Page 78 of The Next Lie

The question finds bone because unfortunately, there’s only one answer. I could have walked away at any time. I didn’t.

I don’t answer fast enough.

Her laugh is small this time. Meaner because of it. “That’s what I thought.”

“You were safe in Chicago.”

“No, I was lied to in Chicago.”

“You were breathing, Reva. That’s all that mattered.”

“That’s not all that mattered. I was mourning.”

“You were alive.”

“I may as well have been dead inside! My family was gone! I was alone.”

The refrigerator hums behind us. Somewhere in the old house, wood settles with a faint groan. Beyond the kitchen windows, the dark presses itself against the glass.

Reva’s chest rises and falls too fast.

“You weren’t alone in Chicago,” I say.

Her expression shutters, and she holds up a palm. “Don’t.”

“You had Cal. Cal loves you.”

“I said don’t.”

I blow out a breath through my nostrils. “Reva, I’m not going to placate you and pussyfoot around like the others do. Did you ever feel unloved?”

“Excuse me?”

“Did you?” I ask again.

Her mouth opens. Nothing comes out. That is answer enough.

I step closer, careful now, because this is the kind of truth that cuts worse when it’s handled gently. “You were loved. You were protected. You were watched over by a man who would have burned Chicago to the ground before letting anything touch you.”

“He lied to me⁠—”

“Yeah, well, sometimes we have to be cruel to be kind. You already know this. You just hate that Cal is the proof.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

DEACON

“And just so you’re aware, you’re not alone here, either. Nash loves you.”

She flinches. Interesting. “I don’t need you to give me a declaration of love for another man⁠—”

“Ever and Shiloh would both tear this city to the ground for you, for any reason.”

“And you? What would you do for me, Deacon?”

The question comes too fast. Like she didn’t mean to ask it and is almost irritated by it.

“I would not tear the city down,” I say. “I would start with the people in it.”