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“No.” She steps around the edge of the grave. “Don’t do this. Don’t start making decisions for me because you’re scared.”

“I’m not scared.”

“Yes, you are. But you don’t get to send me away. I did this. I’m the one who killed⁠—”

I grab her and place my hands over her mouth. “Quiet!” I hiss.

I pause a moment, feel her flesh beneath my hands. God, if only…

But I have to be blunt. “My father will kill you.”

Her face pales.

“He won’t hesitate,” I continue. “He won’t pause. He won’t rage. He won’t make some dramatic speech and give me time to stop him. You’ll simply disappear.”

Her throat moves. “You don’t know that.”

“I do.”

“You think⁠—”

“I know.” My voice cracks. “I know because I’ve watched him do it. I’ve helped him do it.”

She swallows audibly.

“Listen. I need you to go. Now. I’ll finish here.”

“No, I⁠—”

“Yes.” I pull away for a moment. “Give me your phone. Because I have to go back inside.”

Her fingers tighten. “Then I’ll go with you.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“Ella—”

“No.”

I take her by the shoulders. “Stop saying no like that ends the conversation. I need you alive more than I need you cooperative.”

Her breath catches.

For a moment, she says nothing.

The wind shifts through the trees. Somewhere in the dark, branches creak. The grave behind us is almost full, but not quite.

“We finish burying Audrey,” I say. “Then you go.”

She shakes her head. “Nathaniel⁠—”

“If you don’t, I can’t guarantee you’ll live to see the next sunrise.”

Ella’s face changes then. Finally, fear overtakes the fury in her eyes.

I turn back to the grave before the relief can show. “We need to finish.”