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“And you did this for her.” Vincent looked at me, his eyes strangely kind.

I looked at Diya, and she subtly shook her head. He was still the law, and confessing to him, was not a smart idea.

“It’s okay,” Vincent said, giving Diya a reassuring nod. “You can leave.”

“You’re letting us leave?” Layne asked.

He nodded, his eyes earnest. “But tell me what happened to her? So I can find a way to keep you all out of this mess.”

Layne shrugged. “We poisoned her. To mimic a stroke. After we killed Holland. She’s paralyzed, and not moving anytime soon. If you repeat it to anyone, I’ll deny it.”

Vincent’s jaw clenched. He glanced from Layne to me, then back to his brother. “The gun was Holland’s,” he said, trying to put this puzzle together. “He poisoned Ellis. He played that twisted game with her, just like he did with everyone else. But… something went wrong, and she fought back. He hurt her, and she killed him.” Vincent sighed. “I know it’ll make her a martyr, and not a villain, but that’s the only way I can protect you.” He looked at me, eyes broken. “For Riley.”

I swallowed hard. “Vince…”

“I know,” he said. “I should’ve done more. I should’ve seen what was happening. I should’ve stopped him sooner.” He looked back at me, guilt tightening his expression. “I should’ve stayed by her.”

It took us so many years to finally fucking talk without tearing each other’s throats out.

The silence between us stretched, thick and heavy, but for the first time, it wasn’t anger.

“We were both too young, and we bailed at the first sign of trouble. You did it first, but I did it to her too. I ran when it became too much,” I said with a wince.

“Are they going to kiss now?” Layne whispered, and Diya chuckled.

“Maybe you guys should. You know…” Diya said with a wink.

“I’d rather kiss you,” Vincent said with a smile, but his eyes were sad and desperate. He wasn’t joking, not at all.

“I’ll break all your teeth,” I said. “Don’t even try.”

He shrugged, turning away from me.

Diya walked closer to him. Taking his hand in hers, she kissed him on his cheek.

His eyes fluttered close.

“You’re a great guy, Vincent.” She gave me a look when I scoffed. “And thank you for this.”

He pulled her into a hug, and I clenched my fists. Layne put a hand on my shoulder.

“Calm down, cowboy. Or he’ll change his mind and send you to prison. Once you’re there, it’ll be easier for him to seduce Diya.”

I glared at her. “Don’t give him ideas.”

“You need to leave. I’ll take care of this,” Vincent said.

There was no hesitation in his voice. Nodding, we climbed up the ladder.

“Is this it?” I whispered, looking at the setting sun as we walked out of the trap door.

“Yes.”

“What’s next?”

“We get the hell out of this place, and go home..”

The next two weeks were pure chaos. The whole town was caught in this storm of fear, disbelief, and rage. No one could wrap their heads around the fact that something so dark, so twisted, had been living quietly among them for years. None of us would have seen it if it wasn’t for Riley.