Page 26 of Traces of Her
He can make all the promises he wants, but that doesn’t mean a damn thing to me. I’m what determines my survival. Not him and not his psychotic brother.
“What’s the big deal with Jared?” The question falls from my lips unexpectedly.
Griffin glances away for a second, swallowing hard before meeting my gaze. Closing his eyes for a moment, he lets out a deep sigh. “Jared is… complicated,” he pauses. “This is just how things are when he’s involved.”
A harsh laugh escapes me. “Complicated?” I sneer. “He’s a fucking psychopath.”
Griffin looks up at me with a tormented expression, his eyes a swirling storm of torture and pain. “He is, but you don’t understand him or how he operates. Hell, even I don’t completely, but I know him and what has shaped him into the person he is.”
“Cut the shit Griffin,” I demand, showing no mercy for the pained eyes staring into mine. “We all have shit that shapes us into who we are. That’s no fucking excuse.”
“It’s not an excuse, it’s simply a contributing factor,” he says quietly.
“Why are you defending him when you know all the heinous things he does?” I prod, my voice shaking. “He shot the one person who helped me right in front of me.”
Griffin frowns, scooting closer, wrapping his large warm hand around mine. “I’m sorry for everything he’s done to wrong you,” he says, his voice laced with sorrow.
His sympathy unwanted. What I want, he can’t give me. I want Charlie and my life back, but once again it’s been taken from me and there’s nothing I can do about it.
I cut my eyes at him, feeling the coldness in my own stare. “First you defend him, now you’re apologizing for him.” My eyes fall down to our hands, clasped together, waiting for the urge to rip them apart, yet it never comes. The warmth travels through my body, fending off the coldness brewing inside me. His pain, I can feel it radiating from his body, slowly inching its way under my skin.
The ice thaws and I see him in a different light, slowly understanding there’s more than what meets the eye when it comes to Griffin and Jared. Subtly shaking my head, I cock it to the side studying his inner turmoil written all over his face. Reaching toward him, I cup his cheek in the palm of my hand, slowly stroking it with my thumb.
“Griffin,” I say quietly. “What does he have over you?”
Closing his eyes, he slightly leans his head against my hand. He takes a deep breath before revealing the dark brown swirls of emotion in his eyes.
“Jared’s the reason I’m even alive,” he whispers as one layer falls away, slowly uncovering the real Griffin.
He’s not a monster like his brother.
He’s just as damaged as I am.