“I’m not going anywhere,” replied Jade. She lifted her chin, effectively saying ‘try me’. “I’m not going to let you hurt my friend.”

Dane let out a sadistic laugh that made my skin crawl. “I won’t touch her. Not after what her brother did to my sister.”

I screwed my eyes shut, and instinctively curled my hands into fists. If he wanted a fight, I’d give him one, but he had no right to throw accusations around when he didn’t know everything.

I shot to my feet, and shoved Dane backwards. “Don’t you dare say anything about Charlie when he’s not here to defend himself!”

“I asked you a fucking question, Kennedy!” He yelled. “Is what they’re saying on the news about Charlie and Jewel true?”

“Yes!” I yelled back. “They were in a relationship, but he didn’t kill her, Dane!”

He stepped back, and roughly pulled his wet hair through his fingers. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” he said looking up at the ceiling. “I can’t fucking believe it.”

“Your dad must be having a field day with this,” I remarked. “Any opportunity to drag my family’s name through the mud.”

Dane’s head snapped in my direction, and he closed the gap between us. “Oh no, sweetheart. This one is all on your brother, and it has been ever since he killed my sister!”

My blood had been slowly boiling, building up from a steady simmer, but it was now tipping over, and I’d lost any desire to control it. My hand came up, ready to slap Dane across the face but his fingers wrapped around my wrist before I could, like he was anticipating it.

“Not so fast,” he growled. His grip tightened until it was painful, and he pulled me until we were standing in front of the television. He turned it on, and the news channel was still showing pictures of our families, his sister, and my brother.

I turned my head away, but he grabbed my chin and I had no choice but to see the barrage of images.

“Look!” He shouted. “I want you to see what a monster your brother was! I want you to see how he ruined my family!”

He was hurting me in every way he could, and I lost the struggle to keep from breaking. A sob escaped my mouth, and I fell to my knees.

“You don’t get to cry!” shouted Dane. “It should have been you in that car, not Jewel! Your brother should have taken your life with his, and not hers!”

I started crying harder, and when I looked up at him, his eyes were red, with tears streaming down his face. This was ultimately the one thing that would have torn us apart eventually, but I never expected him to use it against me this way. I finally understood why he’d hated me so much after Jewel’s death. Charlie wasn’t here to take the blame, so Dane took all of his misplaced hatred out on me.

Jade came barreling out of her room, rushing towards us when she saw that Dane had my arm suspended in the air while I knelt on the floor.

“Let go of her!” She yelled, trying to push him away, but he refused to let go, even when I winced in pain.

“NO! She deserves to feel this!” He crouched down in front of me. “I wish it was you! You should be dead, not Jewel!”

“You’re right!” I bawled. “It should have been me, and God, I wish it was because then I wouldn’t be so fucking alone! Charlie was the only real family I had, and he’s gone, and at least if I had died with him I wouldn’t have to face this, or you! I’ve carried this with me since that night Dane, and I would give anything to trade places with Jewel, but you forget that I lost her too!” I swallowed hard, trying to gain some semblance of control before carrying on. “She was my best friend, and no matter what anyone says, Charlie loved her, so fucking much.”

“They should have never been together!” He bellowed. “She’d still be here if it weren’t for him!”

My eyes blurred, and I almost choked on my sobs, but I surged forward. “They were leaving that night. Jewel was pregnant and they wanted to be together, but they knew our parents would have never allowed it. So they left-”

“And Jewel is never coming back because of Charlie! He deserves to be six feet fucking under!”

I wailed as Dane flung my arm to the floor, and I fell into heap on the cold floor. I lifted my head in time to see Jade slap Dane across the face.

“You are the only monster here, Dane! You are so selfish that you fail to see how Kennedy has lost just as much as you have. She lost two people that night, and you’re here telling her you wish she were dead? What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Dane’s chest heaved, and something in his gaze registered. His face paled, and he took a step towards me. Jade pushed him back. “Go anywhere near her, and I’ll personally kick your ass. You’ve done enough, now get out!”

He hesitated briefly, his eyes filled with so much anguish, hatred, and pain. With one final glance in my direction, he spun around, and stormed out. I inhaled a ragged breath, but it hurt. It hurt to breath after his cruel words.

It should have been you in that car, not Jewel! Your brother should have taken your life with his, and not hers!

“Jesus,” Jade dropped to the floor next to me, “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

She had no idea just how much.

He’d completely obliterated me.

One.

Fractured.

Piece.

At.

A.

Time.

I lifted myself up on shaky arms, and Jade helped me from the floor. I saw that she was crying too, but I couldn’t comfort her.

“You’re not alone,” she said with a sniffle. “I love you. I’m your family, Kennedy. I always will be.”

I wanted to say I know and I love you too but the words were stuck somewhere, and I nodded briefly instead.

She helped me to my room, and eased me onto my bed. I looked around, suddenly feeling out of place, like I didn’t belong here, while Dane’s words replayed over and over and over again in my head.

I wish it were you! You should be dead, not Jewel!

Your brother should have taken your life with his, and not hers!

And Jewel is never coming back because of Charlie! He deserves to be six feet fucking under!

It should have been you in that car, not Jewel!

What I needed to do next became clear, but I had to wait.

As soon as it was nightfall and Jade was asleep, I’d leave. I needed to get out of here, but I didn’t want her to convince me otherwise.

I MOVED AROUND my room quietly, shoving some clothes, and essentials into a small overnight bag. I slipped one of my brothers’ old hoodies over my head, and tugged my bag over my shoulder. I tiptoed my way through the apartment, cringing when my sneakers made a squeaky sound. It was still pouring outside, the relentless downpour and stormy clouds casting a heavy darkness on everything in sight.

I crept out the front door, and ran through the rain until I was in the safety of my Jeep. I had a long drive ahead of me, but I would use the time to think, and clear my head before I showed up at my grandparents place in Madison. I turned the key in the ignition, and took off into the storm.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Dane

I WAS FURIOUS.

I was irrational.

I was out of control.

And I was in pain.

So much so that it felt like I’d lost my twin all over again. Everything I’d felt the moment I’d found out she was dead, came rushing back with vengeance, only this time the pain was more acute, more alive. I’d woken up with this nagging feeling in my chest, something didn’t feel right. Then I turned on the news, and figured out why I was feeling that way. My mother had warned me about this happening, but I hadn’t expected it to be like how they showed on the television.