Misguided Truths: Part Two (Misjudged #4) (30 page)

I close my eyes as soon as Alexis starts to read the words out loud. After all this time, I’m gonna know exactly what was going t
hrough Holly’s mind.

Back at Alexis’
father’s place, I wanted to know what Holly had written on the inside. I wanted to know that she was in love with me just as much as I was in love with her. But, she wasn’t.
She didn’t love me at all
. She slept with my best friend, and she wrote about all the times I let her down. She said that I always put my music before her. I let her down, and she turned to my fucking best friend for comfort. She slept with Neil. She betrayed me, and it was all my own fault.

I can feel the tears running down my face, but I don’t care anymore. All I ever cared about was her. That’s why she was so distant with me the week before she died. She pushed me away, because she didn’t want me anymore.
Holls didn’t want me anymore.

“Are you happy now, Neil? Now that you’ve made whatever point you were trying to make before you left town?”
I hear Alexis’ voice faintly, but I don’t look up. I can’t. I feel numb. All this time.
Everything’s been a lie.

“Actually, there is one more thing …”
His voice is close, and the back of my head smashes against the wall when he punches me hard in the face again. I don’t have any fight left in me. He took everything away from me, apart from her. Apart from my beautiful Alexis. I hear him laugh some more, and see Alexis fall backward and down to the ground.

“NO!!!!” I hear
her scream, and I fight to keep my eyes open.

There’s a sharp pain pulsating through my neck, but then everything fades. The sound, the lighting in the room, the pain. It’s leaving. The pain’s finally going away.

He’s gone. He’s left. It’s over.

After all this time, he’s finally managed to get what he wanted. Alexis crawls over until
she’s right beside me, and I feel her wrapping her arms around me. My gaze lands on her hand, and that’s when I see it. He did it. She did what he wanted her to do, but he decided to take me away from her anyway, “Brandon, Brandon where’s your cell phone?” She sounds so desperate.

“Neil took it. I’m so sorry, Alexis.
” I tell her, my vision becoming unclear.
Calling someone isn’t gonna help. Not now.

“No, don’t close your eyes! K
eep them open and I’ll go and get help!”
It’s too late, beautiful. It’s too late.

“No, d-d-on’t leave … It was … I
t was full, he hit me good …” I manage to choke out.
I need her to stay with me, I need her to be with me. I’m scared. I don’t wanna go. I don’t wanna leave her behind. She’s my light. She’s my everything.

“What? What does that mean? Brandon, open your eyes! Please?”
My eyes are becoming heavy, and I’m trying my hardest to see her. I need to see her face just one more time. “Brandon!” It’s time for me to go. It’s time for me to say goodbye. I’m trying, I’m trying to hold on. I need her to know how much I love her. That she’ll always be the one, but I’m struggling to breathe. Everything’s closing in. Her face is being replaced by the darkness, and I know that once I close my eyes, I’m never gonna see her beautiful face again.

“Forever,
” I whisper, my breaths shallow.

“You can’t leave me, you can’t leave me here on my own
! Brandon, stay with me! We’re having a baby! You have to stay! You have to!”

Goodbye my beautiful girl. I’ll love you forever.

Dance with me … You felt it, too, didn’t you? …

I need to kiss you. Right here. Right now…

I love you, Brandon … Forever …

My eyes snap open, and all I can see in front of me is pure, bright light. I’m gasping for air, and my heart’s pounding hard in my chest. Sweat beads are forming over my brow, and my throat feels tight. But, then the darkness sets back in. Though, this time it’s different. Instead of a deadly silence, a beeping sound remains, humming in the background, keeping me from plummeting back into the absolute darkness that almost felt safe.

“Brandon?” I hear a familiar soft voice in the distance. “Brandon, can you hear me?” I squeeze my eyes firmly closed. I’d never imagined for one single moment that I could ever feel so much pain from hearing the sound of her sweet, angelic voice.

Sharp pains shoot through my chest, and a dull ache makes its way through my entire body, ultimately making me clench my fists firmly together by my sides.

And, then …
silence.

***

I love you, Brandon … Just a kiss …

Alexis, when I kiss you, I want it to be when I make love to you …

Don’t close your eyes … Open your eyes … You can’t leave me …

Please stay with me …

My whole body jolts
, and sharp pains shoot through my left arm and upper body. The images are becoming clearer every time they race through my mind. I’m struggling to breathe, and my mouth is becoming dry. The room is much darker than I remember, but I still hear the beeping sound in the background. As soon as I catch my breath, I rest my head back against the cold pillow underneath me.

