I shook my head, already heading towards the door. I wasn’t truly leaving, but I needed five minutes to sort out my mind.
“I loved you, do love you, all of it. I did plan to use you as a pawn, and that plan quickly went to fucking hell. Now I have a new plan, and yes, you are a part of it.”
I slammed the door, everything piecing together so easily.
Unfortunately for Regan, I was still convinced she loved me, and like it or not, she was still mine.
Thirty-Seven
Regan
Inever heard Rook’s bike start after he disappeared. I didn’t know why he finally gave in and left, but he seemed more angry than upset when the door slammed behind him.
I walked over to my mirror, the one I had been standing in front of just a few hours ago, intent on proving to myself I was strong enough to hold my head up and go. I had wanted to prove to myself first that I could handle being torn down and still come out the other side.
But all I had shown myself was that I was now a murderer.
I couldn’t stand watching something happen to Rook, and I had made my choice. For one moment, I was okay with it. I had ridden back here with him with some silly thought he might care about me and I cared about him.
He proved me wrong so quickly that I couldn’t even comprehend what had happened between us.
He thought my dad to be such a monster that he had killed his family, but was somehow still in love with me?
I unzipped my dress, ready to throw it out. I had spent too much time with Rook and had to remind myself that none of this was normal. I should be with a guy who doesn’t kill people, orstalk them, or manipulate them. I wanted to call Harper, but I didn’t even know where to start.
Instead, I showered fast and got into bed, staring up at the ceiling for what felt like hours. Rook’s bike still hadn’t made a sound, and I wondered if he would stand outside my window all night or just sitting on his bike. Not that it mattered.
I didn’t want to want him here. I didn’twantto feel safer with him here, especially if someone really was trying to kill me.
I flipped onto my side, the blankets wrapping around me like a straightjacket. Could there really be someone out there willing to pay for me to be killed? Or Rook?
I mean, I guessed someone wanting Rook dead would make sense with the type of people he worked with, but why would they add me to the list?
And how did they know he was with someone now? It isn’t like I went everywhere with him enough for people to see me with him enough. And it’s not like Rook would be telling anyone outside of his friend group that we were together.
Had been together, I reminded myself.
I flipped again. He said he had proof, but he didn’t show it to me, and I hadn’t asked. It had been too overwhelming to see any proof of someone wanting me killed, let alone Rook trying to convince me of it being my dad who made the request.
I kicked off the sheets and got up, wrapping one of my throw blankets around me and putting on a pair of boots before stomping downstairs and out the front door, into the cold night air.
Winter here was never terrible, but the night temperatures easily dropped into the thirties, making it feel freezing after being warm in bed.
I shivered, the little blanket not doing enough to protect me from the cold. I knew where Rook would have his bike parked and headed in that direction. The night sky was nearly black,clouds covering any sliver of the moon. I shivered again, this time out of fear of the things in lurking in the dark.
As soon as I made it closer, I yelled out. “Rook, I know you’re out here, and you have me all freaked that someone is going to kill me, so please come out of hiding until I get to your bike,” I said into the darkness.
It took less than three seconds before Rook stepped out from behind the trees and headed my way. His eyes roamed over me as he shook his head, already pulling off his leather jacket.
“What are you doing out here?” he asked, sliding the jacket over my shoulders. I didn’t fight him, the warmth wrapping around me as I pulled it closed.
“I came to see what proof you have.”
“About which part?”
“Someone trying to kill me.”
He nodded, not even fighting me more as he pulled out his phone, clicking through it before handing it over.