33. Puzzle

33

Puzzle

Declan

I wrap Teal in my arms, and her entire body shakes. She’s sobbing so hard it’s like she’s splitting into pieces.

Her fingers dig into my T-shirt, and she’s pushing me away as much as she’s pulling me to her.

“Tealene.” I brush my hand over the back of her neck, trying to bury the fear swelling in my chest.

I almost lost her.

Again .

Last time, I wasn’t fast enough to stop her from throwing herself in front of the car, but this time, I grabbed her just in time. And now my arms wrap her so tightly, I never want to let her go.

“It’s okay.” I brush my hand down her spine, and she shakes with her cries. “I’ve got you.”

This is all my fault .

She can’t trust me because I’ve spent my whole life torturing her, and now my lies might be the thing that makes her officially break.

“He’s not gone,” she cries into my chest. “He was never gone.”

Her teeth clatter with her sobs. Her body collapses in my arms. And even if she’s still here, she’s somewhere else. Lost in a memory or lost in her mind.

“Who was never gone?” I try to keep my tone calm for her, but it’s nearly impossible.

I’ve needed his name for three years. I need an answer.

I need to know what they brainwashed out of her. I need to know who made her want to kill herself when she was sixteen and who still haunts her now.

Three years ago, when I found her, I didn’t know what to think of how she was acting that night. She rambled through her haze of pills and sadness. It was easy to believe my father when he told me she was crazy.

Now, I’m seeing it clearly, and the only way to make this right is to know where it all started.

“Who hurt you, Teal? You can tell me. I promise I’ll protect you.”

“He—” She shakes as another sob bursts out. “My dad said he was gone, but he’s not. He never was.”

“Who?”

She looks up at me, tears spilling from her eyes. Her cheeks bright red from crying.

“Weston Randolph.”

One name and the final piece of the puzzle clicks into place.