Page 128 of Perfect Liar

“Go on…you get it fucking fixed,” he said.

But I twisted against him. And I pulled.

My heart refused to accept the truth, making me panic. It told my mind that Will was leaving me…just like everyone else in my life had done.

I pulled and struggled to get away, to follow him.

Thomas had no choice but to secure me inside his arms.

Will stared at me for a second, and I could see the resolve in his eyes.

“Please don’t leave me,” I whispered.

He turned and walked away.

CHAPTER 35

Gran once told me love was equal parts risk and reward, but she never elaborated, never told me about the pain. And because my grandfather had passed so long ago, she couldn’t show me how happiness might exist within those boundaries of risk and reward.

My family had only ever known pain.

Will loved me. I saw it in his eyes when he held me, protected me, killed for me. His love went beyond risk. It was obsession.

His last words echoed inside my head, and I knew when he’d said he would make everything right again that he meant he would make himself right again. My heart ached for him.

Will was broken.

Still, when he left for London without me, it hurt like hell.

Thomas and I sat on the little floral sofa in my room, waiting to hear from Ben. Thomas leaned forward, staring out into the corridor at two armed men guarding the door, and I pulled my legs up, tucking them beneath me.

“He didn’t leave you, Ellie.”

I snapped back at him.

“Stop saying that. You’ve said it like three times now.”

“Stop thinking it, and I’ll quit saying it.”

Using the back of my hand, I wiped at another mascara-colored tear.

“I’m here, and he’s gone. He didn’t say why, where, or when he would be back. So you tell me, Thomas, what should I think?”

He pressed my hand between his hands, thumbing away the dark tear.

“You should think about how my brother needs us to be strong right now.”

I frowned, ashamed of myself.

I can do this. I can be stronger for him.

“Look, Ellie. This is what we know…it’s what our father taught us. Will needs to find Ethan’s body. But what’s more, he needs retribution.”

“What are you saying? I mean, how would he get retribution?”

“The man who killed Ethan walked away. Will won’t have peace until he finds that man. None of us will rest. Until that happens, my brother’s anger will grow as the guilt rides him harder. But trust me, he knows the price he’ll pay if that guilt keeps driving him. It’ll cost him everything. It’ll cost him you.”

I shook my head.