Page 31 of Wicked Riddles & Bitter Heartbeats (Till Death Do Us Part #1)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Atticus

I sleep for only a few hours. I take a shower when I wake up, get dressed for the day, then head downstairs to make breakfast for myself. Lilah is still sleeping, so I’ll make her something when she wakes. Violet’s door was still closed, so I assume she’s sleeping too.

I make myself scrambled eggs, toast, and coffee. I’m putting the dishes into the dishwasher when someone speaks behind me.

“I have a plan.”

I turn, resting against the counter. Violet looks just as she did yesterday. Fresh, young, still dressed in the black pants and sweatshirt.

“It’s a shitty one,” I say.

She shakes her head. “I have two people left to kill and then I’m leaving.”

“They will find you.”

“I have a new identity, a ton of cash, and I’m leaving the country.”

“They will still find you, Violet.”

“They won’t, Atticus,” she says as she steps forward. “I’m sure of it. I just… I can’t be here anymore.”

I move to her, having this crazy urge to hug her. Which is new. I don’t want to hug people. Not unless it’s Lilah. But Violet has always been special to me too, so I guess it isn’t so surprising. All these years I’ve wondered about her, and now here she is, standing in my kitchen.

“I’ve moved across the country for a while, and it didn’t make a difference. So now, I’m trying another country.”

“Running from your problems won’t fix them.”

She huffs out a laugh. “Become a therapist, did you?”

I crack a smile.

Her face turns serious, and my chest gets heavy. She’s going to leave now, and I don’t like that thought.

“I’m sorry I left you,” she says softly.

My eyes fall closed and I take in a deep breath. When I open them, she’s still staring at me with a look that I interpret as apologetic.

“Why did you do it?” I ask.

“Because you were good, Atticus. I saw it in you. I see it in you now, in the way you look at Lilah. I know you’re capable of a normal life, if you can just find someone who understands you.

” She takes my hand, linking our fingers.

It’s small, warm, and… not Lilah’s. I don’t hate it though.

“We talked about how bad we were for each other so many times. I knew you would never make the move, and so I did.”

“You understood me,” I say firmly. What she said isn’t a reason; it’s just an excuse.

She nods, squeezing my hand tighter. “I do understand you. Enough that I know I’m not what you need. I’m… bad. I’ve gone through too much shit to ever be normal. You have a chance.”

“I don’t need you to be normal.”

She smiles, but it’s a sad one. “You don’t need me at all, Atticus. You have everything you need here.”

“But I…” I close my mouth, thinking about my words carefully. “You’re the first friend I ever had. The only friend.”

She nods, placing her hand on my arm. “And you’re mine.

That won’t change. But this? I need to do this.

I’ve always needed to do this. I knew it would get messy, and I couldn’t take you down with me.

I am as okay as I will ever be, and I promise to keep in touch.

But Atticus… I have to finish this, and I have to go. ”

All I can do is stare at her. Words have failed me.

I understand what she’s saying, to some extent.

I definitely don’t agree with it. But I get when you have an urge, you have to take care of it.

Violet has had a much harder life than me.

Her issues run deeper. Though we understand each other, and though we’re very much the same, we are still different.

“How did you know about Lilah?” I ask, hoping I’ll get more of an answer.

Her smile grows and she looks up at me, her eyes shining with mischief.

“Do you really think I’ve gone all this time without seeing you, Atticus?”

Narrowing my eyes, I watch her carefully. “You’ve been watching me?”

“Checking up on you. Making sure you were okay. Though you’re good and smart, you’re a little naive.”

“I take offense to that.”

She laughs, dropping her hand and shoving them into her pocket. “As you should.”

As I stand here, watching her, I can’t decipher how I feel.

A little lighter that I have an answer, even if it isn’t one I like.

She didn’t abandon me because of me, she did it for me.

And though I think we’d have been better together, I suppose I get it.

Maybe it’ll make more sense tomorrow. Because I would do the same for Lilah.

Maybe I should have done that for her, but I’m too selfish for that. Especially now.

“When are you leaving?” I ask.

“I need to finish this tonight. My plane leaves in three days.”

“Where are you going?”

“Ireland. At first, anyway. I want to travel a little. Find a place that makes my soul happy. If that even exists.”

I glance at the stairs just as Lilah walks down them. She’s bright and rested, and so fucking beautiful.

I’ve found what makes my soul happy.

“Good morning,” she says carefully as she stops a short distance from us.

Violet looks over her shoulder.

“Hey,” she says gently. “Good morning.”

I move past Violet and pull Lilah to me, bending to kiss her lips. She hums happily.

“How did you sleep, Kitten?” I ask.

“Pretty good.” She smiles up at me.

Fuck, she’s beautiful. There isn’t a thing in this world that I wouldn’t do for her.

Except let her go.

“What do you want for breakfast?”

“Pancakes.”

I kiss her again. “You got it, Kitten.”

“You want some pancakes?” I ask Violet.

She shrugs, taking a seat at the island. “Sure.”

Lilah sits beside her, and I make them both breakfast, coffee, and pour them juice.

I’ve thought of Violet a lot over the last eight years, and I’m not sure what I expected if I ever saw her again. This definitely wasn’t it, though.

Is this what it’s like to have closure?

I feel too calm. Like now that I know she’s okay, I’ll be okay. Maybe that’s all I needed. Maybe I just needed to know she was okay and that I didn’t let her down.

The three of us spend the day lounging around. We watch TV, Lilah and Violet chat, I show her my cars and Lilah gives her a tour of the house. I like seeing them get along.

When the sun sets, Violet gives me that look. I already know what it means.

I’m leaving.

“Do you need anything before you go?” I ask her. “Money, clothes, a car?”

She huffs out a laugh, shaking her head. “No, but thank you.”

“A ride, then?”

“No, Atticus. I’m fine.”

Lilah walks up to her, throwing her arms around her neck. Violet lets out a startled squeak but hugs her back.

“I don’t hate you like I thought I would,” Lilah says with a smile, causing Violet to laugh.

“Good to know. You’re not so bad yourself.”

Lilah gives her another squeeze and then lets her go.

“I’ll walk you out,” I tell her.

We walk through the front and go halfway down the driveway.

“Are you sure about this?” I ask.

“Very.”

“If you ever need a place to stay, if you come back, I’ll be here.”

“Thanks, Atticus. For everything.”

I give her a smile, but there’s a strange feeling in my throat. It’s hard to breathe and suddenly feels like there’s something on my chest.

“See,” she says with a smirk. “Good, just like I said.”

With her hands in her pockets and her hood pulled over her head, she starts down the driveway, walking out of my life once again.