to know everything.”

She nods, her face sullen. “And I’ll give it to you. Whatever you want to know.”

“Is Jenna even your real name?”

She shakes her head. “No, but I like the name Jenna.”

“What’s your real name?”

“I-I don’t know.”

I quirk a brow. “How can you not know?”

“It’s complicated.” She sighs. “I... remember nothing before the age of seven.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I was taken. All of us were. We only know what’s been beaten into us.”

“Jesus, Jenna.”