Within These Walls

Chapter 42 - Final

My eyes prickle. It comes over me so fast that I don't have time to hide my tears. I look away when the waterworks begin, too ashamed and embarrassed to let Marcus see my grief. Sam doesn't deserve this. To leave me so torn-up inside when I should be celebrating being free of him. But Willow was right. He was the only father I've ever had, and in his own way, I know he cared. He broke the rules for me. Worked secretly on an antidote to save me. Pushed me harder than anyone ever has because he knew what I would have to face to survive.

And most of all, he believed in me. He saw something I'm only now discovering about myself—an underlying current of strength running through my foundation, holding me up when I thought I'd crumble under the weight. I need to see how far it'll take me.

One side of my mattress sinks. I turn to Marcus as he sits next to me on the bed, tensing when he gently swipes his thumb under my eyes. He wraps his other hand around mine and squeezes. His touch is as potent as ever, and I can't stop the shiver that races down my spine.

He doesn't say anything about my grief. It makes sense. Small words of sympathy don't suit someone as action-driven as Marcus. Even if his actions lately leave a lot to be desired.

"What are you doing here?" I ask.

He shrugs. "I haven't left the hospital except to give my statement down at the police department."

"You've been here this whole time?"

"Yeah. Turns out the world isn't as exciting as I thought it would be."

"A hospital is the least exciting place I can think of," I retort.

His fingers thread through mine. "It's where you are."

There it is again. That spark of excitement I have no business feeling. It doesn't help that those are also the most blush-inducing words anyone's said to me. Maybe he's not as bad with words as I thought. I frown at our entwined hands before pulling mine away.

"It seems like Sam had a contingency plan in place in case I ever got out of the facility," Marcus says, acting like he didn't notice.

"What kind of a plan?" I ask.

"The cops wouldn't let me go because they had no idea who I was or what to do with me." Marcus laughs softly. "Then your mom showed up with a guy posing as my dad."

"My mom?" I ask in a high voice.

"Yeah. Maggie Parker. She told the cops I'd been living with my dad all these years after they split up. I thought they were a couple of nut jobs until he gave me his name. Frankie."

"Your friend's name," I say, and immediately wish I hadn't. Frankie was never his friend. He didn't exist, and I'd bet this Frankie isn't real either. Sam knew the only way to get Marcus to buy their story was create a link to someone he once thought he trusted.

"Where's my—where's Maggie now?"

He looks at me intently. "She disappeared with the Frankie guy yesterday morning. Haven't seen her since."

"Oh." I let out a weak laugh. "I guess their work is done. No point in goodbyes, huh?"

"I'm sorry."

I sigh weakly and shake my head. I kind of expected her to walk away without a word. She was never there for me anyway.

"So . . . the cops think we're siblings?"

"It was the only way they'd let me stay by your side." He smiles wickedly. "We should page the nurse and make out as she walks in."

I almost laugh, but I catch myself. I don't understand how I can be so wary of him, but at the same time want to melt every time he looks at me with those dark, assessing eyes of his. It has to be the flannel shirt. He looks ridiculously, distractingly good in it.