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I woke up slowly, snuggling into Lincoln, who was plastered to me from behind, his hot hand massaging my breast as my eyes slowly opened, and I realized that we were in a room instead of outside in the truck. I was confused for a moment until pieces of our night came back to me. I stretched my toes under the soft blankets, moaning when lips met my neck, courtesy of a very excited Lincoln.
“Morning, my Queen,” Kayden’s husky voice vibrated against my back, surprising me as I squeaked, twisting around to look at him.
“What? How?” I asked giving his shoulder a playful shove, confused on how he happened to be in bed with me. He smirked as his hands slipped under his brother’s borrowed shirt to my bare back, making me realize that it was all I was wearing. I shoved him again, giving him my own smirk when his hand roamed to my bare butt. “Snuck in, did ya?” I sassed him when he drew me him closer so that our bodies touched.
“More like you snuck in,” he retorted, his head nuzzled my neck, his lips doing amazing things to it. He was sending tiny shock waves through my body so that I barely caught on to what he was saying.
“W-what?” I asked on a moan as he nipped me and my hands curled around his shoulders, either trying to push him away or bring him in close; I hadn’t yet decided.
I gasped as Kayden shifted quickly, moving the two of us, so I was now beneath him. I squirmed as hands moved to my thighs bringing them up around his hips as he kissed me. Our mouths fused together in reckless heat and passion. I shuddered when his cotton boxers brushed against my exposed intimate parts. “Kayden,” I huffed pushing at his shoulders, “seriously how did I get here?”
“Don’t know,” he said, kissing my lips before drawing the shirt over my head leaving me naked. “Don’t care.” He bent down, taking one of my puckered nipples into his hot mouth and sucked. “You’re here, and I’m taking advantage of it.” He finished, taking my other nipple and swirling his tongue around it before nipping at my breast. I gave in when he took the pebbled peak into his mouth, and I arched beneath him, my mound coming in contact with his boxer covered erection once again. He let up and made his way downwards under the covers until all I saw was part of his blonde hair under the tent my knees made. He pressed kisses down my stomach.
“Kayden,” I moaned when I felt a kiss at my thigh then another closer to the juncture of my hip. “Please.”
He grunted, then sucked that spot. I whined, lifting my hips, showing my desperation, which earned me a bite.
“He-hey!”
The meanie chuckled, licking the spot which spread warmth and arousal like a spiderweb of desire throughout my body. Kayden was such a tease.
“Mm-hm. Salty...,” he whispered before spreading my folds and licking me, “and sweet.”
My hands clutched the bedsheets as a small moan spilled from my lips. Kayden really didn’t play fair as his velvet tongue stroked me again and fingertips spread my labia further.
He teased and toyed with me until I was tight as a wire. My clit he had been strumming had a beat of its own, swollen and tender. I felt raw, like just one more touch or stroke would break me into a million pieces of pleasure. Kayden kept me on edge, avoiding the hot spots he had previously paid attention to, trying to make me beg.
“Kayden,” I pleaded, pushing at his head. “Please.”
“Ok, Sweetcheeks,” he chuckled, rubbing my stomach up toward my breasts, grazing them before bringing his hand back down and gripping my hips. “Spread them wider so I can hold on to you when you buck.”
Knowing what he wanted, I spread my legs wider, and Kayden took mercy on me. His lips closed around my sensitive clit as I was teetering on the edge of an unmistakably powerful orgasm. When the bedroom door creaked, my eyes widened. I found Tyler there, confused. Then shocked registered on his face. My breathing accelerated as Kayden increased his attentions. Two fingers prodded my entrance, and I watched as Tyler's gaze wandered over my exposed peaked nipples. He shut the door, folded his arms and leaned against the jam, watching once he realized what was going on. A slow grin appeared on his face, and my breath caught.
