I told her I had to go, said I’d meet her later at the hospital. Once Sawyer was checked in, I texted her where he was, what room he was in, and then I left. All of this was taking time, time I didn’t necessarily have. He might not come back, I was well aware, but he might.
He was my brother, after all. I knew him.
Or, at least, until today, I thought I did.
So I went to the one place I probably shouldn’t. I took Will’s car, driving it from the hospital and to his apartment building. I sat in the dark parking lot, staring up at the walls of the building as if they held the answers.
The ugly truth was, there were no good answers. There would be no good explanation for tonight, for what happened. For everything my older brother did.
A part of me wanted to give up. Will was the only family I had left. Losing him…it was something I never imagined I’d have to do, and yet here I was. I got out of the car and strolled into the building, finding the spare key on my keyring in my pocket and going into his dark, empty apartment.
I sat myself on the couch, not turning on any lights. I had my keyring in one hand, Will’s keys in the other. My hands sweated, the heart in my chest pounding away wildly at everything I’d been told.
Will. Will was a murderer. Will had killed Sabrina, framed my father, murdered Corey Weinberger, and tried to hang Sawyer. For what? For me? For Ash? That was an excuse someone not in their right mind would use. I’d always thought Will was the saner one, the more logical one. The one who I could count on no matter what circumstances I was in.
Alas, he wasn’t. My older brother was a monster, and there was no coming back from this.
I squeezed my eyes shut. Damn it. I let him near Ash. If I would’ve held it together that night, Will and Ash wouldn’t have met. I put her in danger because of my stupid actions, and now a graduate student was dead, Sawyer was drugged and had a big red rash on his neck, and I was here, alone.
The last Briggs, really, because like I said, there would be no coming back from this.
Ash called me a few times as I sat there in the darkness. I put my phone on silent, not wanting to talk to her right now. There was only one person I needed to see, one person I waited for. Maybe he wouldn’t come back here. Maybe this was a waste of time.
Maybe he was dead.
When I didn’t answer my phone, she settled for texting me. She was at the hospital with Sawyer, and she wanted to know where I was, why I had to leave. I didn’t text back. I couldn’t. Right now, my mind raced too fast and too far to come up with any sort of normal reply.
How could I act so relaxed when my brother was the reason this was all happening?
The old me might’ve given up tonight. The old me might have decided it was too much, but you know what? Just as Sawyer had changed, so did I. I was not the sniveling, depressed person I was last year. It would be the hardest thing I’d ever had to do, but I’d make it through this. I would. For myself, for Ash, for the memory of those who’d been lost.
These were the moments I wished Mom was still around.
I had no idea how much time passed, but the night sky was dark, hardly any light coming in through the windows. Maybe an hour, maybe more. As it would turn out, I was right to be here. To wait in the darkness, because I heard a key insert into the lock, and soon after that, the apartment door opened.
Will walked in, his shirt stained dark red. He moved slowly, very slowly, and he flicked on the light in the kitchen. He took off his shirt, dumping it on the floor, and it was then I saw the wound. Ash had stabbed him. Couldn’t blame her. I mean, look at everything he did. It looked like he had a bandage already taped over it, but the cotton was soaked through. I had no idea where he got that bandage, or how he got back here.
Hitchhiking? Did he kill a random person to steal their car? Who could say.
Will turned around, probably to go to the bathroom down the hall and pull out his first aid kit, but he froze the moment he saw me sitting on the couch. “Declan,” he whispered, his voice a ghost of what it usually was. His skin was extremely pale; he must’ve been in a lot of pain.
But so was I.
I got to my feet, slipping my keyring into my pocket, my fingers curling around the keys to his car. “Why?” I asked, a question that meant so much more than its single-word would suggest.
“I had to,” Will said, clearly seeing nothing at all wrong with what he did.
“You had to kill Sabrina?” I hated bringing her up, but I hated even more knowing my brother was the one who did it all along. All these months, for the entire last year, Will had been lying to me. He let this entire campus gang up on me. He was the reason she died and I was miserable.
