Frustrated, hurt, and guilty, Ava swiped at the tears that began falling from her already bloodshot eyes without her permission. Still not ready to leave, her feet stayed glued to the ground, and she was glad she’d stayed when Lara approached next. There were questions that Ava needed to ask her.
They’d only met once, but Ava knew who she was. Still, when Lara didn’t immediately say anything, she asked, “You’re Lara, right?”
“Yes. Your brothers…” Her voice broke, and she wiped a stray tear from her cheek. “Your brothers were protecting me when they died,” she explained, more tears falling from her eyes.
“I know,” Ava whispered.
Marcus had told her that night once her eyes had run out of tears and her throat was too raw to scream anymore. He’d also told her it wasn’t Jackson alone w