The beat of my heart hammered in my chest as Kayden’s tongue loved me just right. It set off an explosion. I closed my eyes, arching and firm hands kept my hips in place as I kept coming. I let out a moan, Tyler's name, as a warning for Kayden but he didn’t seem to care. My world had been rocked, and now I was coming down. Taking in my first deep breath and relaxing, I peered back over to see Tyler's eyes had darkened with lust. The emotion they held caused my chest to squeeze.
Kayden was tense as he crawled back up my body looking miffed. His hands cradled my head as heated eyes blared at mine.
"What's my name, Daniels?" he demanded.
I was confused but answered anyway, "Kayden."
He nodded, his mouth kicking up a little bit in a smile at my annoyed tone. "Who has your ass naked beneath him?"
Uh-oh. "You do, but I was trying to warn—"
“Nu-uh,” he uttered. His hands tightened on my head as his hips pressed into mine, halting my protest. I gasped. "What name should you be calling when I have you underneath me?”
I pouted, my hands landing on his shoulders irritated. "Yours, Kayden. I was—"
He lifted an eyebrow and a smug smirk appeared before he kissed my lips, silencing me. "That's right, Sweetcheeks. Don't forget which brother you’re under when calling out our names.”
I twisted my lips glaring at him and captured his ear giving it a tug, so his eyes pulled away from mine toward the door.
“Ow-ow-ch! Jeez!” Kayden cried, grabbing my hand then his eyes widened when he saw his brother standing there with a shit-eating grin. Tyler waved.
“O-h,” Kayden realized.
“Tyler,” I growled, “is watching.”
“Well,” Kayden drawled not at all bothered by his brother being there, “are you just going to stand there or are you gonna come and play?”
Without missing a beat, Tyler strode over toward the two of us like a man on a mission and nudged his brother’s head away to claim my lips for his own. I guessed he was playing.
A groan escaped when I felt hot lips surround one of my nipples. An opportunity Kayden didn’t pass up. My nipples were going to be sore from their attentions.
Another round of making me hot and bothered had started, only to get cut off abruptly when Aunt Marlene called out for us down the hall.
The three of us froze, and I thanked all that was holy that the door was closed. I’m sure Aunt Marlene would have been shocked to see her nephew's tag teaming their girlfriend in her guest room.
I huffed, thinking back to just moments before Aunt Marlene called out. It was only then that Tyler informed us he had come to say that breakfast was ready. Obviously, he’d never gotten that far.
Meanie.
After that, Kayden stalked out the room and across the hall to the bathroom while Tyler stayed, pulling out a pair of gray sweatpants and a red shirt from one of their gym bags. He then dug into his pocket, pulling out a phone and strode over to me, holding out the clothes and phone.
“Lincoln just put your clothes from yesterday in the washer, and I got your phone from my dad.”
I slid out of bed, taking the clothes as well as my phone, as I wrapped the flat sheet from the bed around my body, trying to keep myself somewhat decent. Tyler's eyes roamed.
“Thanks. Did they find out anything?”
He shook his head as he reached over. He tugged the part of the sheet by my breast that I held onto, pulling me into his arms. “They went to track it, but the signal feed just bounced everywhere. My dad’s pretty sure it’s someone that has the equipment to do that, or someone who’s using the equipment illegally. Either way, the specialist at the precinct thinks it’s a professional.”
I nodded, taking in what he said as my head rested on his shoulder. Tyler stroked my back in a soothing manner, trying to settle my obvious nerves before his hand curved around my neck. He rubbed my muscles there, trying to ease the tension.
“They’ll get him, Baby.”
I sighed. “I know.” Then I changed the subject. “Any chance I can grab a shower?” I eyed him, curious if he’d send me in with Kayden or if there was another bathroom I could use.
“Yeah,” his voice rumbled in his chest, “you can.”