“She was sleeping with Dad.”
A shaky breath left me, and I closed my eyes for a moment. “Then you should’ve told me, and Sabrina and I would’ve been over for good. You don’t…you don’t kill someone because they make a mistake, Will. Sabrina, Dad—why did you kill Corey?”
Will’s lips were a thin line, sweat lining his brows. “He spent too much time with Ash.”
Oh, God. Will had lost it. Or maybe he never had it, his sanity. Maybe he was just a really good pretender, and all these years I fell for it, just like everyone else did.
“What about Mom?” I asked. “You said she killed herself, but…how can I trust any word you’ve ever said? How can I ever look at you again, Will?” If I was a different person, I would’ve lunged for him. Would’ve attacked him. Would’ve shouted and swore, done anything to make myself feel better. But I was me, and this…I just wanted it to be over.
To really, truly be over.
“Some things are better left unanswered,” Will winced out, pressing a hand against the bloodied bandage on his upper stomach.
That was enough of an answer for me.
He didn’t look good, and I doubted he’d go to the hospital. I should call the police, should have him arrested, but just by looking at him, I knew without a doubt he didn’t have long. Will would deny help because he knew he didn’t deserve it. He would die.
“Declan, I—”
I didn’t want to hear what else Will had to say, so I simply tossed his car keys at him and frowned. “Don’t. You’re no brother of mine anymore. Stay away from me and from Ash.” It pained me in my core to say it, but it had to be said. The keys landed on the floor right in front of his feet; he made no moves to catch them. I said nothing else as I went to the door, letting out a sigh as I closed it behind me.
I fought my emotions as I headed to the elevator and exited the building. I fought my urge to turn around and wrestle him to the ground, to swear at him and ask him how he could be such a monster. It was hard, but I walked through the dark and lonely night by myself, heading back to campus, all the while knowing tonight was probably the last night of my brother’s life.
Nothing was easy thing when you were a Briggs.
Chapter Twenty-Eight – Travis
Patience paid off. When you were in my family, you learned to be patient. Rushing things never ended well, especially when you dealt in blood and money on a daily basis. I knew for a while that Will was up to something. I’d spent a lot of time following him.
Will was not good at playing a stalker. He might be charming occasionally and get others to believe in him, but I never did. I knew a liar when I saw one, and it was as I discovered his truths, as I watched him from the shadows as he killed Corey Weinberger, that I realized just how much his truths aligned with my family’s.
He was rogue. He was alone. He would make mistakes and get caught, dragging Ash into his mess and his lies, and that was something I just couldn’t allow. I would do anything for Ash, and that included waiting until the perfect moment to strike at one of the men she loved.
I didn’t quite know exactly what his plan for Beacon Hills was, but I suspected getting us out of Hillcrest, somewhere isolated, would push him to act. And I was right. He’d wanted to kill Sawyer the same way he did Sabrina.
Will’s car sat in the parking lot, meaning Declan was here. I stood off to the side, hiding in the bushes, waiting. I’d left Sawyer’s car at the hospital after dropping Ash off there. Told her there was something I had to take care of. She knew better than to ask. I came here, and I waited.
Will showed up not soon after, getting out of an unfamiliar car, the passenger’s seat. He held a hand over his shirt, over the wound, and he waved at the driver before they drove off. Whether or not he paid for the ride didn’t matter. What mattered now was that he was here. My prey was here, and I only had to wait a little bit longer.
I imagined he and Declan had a few things to say upstairs. Not ten minutes after Will walked inside did Declan emerge, looking conflicted as he walked away.
Walked. Meaning he left the car there for Will. Perfect, really.
So instead of creeping up to his apartment, where I’d planned on doing it, I waited for Will to come back down. Time itself did not matter when you were on a hunt. Patience was something you had to learn, and I reveled in my patience as I waited.
