Redesigning Fate (Revive #1) - A. M. Wilson Page 0,107

so afraid, but I need to know the truth. Something about his softening demeanor prompts the question from my lips. I shy away, partly expecting another blow to the face.

Instead, he stops pacing the floor, and stares at me. His green eyes are hard, calculating.

“You think I have something to do with her disappearance?” he asks, incredulously. His tone takes me by surprise.

“Yes,” I reply quietly. “You were dating her.”

“That doesn’t mean I had a hand in it! I really liked her. I thought I was finally moving on from you!” He emphasizes the last word as if it’s my fault he hasn’t moved on. As if I played a role in him breaking my heart, spirit, and mind. I came out a broken shell of a human being; he came out relatively unscathed, so I don’t understand his position.

“So you didn’t…hurt her?” Damn my curiosity. I’m going to meet the same end Katie did if I’m not careful.

“No! That piece of shit boyfriend of yours did!” Travis begins pacing again, the floorboards creaking beneath his heavy boots. His arms begin flailing about. “That’s why I had to rescue you. Before you were next!”

“What are you talking about? Elias didn’t do that!” Anger rises within me. How dare he…

“Oh yeah? Do you know where he was the night she disappeared? I bet you don’t. That was the night he came home late, wasn’t it?”

How does he know…?

“I can see it in your eyes! You know I’m right. He came home hours late. Disheveled, upset, and he had blood on his shirt!”

The hairs on my arms are standing on end. This eerie feeling washes through me at his accusations. How could he possibly know those things? They’re true, all of them. Were they in this together? No. I can’t doubt Elias, not now. He’s done too much for me over the past three months to let someone as crazy as Travis demolish the faith I’ve placed in him.

“No. I don’t believe you.”

“Then where was he that night? With his best friend? Or family? Someone who will give him an alibi no matter what, because they’re close enough to always have his back? You know I’m telling the truth, Lena.”

“How would you know those things?” I ask, incredulously. “It’s impossible.”

“That pig is a pimp. He sells women for profit.” The floor falls away from my feet. I’m falling, tumbling down the rabbit hole like Alice, into a world that makes no sense. I feel one inch tall, and I don’t know up from down anymore.

“Impossible.” I shoot for confident, but my voice is a small squeak.

“No, it’s not. I’ve seen it myself, Lena. He’s a fucking sick prick.”

“You’re lying.” He has to be lying. That’s the only logical thing that makes sense. My whole body is shaking in fear and in anger.

“Why would I? Seriously, think about it. Why would I lie? How would I know the things I just told you? I know because I’ve seen him do it.”

“Show me the goddamned proof! After all you’ve done to me, after everything you’ve put me through, you think I’m stupid enough to believe your word alone?” I have to find the cracks in his story. This is all a lie to get me to trust him again. It has to be.

“You want proof?” he roars, the venom in his voice frightening me even more. Before I can say more, he spins on his heel and leaves the room. Minutes pass before I hear his heavy boots striding toward me once more.

“Here’s your proof. Pictures. Handfuls of them. He’s picking up women, dropping off women. Fuck, he even takes some into an old warehouse. You wanna know what the disgusting thing is? He always leaves without them. Not once have I seen him take a woman back out after they enter that warehouse. What would you conclude he’s doing with them? Huh? He’s not such a white knight now, is he?”

I don’t want to believe it, but in my hands, I hold the proof. Picture after picture of Elias with prostitutes. Chatting through the window, climbing into his truck, one even looks like she’s bending over giving him a blowjob. Travis wasn’t lying. Time stamped pictures showing Elias and prostitutes entering a warehouse, and thirty minutes later, he’s seen leaving alone.

My stomach contracts as vomit crawls up my throat. My heart is breaking; my strength is wavering. Once more, Travis has managed to find the cracks in the walls I’ve built up and