Page 16 (1/1)

I think about that It’s probably best if we stay atwe ht help us "I’ll sneak you upstairs to ht"

Charlie’s eyes drop to the ground "Upstairs?" she says curiously She inhales a slow breath, and I can hear the air sliding through her clenched teeth "Silas?" She lifts her eyes to mine, and they’re narrowed She has an accusatory look about her and I have no idea what I’ve done to provoke this look "You wouldn’t lie to ht "What do you s," she says

I can feel the descent of etting at"

She takes a step back Her hand covers her mouth for a moment, and then she points at me "How do you know your bedroom is upstairs when you haven’t even been to your house yet?"

Shit I did say upstairs

Shaking her head, she adds, "And you made a comment earlier at the prison About how you’ve prayed a lot in the last few days, but we’re both only supposed to re…when I told younot to sins to falter between suspicious and scared I hold up a reassuring palm, but she backs another step closer to the house

This is a problem I’ that she would rather run inside a house that terrified her fivenear ?

"Charlie Please don’t be scared of me" I can tell it’s already too late

She darts for her front door, so I lunge forward and wrap ainst my chest She starts to screaainst her ear "I won’t hurt you" The last thing I need is for her not to trustto free herself froht I lied to you But if you’ll cal while I’ainst the house and kicks as hard as she can, sending both of us tuins to craay froain and push her onto her back She’s looking up atthis tiround

"Stop it," I tell her

"Why did you lie?" she cries "Why are you pretending this happened to you too?" She struggles so, Charlie! I’ve been forgetting, just like you have But it didn’t happen to me today I don’t knohy But I can only remember the last two days, that’s it I swear" I look her in the eyes and she holds , but I can tell she also wants to hear my explanation "I didn’t want you to be afraid of ain But I swear, up until this gling and just lets her head fall to the side She closes her eyes, completely exhausted E," she whispers in defeat

"I don’t know, Charlie," I say, releasing one of her arms "I don’t know" I brush her hair out of her face "I’et in my car After I drop Landon off, I’ll come back for you, okay?"

She nods her head but doesn’t open her eyes I release her other arround, she quickly sits up and scoots away fro to protect you Not to hurt you You believe ht?"

She rubs the spots on her ar her down She produces aher throat, "Be back in an hour And don’t lie to ain"

I wait for her to walk back inside her house before I head back to the car

"What the hell was that all about?" Landon asks

"Nothing," I reply, staring out the e pass her house "Just telling her goodnight" I reach into the back seat to grab all of our things "I’ back to Jamais Jamais for my Land Rover"