and almost immature.
But I wouldn’t have them any other way.
“I love you both,” I tell them.
“See, D-man,” Finn says, “She loves us more than you.” We laugh, as we settle into easy conversation about moving to London and our future together. And I know everything is going to be okay.
44
Damien
The private plane is quiet. The solace is welcome. Nesrin’s staring out of the window, and I have a feeling she’s about to start a conversation that’s been lingering in her mind for a while.
Since the night of the party, I know Creed set this in motion, and it’s time I finished it. But I don’t know how to bring it up without her prompting it. I rise, heading to the bar to grab a bourbon. With my back to her, I can feel her eyes burning into me.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure,” I respond, not looking at her. This is it. The moment of truth.
“What happened between you and Creed?” My chest tightens when I remember that night. When I recall watching my best friend take it a step too far, and the accident that caused us all to walk away.
“One night, when I had just turned twenty-one, Creed and I wanted to challenge each other in the forest. It was a duel of sorts.” I speak, looking through the small window—which is black—forcing me to see my reflection. “We took Gen and her sister to the woods, gave them a rose each and told them to run. Creed wanted her sister, and I had Gen.”
I finally turn to see her nose crinkle at my words. This isn’t going to be easy to hear, but I need her to know.
“I ran, it was exhilarating, and I lost myself to the euphoria of freedom.” Golden eyes watch me intently. “Somewhere in the darkness, I heard a scream. It was piercing. I made my way toward it, following the sounds that came from deep in the forest.”
Nesrin’s on the edge of her seat, her lips slightly parted, her chest rising and falling, and her hands twisting in her lap.
“Creed was there, standing back when I reached a clearing. I didn’t see it at first, but when Gen came up behind me, she screamed so loud, the sound pierced the woods, and I realized what was lying on the ground.”
Ice races through my veins. The memory still haunts me. I blamed Creed all these years. I walked away from that fucking life, but Nesrin took me right back. The only difference is, I kept her safe.
“Damien?” My girl is on her feet, making her way toward me. I swallow my drink before I look at her again.
“Gen’s sister was killed that night. It could’ve been an accident, but I was still plagued by guilt,” I admit, as a gasp of shock falls from Nesrin’s lips. “And we watched it happen.” The words are out of my mouth before I have time to think. “Thorne Haven has far too many secrets, not even the people who live there like to talk about it.”
“What happened, though?”
“Do you remember when I told you the forest is dangerous?” She nods, and I know she’s recalling the threat I threw at her that night. “There are certain parts of the forest that have been set up by hunters to make sure we don’t get any wild animals, or anything like that out here. We know where they are, but someone not used to the forest can get themselves hurt, badly.”
Nesrin visibly shudders. I don’t need to tell her what happened. “But you blamed Creed for it?” Confusion creases her brows, causing them to furrow.
“The man who killed Gen’s sister is Creed Haven.” My admission has her mouth returning to a shocked O, and her eyes spark with surprise. “We had a fight that night. Creed told me it was an accident, that she took a wrong turn and he tried to warn her, but…” My words taper off into nothing, into the darkness. The memory of that night haunts me, every fucking day. “Creed told the police he had found her like that. They didn’t know about our game, and he kept it that way, telling them we were out for a walk and she got angry and ran off.”
“What about you and Gen?”
“We told them that we didn’t see what had happened, which is the truth. In the end they ruled it as an accident, since it was a trap set out by hunters. I blamed