The moment I saw Will emerge from the side door, having changed shirts, I reached into my pocket, feeling the plastic tube and needle there. Will held onto a bag, and he went right to his car and unlocked the trunk, setting the bag inside with a wince. It was as he closed the trunk that I began to walk towards him.
No one else was around. No other living souls in the parking lot. There were cameras, but I had a hood on. My footsteps were quiet, and by the time I reached him, he had the driver’s door open, the keys in his hands. He was about to get in, but I didn’t give him the chance. I took out the needle and stuck it into the back of his neck, pushing the few ounces of liquid into his system.
“What…” Will could get out no other word, his body soon becoming limp. I caught him before he could fall, although his keys did crash onto the pavement below. I kept him upright, reaching for the back door.
It took a bit of finagling, but I was able to lug his body into the car’s backseat. I also zip-tied his hands, just to be safe.
After closing the back door, I picked up the keys and got in, closing the door and starting up the vehicle before whipping out my phone and dialing. When my brother picked up, I spoke first, “I have the mark. I’ll be there shortly.” I hung up and started to drive.
This was all my idea, of course. Bringing Will to the house. He was an untrained killer, but even old dogs could learn new tricks. You simply had to know how to teach them.
He’d need to be looked at by the family doctor, assuming he didn’t die before then. If he did, oh well, nothing lost. If he made it, then the family just got another tool. It would be a long time until he was ready to have a mark of his own, but maybe the family would simply want him in the house. Sometimes my brothers left the property to do what they had to, and other times they were paid to bring their marks back to the house. To videotape and provide proof that the job they were hired to do was done.
I was certain Will would like what my family’s basement held. I’d taken quite a few trips down there myself over winter break, having finally gotten permission to bring home a mark of my own. Brian Hutcherson, AKA the slightly overweight Batman who’d tried to rape Ash. With what happened to Brooklyn, his disappearance was swept under the rug due to her public, gory death.
Oh, yes. I had a lot of fun with Brian before his body gave out.
Midpark wasn’t too far from Hillcrest. My family’s estate sat on the outer reaches of Midpark, having one of the largest mansions and biggest acreage surrounding it. A high, iron fence all around, sharp spikes on top. Guards who constantly watched the grounds. Cameras everywhere, just in case. When you dealt in what my family did, you could never be too careful.
I pulled in after being greeted by the guard at the gate. By the time I pulled up to the front of the house, I saw two men in suits waiting for me. Lowly workers. Cousins of mine who weren’t suited for the front lines, so to speak, so their lives were spent at the house, doing whatever it was the family needed.
When you were a Scott, family came above all else.
They helped me get Will’s unconscious body out of the car, and they helped me carry him inside. The house was immense, expansive in every way. I guided them towards the office I was supposed to, and they already had everything set up. Our family doctor cut open his shirt, disinfected his wound and stitched it closed, slapping a new bandage on it; it would have to do for now, because right now he had a meeting with a certain brother of mine.
Once we were in another office, a dark place whose only light emanated from a lamp on the grand mahogany desk in the center of the room, the other two left, leaving me alone with Will. The man whose office this was would be here soon.
Will’s hands were still kept behind his back with the zip tie, his shirt hanging open to reveal the bandage. He winced, slowly coming to, his head lifting as he looked around, light brown eyebrows creasing.
I leaned my backside on the front of the desk, standing between his seated form and the expensive hunk of wood.
“You,” Will whispered, his voice hoarse. “Where the fuck am I?”
“You’re at my family’s estate,” I answered, folding my tattooed arms over my chest. “You should be grateful, Will, because without us, there’d be no way you’d survive out there. You’re far too rash.”
His hazel eyes narrowed. “Fuck you, Travis.”
“I think you’ll be thanking me, especially in a few years, when you’re still alive—and when you’re doing what you enjoy. Unfortunately, though, you won’t get to see Ash again.”
