Page 57 of Scarred Sins

“There you go. You weren’t ready. You were just settling in and trying your best to survive. I did everything I could to ensure that and protect the small bubble of peace you’ve created from the shadows.’’

My brows narrow. “Wait, were you the one who sent me Amy Marshall details?”

“Yup,’’ he grins.

After that man picked me up from the side of the road once I escaped prison, I was clueless as to where to go. The man, Hudson, had offered me a place to stay for a while. I was reluctant to accept, but he assured me that it was just an empty studio complex that his wife owned. With nowhere else to go, I accepted.

Four days into my stay there, I got a package at the door.

It had everything Amy Marshall related – her birth certificate, ID, driver’s license, passport, and her high school diploma. As if that wasn’t odd enough, the woman had my face on all of her documents. A small letter was attached to the package, explaining that it was a gift.

With no other options, I took it.

That was when I became Amy Marshall and went to her hometown, Long Grove. Her parents were long dead, and no one had seen Amy in so long that they didn’t question whether or not I looked like the Amy they remembered.

“It makes sense,’’ I mutter. “Why’d you go through all of that? We only met in prison, so why me?”

Arlo jaw clenches, and he looks away, staring at the wall across from us. His breathing is uneven, and he seems to be trying to regain his calm, but anger is slowly shining through the cracks.

“At the time, I had an assignment. There was a woman, an inmate, and she was dealing drugs within the prison. Well, one of the doctors was the son of a hotshot, and he overdosed on the drugs she provided. Naturally, the said hotshot wanted her dead, and I was sent inside to do the job. That’s when I met you.’’

“What a lovely story,’’ I mumble, dryly.

Arlo laughs. “There was a reason you caught my attention. You were the first and only person to notice I was too young to be a doctor.’’

“Out of curiosity, how old were you?”

“Eighteen.’’

“Eighteen?!” I sat up straight, baffled. “What?”

“Yeah, and I also learned how to stitch people from a few online forums and tutorials.’’

“I could tell,’’ I hissed. “I still have scars from your terrible work.’’

Arlo winces. “I’m sorry.’’

“It’s okay.’’

“The main reason I kept on thinking about you was because I had files on every patient. I could also see why you were in, and amongst the monsters inside, you were an innocent soul.’’

“Not really. I did kill my mother and stepfather.’’

“They deserved it.’’

“Not in the eyes of the law,’’ I shrug.

“The same law that has failed you and is failing so many young people, so many women. It was justified in my eyes.’’

“As I said, not in the eyes of the law.’’

“I am the law.’’

I snort. “Sure you are.’’

Arlo’s hand sneaks around my waist, and he pulls me closer to himself. He was shot twice in his lower back and had just woken up not too long ago, yet still has such strength in his arms; it is astonishing. Amazing, but also mind-blowing. As if it doesn’t hurt at all.

“Don’t run away from me,’’ he leans his cheek on my shoulder. “I can survive a bullet storm, but not you running away from me.’’