Chapter 24: The Vow

He came back at one in the morning.

I heard the truck in the lot, and the side door, and boots on the narrow stairs.

I was sitting on the bed in the dark with my knees pulled up, still dressed.

I had not left.

He opened the door and stood in the frame, with the light of the stairwell behind him.

His knuckles were unwrapped and ugly, and his shirt smelled of cut grass and cold.

"Where were you?" I said.

"Wade."

"At the grave."

"I sat there a few hours. I told him."

He shut the door.

"I thought he'd have something to say about it. He didn't. He never did let me finish a sentence."

I laughed, and it broke in the middle.

He crossed the room and knelt on the floor in front of me, so that his face was level with mine.

"Listen," he said.

"Brogan."

"You said you'd go if I couldn't live with it. So listen."

I listened.

"Nothing I do to Holzer will put Alec in that building. I give you my word on it."

He took my hands.

"I've wanted that man on his knees for three years. I'll find a way to have it that doesn't need your brother."

"Brogan, you can't promise that."

"I just did."

"What about Lo? What about Wade?"

"Wade doesn't need me to bury another kid for him."

His mouth twisted.

"He'd say so, too. He'd call me an idiot. He liked Alec."

I put my forehead against his.

"I thought you'd drive away and not come back," I said.

"I know."

"You said don't leave. You didn't say you'd be here."

"I'm here."

"And after? After Clint? Do you let me go then?"

His hands tightened on mine.

"No."

"Brogan."

"My mother told you I wasn't keeping you for leverage. I should have said it myself."

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