I’m standing too close to the edge. That’s fine for me, but I don’t want her to slip. One wrong footing and a large gust of wind could send her flying over the edge. And I would… not survive that. It’s hard to admit for someone who’s been closed off. Who’s been determined not to care about someone. Paige put a crack in the emotional wall. Jane broke the rest of it to pieces. I can’t let anything happen to her. But I also can’t stand to see the wariness in her eyes. The way she looked at me from the porch…

It made me feel like a monster. As if there’s only a thin veneer keeping me from becoming Joe Causey.

I don’t do unethical shit. It’s always struck me as the coward’s way out. Why cheat when you can win the right way? But knowing Jane has changed me. If I had to protect her, I would lie, cheat, or steal. I would kill for her. And it’s absolutely terrifying.

She stands amid the downpour with her chin held high. A goddess, this woman. She humbles me with her bravery. She could have gone inside, should have gone inside. To stay warm and away from the ogre who’s making demands on her. Instead she’s facing me. Delicate? Yes, but also unbelievably strong.

“I was already responsible for one woman’s death. We believed that Emily died. And she could have died. It was my fault. It would have been my fault, and I had to live with that. I can’t add another life to my tally. I can’t watch anything happen to you.”

“I’m not going to die. And Emily didn’t die. You aren’t responsible for us.”

“I am, Jane.”

She looks away, and when she faces me again, her expression is resolute. “You’ve given me so much already. The ability to go to college. The house. And… you. Your love. The way you care for me. It’s more than I deserve.”

I had expected her to argue, but she isn’t doing that. At least, not in a way that I can combat. This vulnerability is breaking my heart. “Jane.”

“But I can’t take this—this free pass you’re offering me.”

“A free goddamn pass? It’s a murder trial. You weren’t even in the state when he killed my brother. It’s not a free pass if you don’t get involved.”

“A free pass,” she continues, “to look the other way while injustice is done, while people are hurt. While they can continue to be hurt. I’ve lived too long among those who were hurt. People looked the other way. Good people, I think. Regular, honest people who looked the other way when we came to school with bruises or wore clothes that didn’t fit.”