Page 58 of Unspoken Lies

“He never told me that,” I admit. “Emil seems to be keeping many secrets, but I also couldn’t handle them. The last two years have been really lonely.”

“I’m going to need to have a heart-to-heart with my father,” my body pillow grumbles. My hand moves only to brush against a rock hard thigh, and I realize I’m nestled between his legs. I also never thought I’d hear that voice again.

This time, when I crane my neck again, Liliana lets me, tears already beginning to burn.

“Oh my god,” I gasp, blinking rapidly to clear my vision. Nacio gazes down at me, his lips grazing my temple.

“You’re a sight for sore eyes, baby. You ran right into me, and it’s the best collision I’ve ever had.”

Lili huffs out a laugh, but it’s watery with tears.

“This reunion feels very one-sided,” a dark voice mutters. My eyes track down Elijah’s glower, and I shiver as I find the Kings glaring at me.

“How’s your side?” I snark, feeling brave as Ignacio’s arms wrap around me.

“You brought down a King,” Nacio murmurs. “I hope his ego shrivels up like a prune.”

“Or more likely his nuts,” Lili teases, turning on the floor to look at the Kings. Her hand finds mine, and I feel less alone than I have in years.

“You’re ganging up on me,” Elijah mutters, pouting as they move into our view.

“How are you alive?” Jared asks, his lips curled up almost in disgust.

“Do you want to try again to see if you can succeed?” I ask, despite my heart beginning to thump and race at seeing them.

Jared pulls air into his lungs as he shakes his hands out. He looks as if he’s about to punch something, and I can feel my body tensing.

“Just wait,” Nacio whispers into my ear. His lips are barely moving, I can just barely feel the vibration of his voice. This is just for me. “He’s working through something, I know that man as well as I know myself. At least, I used to. You’re safe with Lili and I.”

My brain interprets that with an ominous ‘for now’ add on, because I don’t think it’s possible for me to feel safe. My body isn’t sure either, which means that a light cold sweat is threatening to coat my skin.

“No, I don’t want to fucking try again,” Jared growls. “The guilt we feel is soul crushing, Rachel, Rachelle… Whatever the fuck you’re calling yourself. Goddamnit, I wish we’d been smart enough to have thought of faking your death.”

“Then why terrorize me and chase me?” I ask.

“Hunts are what we live for,” Theo grunts, appearing coiled to strike, despite attempting to look relaxed as he leans against the wall. “Why did you choose our mystic store out of all the other shops in the area?”

“I don’t have a car, and I haven’t left my apartment in a long time,” I confess. “I saw an advertisement for it when I was searching for work as part of my therapist’s homework for me. If I had somewhere to go, someone who was depending on me, I’d be more likely to leave the house.”

“You didn’t today,” Elijah states. It’s not an accusation, but rather an observation. “Why?”

“Fight or flight,” I sigh. “Too tired to fight.”

“Lie,” Theo mutters, pulling the neck of his shirt down to reveal the multiple scratches across his skin. “You wouldn’t have forced yourself out the window, across the thin siding that barely held your weight, and down the fucking fire escape if you didn’t have any fight left in you. Try again.”

“Avoidance,” I reply. “I’ve been hiding because I can’t function in society.”

“Being buried under the crippling weight of dirt as if you’re already dead has that effect it seems,” Nacio says.

Theo, Elijah, and Jared avoid my gaze while I shrug.

“Consider this my notice,” I say. “I’m quitting.”

“I don’t accept that,” Elijah growls, his eyes snapping to me as he steps forward. A knife flies at him out of nowhere, and he jumps back with a yelp. “Fuck, Liliana! You’re a damn menace.”

“Don’t forget it,” she says calmly. “She should be able to quit if she wants to.”

“Brea really likes you,” Jared says, attempting to guilt me into staying. “I think you should keep working for us.”