Not even moments after he said that Kayden was walking back into the room with wet hair and a towel snug on his hips. A grin appeared as a single brow rose. “Next,” he tossed out, as if this was not out of character for us. For me to be standing naked in a sheet, wrapped up in Tyler’s arms as he sauntered in the room as if this were an everyday occurrence. I rolled my eyes, stepped away from Tyler, then grabbing the clothes and phone before I made my way into the bathroom. Guys.
When the door was locked, I set the clothes and my phone on the sink and took in a deep breath. The scent of unmistakable masculinity that lingered in the bathroom from Kayden’s use. Peppermint teased my nose as well as an undertone of spice. I groaned, wondering what in the world could have made that scent. I pulled back the wet curtain and saw on the ledge a square green bottle with a picture of a leaf on it that was obviously shampoo. It could only be a mint leaf, I surmised as I lifted it to my nose and took a whiff. Yep. I put it down. That was definitely what he used. Sighing, I reached in and turned on the shower, thinking about what the date meant to me.
It was the anniversary of my parent's deaths. Almost mine too. Thinking about that night gives me an ache in the head as well as one in the heart, I thought as I loosened the sheet and stepped inside the shower, thinking of everything about that night.
My dad was drunk; I checked off my mental list as I soaked my body to ready it for the soap. My mom was too. I grabbed the blue bar of soap on the ledge of the shower, briefly realizing that this was where the spice scent came from, before soaping up my body. It had been a few days before my brother's death anniversary. I was pretty sure that was what made my father flip. My mom was the one driving the car. I rinsed my body off, feeling the phantom pains of the bruises that once lingered there. It’s your fault! My father's words echoed in my head. You’re the reason! Why was it so important, Diana? A stupid text.
My body shook as that last part rang through my head, and the soap dropped. A stupid text. A stupid text. My heart hammered in my chest. A text. From who?
Could it be that all of this was about the person texting? I shook out of my thoughts, trying to slow my heart. No, it couldn’t be. The person harassing Linc and me was someone new and totally not related.
I got my hair wet and picked up the same peppermint shampoo that Kayden used and proceeded to wash my hair. I was surprised at the tingling sensation that started on my scalp that felt refreshing and soothing all in one. I liked it. I rinsed my hair, more determined to searched the news archives and see what I could find.
***
When I got out of the shower, I realized that I hadn’t notified my teachers about my absence and I also needed to let Mr. White know about SSK. I was torn about not going, but I needed this time to see what I could uncover about that night.
I quickly dried myself off and peered at my phone, only to realize that there were some missed calls and voicemails waiting for me. I put my phone on the counter and pressed the speaker button as I let the messages play.
“Hi, sweetheart, I know that today is a hard day for you and that’s why the McGuire boys are taking the day off. Not that I agree with it, but I hope you enjoyed your swim in the lake. That’s what Lincoln said you were going to do for your date. I cleared you for your classes, so you don’t have to worry about it.”
I heard her sigh, and when Sarah spoke again, her voice trembled.
“Let those boys pamper you and have fun with Raina tonight, ok? Tom is still trying to find out who is harassing you and Linc. (Sigh) HotShot misses you. See you on Wednesday, Faith.”
The phone clicked to the next message, leaving my heart tender at Sarah’s simple message. The next message was someone I hadn’t been expecting.
“Hey, Daniels! It’s Talia, you know, from the antique store? I hope you don’t mind, but I snagged your number from your employment file. I wanted to see if you could come in earlier on Saturday. We’re going to be short staffed, and Granny wanted to take a trip into East Roch. Someone is getting rid of an heirloom piece. Anywho, probably could have done without telling you all that. Yeah, well, just let me know if you can come in early. Like seven am. Thanks, bye!”
I saved her message and let the next message roll on. It was Mr. White.
“Hi, Miss Daniels. I received a message from your mother that you wouldn't be in today. Although she is listed as a contact for such things, it is, in fact, your responsibility to notify your professors when you will not be in. On another note, SSK will not be needing you today it seems. Please inform me if you will be absent tomorrow. I will email you a list of today's work. That is all.”
