Merlin just stares at her.
The conversation I had with Heidi about reining in my overprotective side and teaching the girls to trust their gut tickles at the back of my mind.
“Awful big risk, lying like that,” Rock says.
“It saved me from a beating.” Remorse fills her dark eyes. “I’m sorry, though. I didn’t know they were going to get so crazy over it. Goober and I were planning to run away.” Her bottom lip quivers. “But they found out and…”
“What’d they do to him?” I ask.
“I don’t know,” she whispers. “They said they had something special to show him. I never saw him again after that.”
Rock glances at me. His eyes seem to be saying what I’m thinking. Goober’s dead somewhere on that property. The doll we found hanging had probably been a stunt to fuck with the guy before they killed him.
Her gaze lands on Carter. “I’m so sorry. Merlin did everything they asked. I never, ever thought they’d attack a civilian.”
Merlin stares at the closed door, probably wishing he could escape. “That’s, uh, not the only reason they went after Carter. Your Dad figured out that I skimmed some money.” He shrugs. “Your lie about me being the father of your kid mighta actually saved my life.”
Guess all the secrets end here in this chamber of death.
Sometimes the truth is only a few lies away.