“Nurse. Nurse, he’s awake,” I hear her voice again, this time it’s calmer …
softer
. My eyes dart around, searching for her, but the excruciating pains in my skull are way too intense that I can’t move my head to find her. “Brandon?”

I squeeze my eyes closed for a few seconds
, and this seems to help my vision become a little clearer when I reopen them. And, that’s when I see her, leaning over me with tears rolling down both of her cheeks. If I could summon up enough energy to wipe them away then I would. But, I caused them. Me. I did this to her. I should’ve stayed away. All of my instincts told me to keep pushing her away, but I didn’t listen. I put myself before her safety. I was selfish.

“It’s over now. It’s all over,” her voice is unsteady, her eyes filled with warmth. She’s nodding reassuringly, and a slight smile etches over her beautiful face before her lips start to tremble. “You stayed.”

I thought my time was up and it was over. I didn’t think I was ever gonna wake up again.  All of my last thoughts were of Alexis. I didn’t think that I’d ever be able to see, hear, or touch her again. My stomach rolls, and I start to heave when all the memories begin to race around my mind again.

“What’s wrong with him?” I hear her ask when I lurch forward. “Is he okay?” She sounds
anxious.

“It’s perfectly normal, especially after what his body has endured,” I hear a woman’s voice over to the left side of the bed
, while I hurl in the bowl that’s been placed under my chin. “You were extremely lucky young man.” I manage to lift my head, and that’s when I see a nurse standing to the side of me. She’s dabbing an ice cold cloth over my face, and she’s wearing a smile. “Extremely lucky.” She thinks I’m lucky? Yeah, well, I might still have the air in my lungs, but I feel anything but lucky at this particular moment in time.

For the past twenty months, I’ve been living a lie. I wanted to know who did all of this. I refused to give up until I found out who took Holly’s life, and who ruined mine. But, finally knowing the truth? Well, it hurts more than I ever imagined it would. A part of me wishes that I was still in the darkness. A part of me is wishing that I never woke back up at all because now I have to live the rest of my life knowing the answers. The answers I was so desperate to know. The answers I
’m so desperate to forget.

All of this time. It was him. My best friend. The guy I saw as family. One of the people I trusted the most. One person caused all of this.
One.
He took her life, and he sabotaged mine.

“How are you feeling?” I turn to face her when she asks me the million dollar question
, and she squeezes my hand tighter.
I really don’t think you wanna know.

How am l feeling? Let’s begin with humiliated.
Yeah, I think that’s a good place to start. I trusted him. He offered to help me find things out, but all the while, he was hiding things from me to save his own ass. I left, thinking that I was doing the right thing and protecting Alexis, but all I did was play right into his hands. I left her with him because I thought she would be safe, but all I did was leave her within dangers reach.

Betrayed
. That’s another way to describe how I feel. He did the worst thing a best friend could ever do. But, you know what hurts the most? What Holly did, and what she did
with him
. All the times I denied myself happiness because I felt like I was betraying her. I vowed to never forget her or feel the things I did with her for anybody else. I bet they were both laughing at me the whole time.
The whole motherfucking time.

“Brandon?” I shake my head
, and try to fight back the bile that’s threatening to choke me. The warmth of her hand leaves mine, and I feel the bed shift before she brushes her fingers lightly across my cheek, wiping away a tear that must’ve escaped.

“I loved her,” I whisper, and she leans over me, sadness seeping into her eyes. “I fucking loved her more than life itself.”

The detectives left a few minutes ago after spending almost four hours questioning me over everything. When I say everything, I mean every goddamn fucking detail. They wanted to know how I’ve been feeling, they asked me all about my relationship with Holly, Holly’s relationship with Neil, and if I knew the guys who beat the shit outta me back at the cabin. Yeah, needless to say, I kept my feelings well and truly hidden, because if I’d have told them what thoughts have been constantly running through my mind, they would’ve thrown me in a cell alongside him.

Four days ago at this time, I was looking forward to Alexis coming over to stay with me at the cabin for the weekend. Three days and twenty hours ago
, my heart stopped beating and according to what I’ve been told, I almost didn’t wake back up.

It wasn’t Alexis who sent those messages to me that day. No.
It was him
. He’s been here all along, the person I was looking for was right under my goddamn nose the whole time. Neil warned me to stay away from Alexis, but I honestly thought that he was looking out for me. Not once did I think he was responsible for any of this or that he had any other motives than to be a good friend.