During that message, I started to get dressed throwing on the sweatpants and the shirt that I was given but paused midway gathering up my hair into a pony.
When I heard Mr. White's voice, it was curt and stern. That didn’t seem to be like him. A little worried, I deleted his message and briefly wondered about my kiddos from SSK and why I wasn't needed, conveniently so.
A knocking sound on the door distracting me from my thoughts, followed by Lincoln's questioning voice, "Are you finished, Daniels?”
“Uh, yeah. Just a sec.” I pocketed my phone and balled up the sheet I had walked in with then shoved it into the tall laundry basket before opening the door to Lincoln.
He looked devilish as he leaned against the door frame waiting for me. His hair was all over the place, and it seemed maybe he could benefit from a shower. Immediately, he pulled me into his arms and rubbed my back, soothing my frayed nerves. How did he know?
I felt his sigh before it met the exposed curve of my shoulder.
“What’s wrong?” I was concerned that maybe he was regretting his quick decision about staying here and not pursuing the college in Arizona.
“It’s nothing,” he reassured, pulling away and giving me an encouraging smile. “It’s time to eat.” Curling his hand around mine, he led me down the hallway and toward what I assumed to be the kitchen.
I was little nervous and unsure of how Aunt Marlene and the Uncles would react to my state of dress, wearing one of the guys’ clothes. But my worry was for nothing, because before I knew it, I found myself in the kitchen where Aunt Marlene was setting a plate of crepes on the table, along with a bowl of cut strawberries. None of the Uncles were in sight. I let out a silent sigh of relief, then glanced over to Tyler and Kayden, who already had their plates piled up and were chowing down. It was almost comical. Hungry guys.
When Aunt Marlene glanced up, noticing us, a warm smile spread across her face. “Well, it’s about time you two got down here.” She came over to where Lincoln and I stood and drew me into a comforting hug before she moved on to him. I glanced over to Tyler and Kayden, who both wore secret grins. I rolled my eyes, giving Aunt Marlene my attention once again when she spoke up. “There’s food on the table. I was just going to get orange juice out of the fridge before your brothers came tearing down here and decided to eat like wolves.”
I chuckled as Linc guided me toward the table. “I guess they were ravenous,” I quipped, sitting down.
“Hey, we’re growing men!” Kayden defended himself good naturally. “Plus, we’re bigger all over,” he said, wiggling his brows at me. “We need to keep up with our muscles.”
“Sure-sure,” I snorted. “Blame it all on the carbs you burn to keep your frames in shape so you can feel better about pigging out on crepes and strawberries.”
Kayden pointed his fork at me chuckling. “Nailed it.”
“Whatever,” I relented. I couldn’t help it when heat spread across my cheeks, causing me to duck my head. I felt embarrassed, knowing Aunt Marlene was witnessing the play-by-play.
Tyler gave Kayden a little shove when he realized what was going on and gave me a reassuring smile. Aunt Marlene came over with a pitcher of orange juice and promptly sat down at the end of the table, while Lincoln took the spot beside me.
“So...,” she started, grabbing crepes off the center plate after I had gotten my fill. “What are you all up to today? Going for another swim or just hanging out?” She glanced over to me for the answer, but I had no idea what we were doing.
In fact, I wondered why their aunt didn’t asked why Tyler and I hadn’t rushed off to class or questioned Kayden and Lincoln sticking around. We were all skipping classes. I mean, I knew what this day meant... I sighed. Of course, they knew. She knew. Was it really only a few days ago at the diner that I’d received that horrible message on my phone? Either way, I hadn’t expected them to just set their lives aside for the whole day to be with me. That they would try and make sure that this day was a good one so I wouldn’t have time to dwell on the past.
Honestly, I had forgotten what the day was until I got to the shower and had a moment alone. “Faith?” Lincoln questioned, laying a hand on my arm and bringing me out of my stupor. “You still with us?”
