My Hero Bear (14 page)

Sure, there was a chance she could say something to make Dylan forgive her. But she could tell from the look in his eyes it would take a lot to repair the damage. Rory had no idea what she could say to fix it.

So she decided to just tell the truth.

“I poisoned my father.”

Chapter 11

Rory looked up at him expectantly, her heart cracking into pieces with every agonizing second of silence. She braced herself for his reaction, knowing there was really only one way for him to respond to her admission.

He would call her a monster, he would reject her, and he would tell her to fuck off and fend for herself. And him letting her go was the best case scenario. Dylan was a Peacekeeper, a law man. It was his duty to take her into custody and turn her in to the authorities. Getting arrested by the man she cared the most about in the entire world would be unbearable.

She hoped he would at least allow her to run. Maybe she could disappear, away from Dylan, away from Bishop, and away from all the people who wanted to punish her for her father’s death.

Dylan’s eyes bored into her, but they gave no indication what he was feeling.

Finally, Dylan shook his head. “That’s bullshit.”

Rory blinked in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“You’re no killer. And there’s no way in hell you’d ever poison your own father. It’s bullshit. Tell me what’s really going on.”

A tear rolled down her cheek, but it was a tear of joy. Was it possible that Dylan would believe her, when no one else in the world thought she was innocent?

“But didn’t your brother tell you? Everyone thinks I murdered my father.”

“Yeah, he told me. And then you told me, too, although I can’t figure out why on God’s green earth you would take responsibility for a crime you didn’t commit.”

“Because it’s partly true and partly not. But I didn’t want you to think I was lying to you again.”

“Aurora, all I want is the truth. Don’t tell me what you want me to hear. Just tell me the truth. I can’t abide by lies.”

She sighed. “The truth is that everyone thinks I killed my father. I thought I had too, at first. My father was hosting his annual birthday party. All the big shots from the Clan were there.”

“Including Bishop?”

“Yes, although I didn’t think anything of it at the time. So we start by giving my father his gifts. I got him a really expensive bottle of scotch, his favorite. He was so excited, he popped open the wax seal on the spot, and poured himself a drink.”

“And then?”

Rory stopped, picturing what happened next. She could see it so vividly. Anger and sadness overwhelmed her in equal parts.

“And then, not more than a minute later, my father was lying on the floor, dying in my arms.”

“So you think there was poison in the bottle?” Dylan asked.

“Yes, there had to be. Nothing else could have done that. Even though I have no idea how it got in there. The bottle had been sealed with wax at the factory. The seal was still intact.”

“Then it had to be something else,” Dylan said, rubbing his stubbly chin thoughtfully. “So why did you think Bishop was responsible?”

“I didn’t know what happened at first. I was just in shock. Then that night, after my father died, Bishop came to my house.”

“He told you he did it?”

“No, not exactly. But he was overjoyed with the fact that my father was out of the way. That’s how he described it. He said that he had taken care of my father and now we could be together. As if my father was the only obstacle to Bishop and me getting together.”

“That’s not exactly a confession.”

“No, but it was a start. I demanded to know what he’d done. He just smiled and dodged the question. I wasn’t sure he was capable of something so cruel as murder. But then he attacked me. He tried to force me into being his mate.”

Dylan’s eyes blazed and a growl issued from his throat.

“I fought him and kept him from biting me against my will. I got away and I ran before he could force me into being his mate.”

“That’s why you ran. It makes sense.”

“I know it just made me look guiltier. But I didn’t know what else to do.”

“So you came to me.”

“Yes.”

“Because you needed someone to protect you.”

“Absolutely. Even after everything that happened between us, I knew I could always count on you.”

Dylan looked away, his eyes troubled. “Is that the only reason? You thought, hey, I’ll just find good old Dylan. He’s a big strong dumb bear. He’ll protect me and not ask any questions.”

“That’s not it at all,” Rory said.

She’d never seen Dylan like this. He’d always been more than happy to protect her. She never thought it would insult him to ask for his help.

She placed her hands on his cheeks and gently turned his face so she could look him in the eye. “I’ve never thought of you that way. Yes, you’re big and strong, but I’ve never thought for one second you were stupid or gullible. I wasn’t trying to trick you. I knew we could figure out this problem together.”

“Then why did you lie to me?”

“I don’t know. I felt like I had no choice. I didn’t think you’d believe me if I told you the truth.”

He laughed bitterly. “Because you didn’t trust me.”

Rory couldn’t meet his eyes. “No, I guess I didn’t. It had been a long time since we last saw each other. And things didn’t exactly end on the best of terms. But what’s important is that I trust you now. Do you trust me?”

Dylan shook his head, confusion plain on his face. “I don’t know. I want to, but I can’t help but feel like you just came here to use me.”

“Maybe I did,” Rory said softly. “I didn’t think about it that way when I came here. Things had gotten so out of control. I was scared and afraid. You were the only man I could turn to for help. But maybe that was unfair of me.” She paused, chewing her lower lip. “If you want me to leave, I understand.”