He winced as he breathed in deeply. “What are you talking about?”
“We can use you, train you. And it should be obvious why you won’t get to see Ash.”
Will’s expression hardened. “You think you have it all, don’t you?” A slow, sick smile spread on his face, a look of pure anger crossing his features. “You don’t. I know your secret, Travis. And I bet Declan doesn’t.”
I said nothing, only staring at him. I would not be intimidated by him.
“You could’ve saved Sabrina,” Will spat out. “I was going to take care of you after Sawyer—”
“There will be none of that, William Briggs,” a stern, low voice spoke behind him. One of my older brothers walked into the room, adjusting the dark suit jacket he wore. I quickly moved off of his desk, because he tossed me an annoyed scowl as he entered.
I moved to stand beside Will, watching as Markus narrowed his eyes at us both.
“You will not hurt Travis,” Markus continued, looking downright intimidating as he glowered. His typical expression, really. “You will, in fact, not hurt anyone for a long time. Travis believes you can be an asset to the family, but you’ll need to be broken before you can be built up in the family’s image. I assure you, William, we’ll do what we can, but if you don’t make it, well, I don’t think anyone out there will shed a tear for you.”
Will knew better than to speak right now, as did I.
Markus toyed with the watch on his right wrist, the suit on his body snug. He had a towering frame, taller than most. With his black hair and black eyes, he was a soulless thing, a beast among men. “This is the start of your new life. I suggest you don’t waste it. Our family is not good with second chances.” And then Markus did a very rare thing: he smiled.
It was a bone-chilling, vile smile, but a smile nonetheless.
This was my family. This was where I belonged. Here, with them, and with Ash.
We’d see how long I could keep the two separate.
Chapter Twenty-Nine – Ash
Two weeks passed since that awful day at Beacon Hills. Travis assured me he had it all under control, that I’d never have to worry about Will again. Maybe that was true. Maybe his family got involved. Either way, it didn’t stop my mind from occasionally landing on the older Briggs brother.
Was Will still alive? Was he dead? Why did he have to be so nuts?
Beyond the Wi
ll thing, it was almost too easy to fall back into a routine. Declan never wanted to talk about what happened, and I didn’t blame him. Travis was usually silent, although if I ever wanted to talk about it, he listened. Sawyer was the one who brought it up more than he should, probably because he’d almost died at Will’s hands. Just like his sister.
Yes, the confession had rattled us all, shaken us to our cores, but we were stronger than that. We would not let the truth break us.
We spent most of our nights at Sawyer’s place. The plan was, next year, to all live here. No more on-campus living for any of us. The house had plenty of bedrooms, and this way, we’d be together every night. I thought the boys wanted to do something this summer too, but honestly, after what happened over spring break, going anywhere special again was the last thing on my mind.
It was a Monday night when I sat at the dinner table working on my next cheat sheet for statistics. Sawyer was in the kitchen, cooking with Declan, and Travis sat next to me, mainly watching.
This…was actually a normal night for us. Minus Will, everything was so unbelievably normal. I’d gone from having four boyfriends to three, but I didn’t think any of us could ever forgive Will for what he did. It was good that he was gone, whether he was on the run or dead.
Not that I’d be happy if he was dead, because a part of me would always wonder if it was me who killed him. Me, stabbing him. Me, pushing him away. But what was one more death on my shoulders? As time went on, you got used to things, even absence or loss.
“You know, if you wrap the chicken in foil, they’ll be juicier when they’re done cooking,” Declan advised Sawyer. They both wore aprons over their clothes, like little housewives, and as I glanced up from my paper and textbook, I couldn’t help but smile at them.
“Oh, yeah? Who are you, Martha fucking Stewart?” Sawyer shot back, though he wore a grin. His neck had been bruised for a while, but now there was not a trace of what happened at the cabin. Looking at him, you’d never know Will had tried to hang him.
Liar: A Dark College Romance (Hillcrest University Book 6) Page 24