I gave everyone an easy smile and apologized, “Sorry. I guess I got lost in my own world.”
Their aunt patted my hand reassuringly and with her next words confirmed my suspicions over whether she knew what this day was about. “Everyone's entitled to zone out once in a while. Especially with what you have experienced.” She turned her gaze to the guys who were currently sitting back, silently taking in our conversation. “So what is the plan for today then, boys?”
“Well, you did say you wanted to go check out the archives at the library, right?” Lincoln directed the question my way, reminding me of what I had said the night before.
“And you did promise Raina a sleepover at her house tonight,” Tyler put in.
“We also wanted to take you out for lunch after we visit the newspaper archives,” Kayden finished.
I chuckled. They had this day planned from the get go; my guess was they had been gathering ideas on what to do ever since they found out what this day held for me. “Sounds about right,” I stated softly, taking in the three of them as their gazes were locked on me. It was a little intimidating.
“Well, it sounds like a busy day,” Aunt Marlene stated with a tentative smile. Today was a free day. Quite frankly, I was relieved that it was going to be busy. Less time to dwell on the past.
“So you’re going to the archives at the library for what exactly?” she asked, taking a bite of strawberry and her crepe.
“I wanted to search through old newspaper articles and see if it could trigger a memory somehow on who...” I trailed off, glancing down at my plate as my eyes closed. A flash of that day ran through my mind as if I was a ghost outside my body.
I remembered I had woken up that morning with the sun just barely peeking over the horizon and my parents still asleep from their fight the night before.
I’d shuffled my way into the kitchen as my stomach growled in desperate hunger. It wanted to be fed. I’d opened the fridge to see how dire our straights were in regards to groceries when my gaze landed on the three beers sitting alone on the top shelf and the less than a half-gallon of milk that remained from the shopping trip my mother made last week. My stomach turned again as I shut the refrigerator looking for something besides beer that would satisfy my need for food. I went to the next best thing other than the fridge and opened up the cupboards but was met with empty space where food should have been. When did we start allowing ourselves to get so low? Before my brother died? Never. But lately it seemed to happen more frequently along with the drunken stupors. I closed the cupboard doors. I spied a short loaf of bread lying on the counter. I could make toast, I guessed. I’d eat anything to shut my stomach up.
I sighed, realizing that only three pieces remained. There were two cut pieces and the heal. Taking out two of them, I popped them into the toaster and waited for them to brown. Life wasn’t too bad. I could live with buttered toast. After all, there were people in worse situations than me, I reasoned.
My parents would have to make another trip to the store for food, or at least one of them would. It would most likely be my dad. If he went, he’d come back with more than just food. He'd walk in the door with hard liquor that would cause any man with a high tolerance for alcohol to be three sheets to the wind by the second drink. Those bottles were large clear glass ones with a red screw tab top. The liquid inside was clear as water, but I knew better.
When my toast popped up, I sat at the table and munched until I heard the first stirrings of life shuffling from down the hall.
I saw him in his white, wife-beater shirt and red, gingham, pajama pants before he spoke. He was rubbing his head, his hair plastered to one side, his face scruffed up with a three-day beard. His eyes were bleary as he noticed me and he stopped between the entrance to the kitchen and living room.
I was unsure what to expect from him that morning. Anger, weariness, or cool, cold indifference.
He shuffled past me, swearing when he noticed that only one piece of bread remained. The heal.
“Did you take the other two pieces, Faith?” he gruffed as he took the single remaining piece of bread and tossed it into the toaster before he turned around, leaning his back against the counter.
“Maybe?” I murmured, not wanting to anger him. He folded his arms and glared my way. I guess it was anger today. Oh what I wouldn’t have done for indifference instead?
“Sorry, Dad,” I told him. I bowed my head as I picked up my last piece of toast, feeling guilty. At least my stomach had stopped complaining with my first few bites. Tears prickled my eyes as I heard him sigh. “It’s all right, Faith. I need to go shopping anyway,” he stated, sounding annoyed.