Dylan seemed to consider it. The very fact that he had to think about it tore at her insides. She’d worried she would ruin everything by not telling Dylan the whole truth, and she’d been right. Earlier, Dylan had been ready to take her as a mate. Now he didn’t even know if he would let her stay.

“You don’t have to leave,” Dylan said finally. “The one thing I’ve always vowed was to keep you safe. And I will. No matter what.”

Hope swelled in her breast. Maybe she hadn’t screwed everything up after all. “So you and I are good?” she asked.

“No,” Dylan said.

Rory never realized a single word could cut so deep or hurt so much. “Dylan.”

He raised his hand, gesturing for her to be quiet. “I don’t like you lying to me, especially about something so important.”

“It’s not like you never lied to me,” she spat, anger causing her to lash out.

“What do you mean?”

“About my brother. You never told me he knew about us. You never told me you thought it was the reason he died that day.”

She regretted the words the moment she said them. Dylan’s eyes went cold and hard.

“I never lied about that,” he said, his voice a low growl. “I kept it a secret to protect you. It wasn’t a burden you needed to bear.”

“A lie of omission is still a lie.”

“Then I guess we’re both liars,” he said.

She couldn’t bear to look him in the eyes. The silent accusation there was too much. It ripped her insides up. She thought she might be sick.

“This was a mistake,” Rory said softly. “I should go. This isn’t your problem. I should never have involved you in this.”

“You don’t have to leave,” Dylan said. “I still want to help you.”

“I know you do, but it isn’t fair to you. I don’t want to just use you.”

Dylan exhaled heavily. “I didn’t mean that.”

“Yeah, you did. And you were right. I didn’t come here for Dylan, the man. I came here for Dylan the warrior. Dylan the killer.”

Dylan slammed his fist against the wall, causing the whole house to shake.

“I don’t care,” he said. “If that’s all I’m good for, at least let me do that. When this is all over, we can go our separate ways again, if that’s what you want.”

Rory shook her head. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I owe it to you. I owe it to your brother. Let me keep you safe.”

“You don’t owe me anything. Any debt you think you owe is forgiven.”

“You don’t get to decide that. The debt is mine to pay, whether you want it or not. You’re staying here and I’m keeping you safe.”

“You can’t keep me here,” Rory said.

“Wanna bet?”

“What, are you going to arrest me?”

“If that’s what it takes.”

Rory stared into his eyes which blazed like emerald fire. There was nothing she could say that would change his mind. The determined look on his face was proof of that.

“Fine, whatever,” she finally said.

She turned her back on him and stormed away into the guest bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Then she leaned against the smooth wood and sank down to the floor. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

Things with Dylan had gone from amazing to train wreck so fast, she could barely understand what happened. Her thoughts raced through her head like leaves blowing in the wind. She was unable to catch hold of any of them, making it impossible to figure out her next move.

She collapsed onto the bed, feeling lower than low for hurting Dylan. He was hurt because she hadn’t trusted him and because all she’d wanted from him was protection.

If only she had told him the truth from day one, none of this would be happening. She could be wrapped in his arms right now and tangled in his sheets. Instead, she withered away in a cold bed all alone.

The loneliness was overwhelming. She hadn’t realized just how alone she’d been ever since Dylan had gone out of her life. It took being with him again to make her realize just how much she needed him. And not just as her protector, but as her lover.

He was like the other half of her heart, and by lying to him, she’d taken that part of her and thrown it away. It was a terrible feeling, and one she didn’t think she could ever recover from.

Maybe she could apologize and make it all better. But she knew things could never go back. Their reunion had been tenuous at best. A flimsy house of cards ready to blow over at the gentlest breath of wind.

Well, Rory’s lie had been a hurricane, toppling the cards, and she couldn’t see any way to put it back together.

The best thing she could do was leave. This should never have been Dylan’s problem in the first place. She could run, disappear, and put all this madness behind her.

Of course, Dylan wouldn’t let her go. If nothing else, he kept his word. He’d promised to protect her, and he meant it, even if her presence tore him up inside.

No, she had to leave when he wasn’t looking. It was the right thing to do.

Her bedroom had a window. She would wait until the sun started going down. Then she would sneak away undetected.

It might put her life in danger, but at least she could spare Dylan.

***

Dylan fumed in the cool air of twilight. He wanted to destroy something. Anything.

He couldn’t believe Aurora lied to him, and he hated that all she’d wanted from him was the dark killer inside him. When she showed up here after all these years, a part of him hoped things could go back to the way they’d been before. Back before everything had gone to shit.

And that hope had been rekindled when he felt that connection spark between them again. The old love he’d felt for her had awoken again in full force. But that was the problem with hope. It makes you believe in the impossible and leaves you bitterly disappointed when the impossible doesn’t happen.

If he had just given up on any chance at reuniting with Aurora, he wouldn’t be standing there feeling like his heart had just been torn out of his chest.