Page 17 of The Echo of Forever

“There isn’t anything you can offer me,” I told him truthfully. “I’m set in my ways, haven’t you heard?

Our eyes met, and the determination dancing in his made me want to pour myself something stronger.

Killing him could ease this burden for a short while, but working toward a more long-term solution was the goal. I was fearless, never reckless, and putting him down without permission was the epitome of the latter.

My vision went a little staticky, and I closed my eyes, massaging my temples in an attempt to calm the zinging in my head.

“Are you okay?” Jayden asked, sounding a tad too concerned.

I flinched when his fingers brushed my forehead and quickly drew back from the contact.

“I’m fine,” I lied, forcing myself to suck it up. “Can you give me a minute? I’ll meet you out there.”

He hesitated when I was finally able to look him in the eyes without squinting.

“Your mom mentioned your migraines to mine and—”

I pointed to the door.

“I know I asked, but it wasn’t really a question.”

Jayden was the kind of man who weaponized his kindness. He hovered for a moment longer, just to see if I’d bite, but knowing I’d rather peel my own skin off than admit to needing help.

Once he was gone, I let my forehead fall to the dark wood of the desk after taking a seat behind it and counted the seconds it took for my breathing to slow.

Now wasn’t the time for this.

It frustrated me to no end, not being able to control what was happening to my body.

The migraines made me feel exposed, like I was constantly letting my guard down around people who wanted to harm me. I shouldn’t feel that way about my family, and before the chronic throbbing, I hadn’t.

Carmen’s recognizable knock broke the silence, and she entered right after, gently closing the door behind her.

“Jayden said you needed a minute, but your parents just got here, and it was either I come in or one of them.”

I nodded and stood, fully aware my time alone had ended.

We exited the library together, and my parents descended upon me. Before either could speak, a loud, shrill sound stole everyone’s attention.

“Not my fucking baby!” Jayden’s mom, Seo-Yeon, screamed, throwing a vase across the room. “Everybody get the fuck out!”

I tipped my head at Carmen, and she left to investigate, while I made my way over to Jayden and his parents. His dad had wrapped his arms around his mother from behind as she fought to get loose.

For a five-foot-nothing woman, Seo-Yeon was strong.

“What happened?” I murmured, glancing at Jayden to find him staring straight ahead in a trance.

Slowly, his gaze glossed over mine.

“Jeremiah was killed tonight.”

Mmm.

I wasn’t surprised but kept my thoughts to myself.

Jeremiah was the oldest Carroway and got into some real fucked up shit. It was only a matter of time before his sins caught up to him, and the same for the rest of us.

“How can I help?”