“Will you sleep with me?”
Coming to a stop, I let out a sigh and turn around to tell her no, but her watery eyes pull at my heart. Instead of answering, I flip off her light, walk back over to the other side of the bed, lift the covers, and crawl in.
I raise my right arm up above my head, and she snuggles into me, placing one arm over my chest. My free hand runs over her soft skin. Silence follows as the minutes tick by. I think she’s fallen asleep, and I can sneak out when she speaks.
“What do we do now?”
“What do you mean?” She could be referring to multiple situations.
“Me. I can’t go back to school when people think I’m dead.”
I think about that. No one really knows she’s dead except for us and the Founders. “Let me sleep on it,” I tell her with a yawn.
“Okay,” she whispers.
And without thought, I lean down and kiss her still wet hair, inhaling that familiar scent of watermelon lemonade and close my eyes, too exhausted to even question why I’m not getting up and going to my own room.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
HENLEY
I WAKE TO find myself alone in bed. I feel a little better than when I went to sleep last night, but my head still seems a little foggy. Maybe that’s from the pills Law gave me.
Getting out of bed, I slide on my silk robe and make my way downstairs. My stomach is growling. I can’t remember the last time I had something to eat.
I come to a stop when I find Dax sitting at the formal dining room table.
He looks up from his cell and stands. “Henley …”
I take a few steps back, and his face falls, pretending that my fear isn’t warranted. “Where is everyone?” I ask, needing to know I’m not here with him alone.
“Lisa is in her study. Your father is in there with her as well.” I swallow, feeling a little better. “Law left as soon as we got home from practice …”
“Practice?” I look out the large windows to the pond in the backyard. It’s dark outside. “What time is it?”
“Almost seven. You slept all day.”
Oh.
He goes on. “Rellik went home.”
“Why are you here, Dax?” Why haven’t the police shown up? My father would have called them, right? Maybe he knows it’s pointless. Mr. Monroe has them in his pocket. I will just have to go the rest of my life knowing that I was right, even if the world sees me as crazy.
He runs a hand through his hair. “Henley … I didn’t do it.”
“The paper says you did,” I argue, knowing he’s never going to admit it.
He fists his hands. “No, the paper states how she was found. Not who did it.”
I give a rough laugh. “It doesn’t matter what you say to me, Dax. I know what I saw, and I finally know that what I said was true.” He has the audacity to look wounded by my words. “Who was there with you that night?” I ask.
His dark brows pull together. “What?”
I take a step into the room. “There was someone in the chapel with you that night.”
“Henley, I didn’t …”
“Quit lying!” I shout, slamming my hands down on the table. Now that I know everything I saw and felt was real, I’m not going to back down from this. “He came up behind me, placed his hand over my mouth, and held me captive. I watched helplessly while you raped and murdered her.”
His eyes widen for a brief second. “You … you didn’t tell the cops that. In your statement.”
“I never saw his face,” I say honestly. “I barely heard his voice say my name. There was no way to pick him out of a lineup or to explain who he was. I knew you wouldn’t give him up.” I pull my lip back with disgust. “So, again, who the fuck was there with you?” He’ll never tell me. His loyalty is to the man, whoever he is, and not me. But I still want to know. Deserve to know. It wouldn’t matter if I ran in the streets yelling it at the top of my lungs. No one would believe it.
Placing his elbows on the table, he runs his hands through his hair. Then he slams them on the table, making everything rattle. “Fuck!” he shouts.
I flinch at his tone and go to open my mouth, but I hear the front door slam. I hurry to the foyer just in time to see Law running up the stairs two at a time. “Law?” The fucker ignores me like he’s gone deaf all of a sudden.
“I’ll find out what’s up,” Dax promises as he passes by me and runs up the stairs.
I’m not about to rely on Monroe to pass any message. He’s a lying son of a bitch. So far, Law is the only one I can count on. At least I hope so. If not, he’s the best liar of them all. So I follow them.