"Yeah, what’s going on?"
"Well you guys know about the attack on days back..... that’s why my security team is tight. But that’s not why I’m here today."
Lucas doesn’t say anything, he’s just watching and Waiting.
I look at all three of them.
My brothers.... The people I trust more than anyone in the world.
"Okay," I say quietly.
They all wait.
"Before I say anything, I need you guys to promise sothing."
Noah raises an eyebrow.
"That sounds serious."
"It is."
Lucas gestures slightly.
"Go on please."
I take a slow breath
"I need you to be completely honest with ."
Caleb frowns.
"We’re always honest with you."
"I an it."
Lucas studies my face carefully now.
"What’s going on, Elaine?"
I et his eyes, then Noah’s then Caleb’s.
My heart is beating harder now, because once I say this out loud... there’s no going back.
I clasp my hands together and ask the question.
"Did any of you kill Zane’s sister?"
For a few seconds after the words leave my mouth, no one speaks.
Noah blinks up at looking dumbfounded, Caleb looks like I just told him the moon exploded and Lucas..... well Lucas... just stares at .
The silence stretches long enough that I start hearing and counting the ticking of the wall clock behind us.
Finally Noah breaks first.
"Uhmm.......What?"
He doesn’t sound s angry or r defensive, he I just completely confused.
Caleb lets out a short laugh like he’s waiting for the punchline.
"Okay," he says slowly. "Either I misheard you, or you just asked us if either one of us murdered soone."
My mouth feels dry.
"I’m serious."
That shuts Caleb up while Lucas is still watching carefully, he is not shocked or offended either he’s Just... studying . Maybe trying to to understand where the hell that question ca from?.
Noah runs a hand through his hair and glances toward the window again, toward the line of black SUVs outside.
Then back at .
"Is this what the security thing is about?" he asks quietly.
I don’t answer imdiately.
Lucas exhales slowly and presses his fingers against the bridge of his nose.
"Okay."
His voice is calm, but heavier than before.
"Everyone sit down."
Caleb frowns.
"Lucas..."
"Sit."
There’s sothing in his tone that makes all of us listen.
Caleb drops back onto the couch, Noah sinks into the armchair beside it, still staring at like he’s trying to solve a complicated math problem while Lucas gestures toward the couch.
"Elaine."
I move slowly, lowering myself onto the edge of the seat. While Lucas pulls one of the dining chairs closer and sits across from us, leaning forward slightly with his elbows on his knees.
For a mont he just looks at then he asks quietly,
"Is that what Zane told you?"
I nod.
"Yes."
Lucas studies my face like he’s searching for sothing... maybe doubt? Or accusation?. Maybe confirmation that I actually believe what I was told.
My fingers tighten together in my lap.
"He didn’t say a na," I add quickly. "He just said my brothers funded the operation."
Noah scoffs softly.
"Operation."
Lucas doesn’t look away from .
"And you assud it was ."
"You’re the one who handles the money and shit, plus it’s you Zane had an issue with so I kinda just assud... I’m sorry " I say.
"That’s true."
Another pause. Thwn Lucas leans back slightly in the chair and chuckles, like sothing about the situation is bitterly ironic.
Caleb looks between us.
"...Why are you laughing? At sothingike this "
Lucas shakes his head slightly.
"Because this is exactly the kind of story Zane would tell."
I sit up straightforward
"So you’re saying he’s lying?"
Lucas’s eyes return to mine.
"Yes."
He doesn’t hesitate.
"I didn’t kill Zane’s sister."
The certainty in his voice makes pause.
I swallow.
"Then what happened?"
Lucas exhales slowly and leans back, dragging a hand over his jaw... and the first ti since I got here I see that he... he looks tired. Not physically per saay but emotionally. Like he’s about to reopen sothing that never really healed.
"You want the truth?" he asks quietly.
"Yes please."
Noah shifts in his seat and caleb leans forward slightly.
Lucas looks down at the floor for a mon then back up at .
"I couldn’t have killed Zane’s sister."
His voice softens slightly when he says it.
"Because I loved her."
The words hit mw so unexpectedly that my brain stumbles over them trying to process it.
"...What?"
Lucas’s expression doesn’t change.
"I loved her. I was so freaking in love with her I wouldn’t even dream of hurting a hair on her head."
"You an...:::"
Lucas nods once.
"Yes."
My mouth opens slightly.
"You’re saying you were....."
"In love with her, yes." he finishes calmly.
I go very still because this isn’t sothing I ever expected to hear, not even in a million years.
Lucas looks down at his hands for a second, then back up.
"I didn’t just know her," he says quietly. "I was with her."
"With her how?" Caleb asks.
Lucas gives him a look and Caleb raises both hands slightly.
"Okay, stupid question."
Lucas’s gaze shifts back to .
"I loved her," he repeats. "Madly."
"So no," he continues, his voice firm again. "I didn’t kill her."
A beat passes.
"Because I couldn’t kill soone I loved that much."
My heart is beating harder now.
"Then why does Zane think you did?"
Lucas leans forward again, resting his elbows on his knees.
His expression darkens slightly.
"That," he says quietly, "is where the problem between us started."
Noah looks between us
"What problem?"
Lucas’s eyes flick back to mine.
"Because when she died..."
His jaw tightens slightly.
"I believed it was Zane’s fault."
The room goes silent again.
Caleb frowns.
"What do you an?"
Lucas exhales slowly.
"I an," he says, voice heavy now, "that Zane’s careless behavior is what got her killed."
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