Page 203 of Burning Daylight

I slam him harder into the brick. “Say that again.”

He smirks but there’s no fire behind it. Just something sad and dark and already bleeding.

“You think I’m wrong?” He laughs. “You think your blitzed out mother didn’t show up a week later, all wide eyed and itchy, spinning her version of the story to anyone who’d listen?”

I let go of him like he burned me.

My brain whirls so fast I feel motion sickness.

Benjamin shakes his head as I back up another step.

“Why would my mom…” I don’t finish the thought, because I already know.

Money. Maybe even my dad. It’s not hard to manipulate a person who’s a shell of themselves and willing to do anything for their next fix.

“Frederick got to her.”

I know it like I know anything.

“Ah, see?” He clicks his tongue. “Now you’re starting to get it.”

My chest hollows out and my stomach surges.

“Your mother handed you over, Roman, wrapped in a bow. She worked on your psyche, and Freddy whispered in Uncle M’s ear. The perfect storm.”

I wish I could argue, but it all rings true. It all makes so much sense that it kills me.

“Why are you telling me this now?” I rasp. “Why did you beg me to come here?”

He grits his teeth, water lining his lower eyelids. “They fucked with my best friend. He’s lying in a goddamn hospital bed, and this was never supposed to be…” He shakes his head. “I’m trying to atone.”

“Bit late.”

“Well then, you can ignore me when I tell you this next part.” He spits the words at my feet. “They’re taking Juliette because they know it will bring themyou.”

51

JULIETTE

The second I get down my lattice, something feels off. But Beverly wouldn’t lead me astray, so I trust in her words, and even though everything is confusing right now, I follow her directions and make my way to the edge of the property, my mind whirling with who I should be looking for.

She never gave me their name.

There wasn’t time, I remind myself.

Even if what she was saying doesn’t make much sense to me, there’s not a lot thatdoesmake sense right now, and all I know is that if Roman is suspected of murdering Ty, then my family willneverlet me get to him.

And I have to get to him.

Maybe when my mind isn’t going a hundred miles a minute and my heart doesn’t feel like it’s about to beat right out of my chest, I’ll be able to sit in the grief of Tyler being gone, but every time it tries to surface now, I push it back, compartmentalizing it as best as I can so that I can focus on getting to Roman and figuring out the truth.

What if he did it?

My inner thoughts are traitors, whispering the what-ifs like an eerie lullaby to my subconscious. Would it really change anything if he did, though? I’d still love him, even if he did something I’m not sure I can forgive. I feel sick at the possibility but push it to the side, too, and I cut that thought into a thousand different pieces so it won’t surface again.

I may not have known Roman for years, but I know his heart. He wouldn’t have done this. Not to me. Not for anything. I hold on to that truth, knowing it’s what will get me through this until I can find him.

It’s still early enough for the morning sun to be behind clouds, dew on the grass and an odd mist that clings to my skin, making it tacky. When I get to the edge of the property, there’s a car idling.