Page 44 of The Destruction You Desire

I don't answer that because there really is no response needed.

"Leon's… I don't know," he says, scrubbing his hand down his face. "He's hiding some shit. Has been for years. I don't fucking know what it is. I don't think anyone does."

"Shit. You think it has something to do with your dad?"

"I'd put fucking money on him being involved somehow. Long stay?" he asks, his sudden change of subject damn near giving me whiplash.

"Uh…" The sudden realization that I have no idea how long we could be about to leave town for hits me. "You really don't need to do this, Luc. You should be here, living your life not putting it on hold because my sis—" A sob rips up my throat, cutting off my words.

Reaching over, his hot palm squeezes my thigh.

"I wouldn't be anywhere else, P. We do this together, okay? Let me… Let me help you."

I nod, unable to do anything else. I might be conflicted as to whether this is the right thing to do or not, but right now I can't imagine demanding that he's wrong and that I need to do this alone.

"Okay, let's do this."

Luca pulls into the long-term parking lot and after finding a space, we both climb out.

I focus on my breathing as I stand beside his car while he grabs our bags.

I've spent years wishing I could see Libby again. I prayed that she’d found some peace, made herself a new life and was doing okay. I had to, the alternative was too painful to even think about. Luca might have been my ride or die until shit went south, but the relationship I had with Libby was a close second to that.

We fought, of course we did. We're sisters. But she wasn't just my sister, just like our mom wasn't just our mom. The three of us were a team. A unit. And in the blink of an eye, it became just me.

Reaching up, I wipe my tears away with the back of my hand.

With both our bags in one hand, Luca wraps his arm around me, his hand clamping down tightly on my waist as he pulls me into his body. His warmth, his scent, just his presence, calms me. Gives me strength, and I'll take every ounce I can get right now if I'm potentially heading toward a hospital to say goodbye to someone else I love.

"You've got this, baby. And I'm right here. I won't let you fall."

I manage to swallow down my sob this time as his lips press against the top of my head.

Sucking in a deep breath that's tainted with his scent, I pull up my big girl panties and take a step forward.

No matter how badly this is ripping me up inside, Libby needs me. No matter what happens next, she needs me by her side.

11

Luca

Iglance over at Peyton as she sits nervously chewing on her nails.

Reaching over, I wrap my fingers around her wrist and pull her hand away from her mouth.

"Hey," she complains.

"You hate it when you bite your nails," I point out, much to her irritation.

As a kid, she tried all the tricks to make her stop doing it. It wasn't until our relationship started to change that she somehow managed to kick the habit. I like to think that even as a teenager, I was just that good at getting her out of her own head, but it was probably just a coincidence.

"Ugh, why do you have to remember shit," she complains with a huff.

"P," I breathe, reaching for her hand that she was just gnawing on. "I remember everything." Lifting her hand to my lips, I kiss her knuckles.

"Being all sweet and supportive is going to get you nowhere, Dunn."

"I-I'm not trying to get anywhere, P. I'm just trying to be here for you. Like I should be."