All I felt was relief. He never hit me. He never hit mom. But I often wondered if it was only a matter of time before that happened.
I looked beyond my dad’s shoulder toward the hole in the kitchen wall that hadn’t been there a week ago. He did it while he yelled at my mom.
Our house was becoming littered with holes and broken things. Like a ghost of a former, happier family.
“You’re going to the store?”
I tensed as I heard my mom from behind me. When had she come in? My dad’s gaze slanted in her direction as tension radiated from him. Anger and pain; that’s all he had for her, and I didn’t understand why he blamed her and not himself.
“Yeah,” my dad bit out, grabbing his toast and shoving it into his face before stalking out of the room.
My mom lifted a shaky hand up to her head, combing her fingers through her hair before glancing toward me. She gave me a weary smile. “It will be okay, Baby Girl. You’ll see,” she recited positively, trying to believe her own words. She came over and gave me a side hug. Her breath still smelled of the booze she’d had last night, and I couldn’t help but wonder, what was her definition of ‘okay?’
It was like my brain fast forwarded through that day until it was that night. The nightmare took over as everything played in slow-motion.
Me, running out of my room. My dad. My mom. Then as he took his anger out on me. The pain that seized my heart as the fists kept coming and then when everything stopped.
My mind froze as his fist once again flew and my broken body curled into a ball down on the ground. I hurt everywhere, and my heart slowed. I cracked open my eyes when the latch of the front door opened and I heard a roar. Then a gloved hand reached for me along with a soothing voice urging me to stay with them.
I desperately wanted to see who it was, but my vision had gone black, even though I could still hear their voice.
The pain was excruciating, and then, it wasn’t. I had gone numb as my last breath released. It felt like moments ticked by before someone, another presence, was with me as forced air was expelled into the barren cavern of my lungs. Someone hit me in my chest and it sent a shockwave that began restarting what had been taken away from me: my life. I gasped for breath, my body jerked and the pricking pain came back, leaving me craving the numbness I had felt before. I didn’t want to come back, but whoever was with me persisted relentlessly.
Thud...Thud...Thud. I could hear it. My heart beat in my ears, throughout my body, as if the blood flowing sang to the beat of its own drum.
“That’s it, sweetheart. Come back to me... She’s just a kid...” Then, nothing.
Even though I knew I was sitting at the table with Aunt Marlene and the guys, my mind processed this event as if I was actually there.
I shot up out of my chair and raced out of the house, not sure where I was going. I just ran. I could hear them calling out to me, but I didn’t want their comfort. Not if it was like the way my mom had calmed me that day. Told me things would get better but I knew better. After that horrid day, I knew things didn’t really get better.
My heart was breaking even though I had more pieces to the puzzle. But still it wasn’t enough. Not really. Why this? Why now? I had been at many tables for breakfast, and none had ever triggered such a memory before.
I’d had toast. I’d had pancakes. What was it about Aunt Marlene’s kitchen that made me go back to that night? Or maybe was it the day and what it represented that triggers the memory. My emotional duffel for the day was overfilled.
My bare feet pounded down against the hard dirt road of the McGuire's driveway, anchoring me to the present, leading me to the dirt strip that led out to the main road with its blacktop surface. I followed it. My legs burned with the strain of muscles not used to this kind of torture as I dodged small rocks in the ground before the pads of my feet hit blacktop.
My body throbbed almost as much as it had that night but this time with adrenaline and the exertion of my impromptu run. I wasn’t sure how long I ran before exhaustion caught up with me, but once again I realized that I still detested running. My burning hatred for my parents and triggers—they sucked. I was a mess.
Easing into a walk, I heard the sound of a truck pulling up behind me and doors opening just before I crumpled to my knees, sobbing as my heart broke once again.
