Page 71 of Unspoken Lies

Pressing a kiss against her forehead, I nod and we get up to dress.

“I want to add to your list,” Liliana says. “Instead of it being a bucket type of list, I want it to be reasons to stay.”

Rachelle’s face pinches with emotion as she pulls down her shirt but nods.

“I want to take you both out on a date,” I say honestly, pocketing my lockpicking kit. “Dad said that the Kings Society couldn’t find out you were alive, but they don’t have a presence in Santa Barbara. They’re more established in the larger cities of California. We’ll work up to doing things together.”

“The fear comes from being out by myself, having something happen, and dying alone,” she whispers. “It’s something I figured out with my therapist, but it still terrifies me.”

“Lili suggested it, but if we’re with you, would it be possible it’ll help?” I ask Rachelle carefully, watching as Lili straps her weapons on. “I don’t wear a gun or knives unless it’s for a good reason because I’m on parole, but our girl is always packing.”

Lili winks as she puts her gun into the holster at her back and pulls on a lightweight jacket.

“Maybe,” Rachelle says carefully. “I’m willing to try.”

“You’re not wearing shoes, so I’m going to carry you out,” I say. “It’ll alter the experiment, but this way you can hide your face.”

Walking together out of the room and down the stairs, I watch as Rachelle plays with my words in her mind. I’ve neverstruggled with anxiety like this so I don’t have a marker for it. However, I’ve seen her fight through depression, voices in her head, and almost throw herself off the roof of my house to quiet them.

I’m not discounting any of this. It’s real to her, therefore it’s real.

“Are you sure you want to sign up for all of this?” she asks, her hand waving over her body. “I’m a train wreck.”

“Our train wreck,” Lili says with a smile. “I can’t sleep unless it’s in the safe room.”

That’s the only thing she hadn’t told her yet, and Rachelle’s hair whips around as she looks at her. Her foot also slips on a stair, but I reach down and grab her pants to pull her back.

“Thanks,” she wheezes, gazing up at me as I kiss her between the eyes.

“Don’t mention it.”

“Where’s the safe room?” Rachelle asks, picking up the conversation as if nothing happened.

“In my bedroom closet,” Liliana says, taking her hand as we finish walking down the stairs. Rachelle can’t be trusted not to get distracted.

“Sounds protected,” Rachelle admires.

Making our way through the house, Lili points at the back door as I sweep Rachelle off her feet. I enjoy the sound of her laugh as she snuggles into my arms. I want to be her safe place, and hope she can feel the strength in my arms.

“It’s about thirty feet across the courtyard, Baby Girl,” she says, opening the door. The three of us step through it before she closes and locks it, hitting a button to reset the alarm. “Dad told me I can see about setting up more furniture out here if I want. What do you think?”

Her breathing is elevated as we stride across the space, and I know she’s trying to deflect Rachelle’s attention. Lookingaround quickly before hiding her face, the girl in my arms nods quickly. While the sky is dark, the twinkle lights are shining brightly.

“I like the swing,” Rachelle says weakly. “Maybe you can plant more flowers and get a rug too?”

“Think you can help so I don’t kill them?” Lili teases her as she makes it to the garage and unlocks that door. “We made it, guys.”

“That could have been worse,” Rachelle says in a high pitched voice as Lili unlocks the SUV’s doors.

“Where do you want to sit?” I ask Rachelle as I debate just getting into the back seat with her.

“It’s it awful if I say somewhere I don’t have to stop touching you?” she asks.

“Not at all,” I reply, opening the back door of the vehicle and climbing in with her.

“I don’t really care about the law,” Lili says with a shrug as she gets into the driver seat. “Maybe try to look like your butt is on the leather.”

Smirking, I do my best, while Rachelle takes a breath.