I don’t understand. The more I try, the more confused I become. She was mine, not his.
Holly was mine
. I lift my gaze away from the same door I’ve been glaring at since I was discharged from the hospital late last night.
His bedroom door
. Though, it isn’t his anymore. They’ve got him. They’ve finally taken in the person they should’ve had all along.

I spent three days in the hospital
. Most of that time I didn’t talk, but I listened. I heard every word spoken when they thought I was either incoherent or asleep. When I say they, I mean Alexis, Rach, and Paul, Alexis’ father. Yeah, he was there. He came to Seattle as soon as Alexis called and told him what happened. But, what happened that day wasn’t the only thing they spoke about. You wanna know what else they were saying? Well, I’ll tell you. Alexis is pregnant. Yeah, with my baby. But, you wanna know something else? That motherfucker knew, and he was still determined to do what he did. He wanted me out of the picture. That much is clear in itself.

“I’m going to go and grab us something to eat,” I hear Alexis speak by my right ear. She’s resting her hands on the couch, and leaning in close. “I won’t be long.” When she presses a kiss on my cheek, I reach up
, and take a hold of one of her hands.

“Alexis, no. Rye will go. I’ll get Rye to go,” I insist, stand, and then walk around the couch until I’m right beside her. She cocks her head to the side, and her brow creases. I know what she’s thinking, and she’
s most probably right. I’m not ready to go outside yet. I’m not ready to hear them all laughing at me because of what he did, and what he tried to do. You wanna know something else? I don’t want her leaving my sight because I need to make this up to her.

I was the one who was supposed to be taking care of her.
Me
. But, I didn’t. I put her in danger, and from now on, I don’t want her going anywhere without me by her side, “He’s not around anymore, Brandon. And to be honest, I need the air. We’ve been in here ever since you got let out of the hospital. If you want, why don’t you come with me?” Her eyes are searching mine, flickering over my face while she waits for me to answer her.

Have I told her why I won
’t go outside? Well, would you? She must think that I’m a big enough idiot as it is without me needing to confirm it some more, “No, not yet.”

“They’re on your side, Brandon. All of them. They’ve been asking about you
, and they told Ryan and Alyssa that they’re glad you’re okay.” She reaches up, and lightly strokes her fingers along my jaw.

“Who’s they?”
Yeah, I’m having a hard time believing her. They’re most probably only saying that shit to mock me;
to mock us.

“Pretty much everybody!”
she answers me, clutching my face now, forcing me to look at her. “The guys from your class, some from mine …
Matt
.”

I drop my gaze from hers and turn around. Yeah, you heard that right. Matt. The biggest walking asshole on the planet has been asking about me. But, he isn’
t the biggest asshole anymore; we know who is. Why would Matt be asking about me? Well, that might be partly due to the fact that I pretty much owe him my life. Ironic, huh? If it wasn’t for him then I wouldn’t be here now, telling you my story.

Alexis told me that
he’d heard her screams. She said she wouldn’t leave me because I begged her not to, but when I closed my eyes, she ran out from the building, and he was the first person she saw. He helped. Granted, he helped her for probably the wrong reasons, but he did it anyways. Do I forgive him for everything he’s done to her in the past? Nope, but I’m sure as hell grateful to the guy for calling 911 because if he hadn’t then I wouldn’t be here today. I wouldn’t be back with Alexis, and I wouldn’t be around to meet our baby in a few months’ time.

Honestly? The news is still sinking in. Had I ever thought about having kids? Sure
, in around fifteen years’ time maybe, but not at twenty years old. It was a shock. No. No, it was a surprise, not a shock. We haven’t really had much of a chance to discuss this because of everything else that’s going on, but we’re gonna have to start sorting things eventually. There’s no way we’re gonna be able to stay on campus, and it’s more than likely that I’m gonna need to quit college and get a full-time job to support us. Whatever it takes. Whatever I have to do to make sure Alexis and our baby are okay, I’ll do it.

“Please come take a walk with me?” My shoulders slouch from
her request, and I inhale a shaky breath. “Please?”

“I’m not going anywhere, and neither are you.”
I answer, and walk toward our room, pausing when I hear a knock on the main door. I turn around, glancing between Alexis and the door. “Leave it.”

“Miss. Harper?” A female voice calls through the closed door. “Miss. Harper, it’s Detective Steele.” Again? I watch as Alexis goes over to let her inside, and make my way back over to the couch. They’re not gonna stay away and leave us alone. I just want us to be alone. Me and Alexis. That’s all. Is that
really so bad?