It never registered that one of them had gathered me up and put me into the truck, but I was tucked into Lincoln’s side before I knew it. I was devastated. My spirit was broken. Having no idea where we were going, I crawled up onto Lincoln’s lap, and I didn’t care. The four of us were squished together on the bench seat. Leaning into Lincoln, I continued to weep until my tears dried themselves out. Only then did I fall asleep, lost in my grief. I wanted to forget.
I woke up just in time to find the truck turning down our home street. Tyler parked in my driveway. Without words, Lincoln carried me to my front door as Tyler dug into his pocket and produced my keys to the house. I wondered how he got them. The house was silent as we walked inside and headed upstairs to my room. No one was home.
I was glad to be there because it anchored me to present time. Lincoln set me down on my bed as Kayden rifled through my drawers, pulling out a pair of my comfy, gray pants as well as underwear and a purple top. All three of them worked silently around me as I just sat there with my tear stained face. Tyler headed out of the room, and I heard water from the shower start in the bathroom down the hall. Grimacing, I took notice of my legs and feet caked with mud and sand. I probably did need another shower.
Lincoln stayed with me, rubbing my arms and kissing my forehead as he quietly murmured comforting mindless words. After a moment, Tyler came back into the room, I was sure he was there to get me, but my mind seemed to be detached from my body. I was numb.
This is crazy! I yelled at myself, trying to get my brain to get it together, but it was like my body wasn’t working.
Tyler guided me into the bathroom and promptly stripped me down, and then he did the same to himself, except for his boxers. In the shower, he cleaned me carefully, soothing me with soft words. How did he know? How did he know that I needed this? I just stood there with my arms down at my side, letting him wash the dirt matted grim from my feet as water cascaded downward into the basin. The lingering scent of the peppermint I had used earlier on my hair filled the enclosed space, and the tears started to fall again. It was as if the scent woke my body up from my zombie state and caused me to finally curl my arms around Tyler's waist and lean my head against his chest. Relief was instant as his strong arms circled my shaking body.
“It wasn’t me,” I told him brokenly. “I didn’t kill my father.”
“We already knew that, Baby. Remember? That’s why the police came out to see you.” I could hear the worry in his voice.
“I know, but I never... it was the glove and the neighbor, but now this flashback. I heard them, Tyler. I remembered a little bit more.” I edged back, studying his chest as droplets of water fell down on his tan skin.
“What you mean, Baby?” Tyler asked quietly.
“The person who killed my father... they called for help for me. I heard it, Tyler. It wasn’t me, and whoever it was, they were there to help.”
“You say ‘they.’ Was there more than one person?” Tyler questioned.
I shook my head, “No.. I don’t know.” My brows dipped as I tried to think back to what my memories revealed to me. “I think I use ‘they’ because I’m not sure if it was a guy or girl. I heard the voice, but it was no...” I thought back trying to figure things out, but the details were now hazy. “I don’t know, Tyler.”
Tyler rubbed his hands slowly up and down my back. “It’s ok. Give it time. Let’s just clean you up first, and we’ll come back to it.”
I nodded, still looking at his chest, but one of his hands left my back to curl around my front as he tucked a finger underneath my chin to lift my head. My gaze met his. Tyler’s once happy, deep blue eyes were troubled. “This is what we’re gonna do. We’re going to get you dressed, head over to the archives and give you one hour there,” he said stated when he realized I was going to protest. “No more than an hour, Faith,” he said firmly, his voice sounding set in stone. “And then the four of us are going to lunch and after that. We’ll see how you are doing before Lincoln drops you off with my sister. There you can relax in the new hot tub, get drunk with the girls or whatever you girls do. But when the night comes, we’ll come back and will stay with you, okay?”
I had averted my eyes away from his as he talked, looking at the wall past his shoulder but I nodded in understanding. A small nudge of his fingers on my chin had my eyes turning back to his. “I need your words.” Giving him an encouraging smile, I gave him an agreement.