She lets them inside, and I turn to look over the back of the couch, “M
iss. Harper,” she begins, stopping when she sees me sitting over here. “Mr. Taylor. We may have identified one of your attackers. We have somebody in custody, and we need you both to confirm whether or not you recognize him. We have strong leads to believe that he was Neil’s main accomplice.”

“His accomplice? What are you talking about? Do you mean one of the guys who kicked the shit outta me?” I stand back up
, and head straight over to her, her eyes darting to Alexis before they land back on me.

“I think that we perhaps need to sit down.”
Yeah, what she’s just said is making me feel nervous, too. Whenever somebody says ‘we need to sit down’, it always means they’ve got something to say, and it’s never a good something.

The three of us take a seat, and Alexis grabs a hold of my hand as the detective opens up a file, “Do either of you recognize this man?” We both lean forward to take a closer look when she slides a photograph across the coffee table and toward us.

“He … yeah, he was …” My hands ball into fists when I see that same blonde guy who showed up at the cabin, right before he and the others kicked and punched me unconscious. “He was the one at the cabin.”

“No, he was at the bar. I remember,” Alexis taps the picture
. and turns to face me once she’s picked it up in her hands. “The night my drink got spiked. Brandon, look. It’s him! I’m sure he said his name was Vinnie, don’t you remember?”
Well I’ll be motherfucking damned.

“That’s righ
t. His name is Vincent Goffrey. He was picked up in Olympia a few hours ago, and it seems he’s been involved in a lot of this alongside Neil Kelly.”

M
y jaw’s clenched tight, and I rip the photograph from out of Alexis’ hands, “What does this mean? Huh? What? Are you telling me that—?”

“So far, Mr. Goffrey is cooperating, and he has already admitted to spiking your drink, Alex. Mr. Kelly hired him to do that, amongst other things …”

“What the hell’s that supposed to mean?” I snap while leaning forward in my seat. She can’t just tell us some of the details and expect us to not wanna know more. “What else?” I grind out, and even the detective appears a little taken aback.

“He also admitted
to supplying Mr. Kelly with heroin on two occasions, and …” she turns in her seat, and throws Alexis a sympathetic look. “We’re trying to piece everything we have together, because at this present moment in time, we only have your witness statements, and Mr. Goffrey’s.”

“What about Neil
? What’s he said about all of this? Surely you’ve spoken to him?” Alexis’ voice is flat, and she grabs a hold of my hand. “Has he told you why he did all of this?”

The detective shakes her head
while closing her file, “He’s not at this moment willing to help us with our investigation. Now that I can confirm what you’ve just told me, we have a stronger lead.”

“Wait up. Just wait a second. If he’s already admitted to being a part of all of this then why did you need us to verify this?” Oh, I know. I’m pretty good at this. I’ve gotta be. My
trust in mankind no longer exists. She’s not here for us to confirm his identity at all. There’s something else. I know there is.

“Just to be sure.”
She’s lying.
“I’ll be in touch in due course.” She stands. “Alex? May I have a word with you outside for a moment?” Alexis glances over to me, and she looks just as confused by the detectives request as I am. I start tapping my foot uncontrollably as I watch the both of them walk out of the dorm.

Neil hired him to spike her drink? You know what? This doesn’t surprise me in the slightest. Not anymore. If I hadn’t seen that guy slipping something into her drink then what would he have done? No. I can’t think about this. It didn’t happen. Not that time, anyways.

Ten minutes pass by before Alexis steps back inside, and she’s looking whiter than white. I immediately stand and head straight over to her, “What happened?”

She doesn’t look me in the eye, but I see her shaking her head at me. “Nothing.”
Oh, and now she’s lying, too.
“She just wanted to see how I’m handling things, what with my mom and all.”

“Then why did she ask you to step outside? Couldn’t she have asked
you in here?” My questions earn me a shrug of her shoulders, and it’s now that I notice just how exhausted she really looks. “Are you sure that’s everything?”

“Yes. Yes, I’m sure,” s
he answers, offering me a small smile as she walks around me, heading toward our room. “I’m going for a lie down.” She throws over her shoulder, and I pause by the breakfast bar.

Yeah, I’m not buying it. Not one tiny bit. Something’s going on here,
“Hey, Alexis? Do you want me to make you something to eat?”

“I’m not hungry.”

“But you just sa—”

“I said I’m not hungry!” She says firmly, her voice filled with what? Anger? She slams the d
oor closed behind her, and I stay standing here, my eyes wide from the way she just reacted to a simple question.

“What’s going on?” I turn to my left when I hear Rye stepping out of his room, his eyes darting between me and the closed door. “
Is everything okay between the two of you?”

His guess is as good as mine.