Chapter 1
After dinner ended, I couldn't wait to stand up and leave. But Drake's hand suddenly pressed down on my shoulder with such force that I almost fell back into my chair.
"Emily, we have some things to clarify. We're going to my shop now." His voice was low and commanding.
"What? No, I'm going home." I tried to push his hand away, but he was much stronger than I'd imagined.
"This isn't a request." Drake's eyes turned ice cold. "Four years, and you're still pretending nothing happened?"
My heart started racing. What did he mean nothing happened? "Drake, I don't know what you're talking about—"
"Shut up. Come with me." He practically dragged me out of the house.
The streets were nearly empty, neon lights casting shadows on Drake's face that made him look even more dangerous. I pulled out my phone to call Braden, but Drake snatched it away and stuffed it into his own pocket.
"Fuck! Are you insane? Give it back!" I reached for it, but he easily dodged.
"After we're done talking."
He pulled me into the tattoo parlor. Under the dim lighting, tattoo machines hummed, and various designs covered the walls. This was Drake's territory, and I felt more uneasy than ever.
Drake locked the door and turned to face me. "Sit down."
"I won't. Drake, what the hell do you want?"
He let out a cold laugh and walked toward me. "Do you really not remember anything? Or are you just acting?"
I backed away until my back hit the wall. "Remember what?"
Drake's expression became complex, as if he were recalling something. Suddenly, his face softened slightly.
"Do you remember the day Savannah first brought you to meet me?"
I froze. Memories suddenly flooded back—that was four years ago, in the summer.
"Emily, meet Drake." Savannah held my hand, beaming. "He's my best friend. He'll be like a big brother to you from now on."
Drake back then wore a simple T-shirt and jeans, his smile warm and genuine. "Hey there, beautiful. Savannah talks about you all the time."
"Hello." I shyly hid behind Savannah.
Drake crouched down to my eye level. "Don't be scared, I don't bite. What do you want for your birthday? Isn't it next week?"
I looked at Savannah in surprise.
Savannah ruffled my hair. "Drake will be part of our family."
In the days that followed, Drake really did take care of us like a big brother. He'd take us to amusement parks, help me with homework when Savannah worked late, and even taught me how to change a tire.
I remember the last day before Savannah's accident, she hugged Drake tightly and said, "If anything happens to me, you have to take care of Emily."
Drake smiled and promised, "Nothing will happen. We'll always be together."
The memory was interrupted by Drake's voice. "You remember now, don't you?"
I nodded, tears flowing involuntarily. "You were good to us back then."
"I'm still good to you." Drake stepped closer. "But you've been avoiding me."
"I haven't been avoiding anything." I wiped away my tears. "After what happened to Savannah, I needed time—"
"Time?" Drake suddenly exploded with rage. "Four years wasn't enough time?"
His anger frightened me. "Drake, calm down—"
"Do you know what happened the night of Savannah's accident?" His voice became dangerously low. "Do you remember how you cried and begged me not to leave you? You said you needed me, that only I could make you feel safe."
My face went pale instantly. "I... I don't remember..."
"Don't remember?" Drake sneered. "Or don't want to remember?"
He pulled out his phone, scrolled a few times, then handed it to me. On the screen was a photo of me sleeping in a man's arms—and that man was Drake.
"This isn't real..." My voice trembled.
"This was taken that night." Drake's voice slithered into my ears like a snake. "You held onto me and wouldn't let me go. You said you loved me, said you needed me."
"Shut up!" I screamed and tried to grab his phone, but he easily dodged again.
"Do you want to know the truth, Emily?" Drake's eyes turned ice cold. "Savannah's accident wasn't an accident. It happened because she discovered our secret."
Time seemed to stop.
"She discovered my feelings for you," Drake approached step by step, "discovered what you did to me that night. She threatened to take you away from here, to take you away from me."
"No... that's impossible..." I collapsed to the floor.
Drake crouched down and forced me to look into his eyes. "She lost control emotionally when she drove out looking for you, that's why she crashed into the guardrail. If she hadn't been so upset, if she hadn't discovered us, she'd still be alive."
"You're lying!" I shook my head frantically. "Savannah wouldn't intentionally..."
"Accident?" Drake grabbed my chin. "Do you really believe it was an accident?"
I struggled to escape, but Drake grabbed my wrist. His strength was too much for me to break free.
"You can't escape, Emily." His voice carried a twisted satisfaction. "You were mine four years ago, and now it's time to face reality."
I stared at this face I thought I knew, realizing I might never have truly understood this man. Those beautiful memories, warm smiles, brotherly care—it could all have been a disguise.
"What do you want?" My voice trembled.
Drake released me and stood up, looking down at me. "I want you to admit the truth, admit your feelings for me."
"I have no feelings for you." I said through gritted teeth.
"Really?" He pulled out another photo. "Then how do you explain this?"
The photo showed a kiss mark I'd left near his lips, my face red as a tomato, eyes hazy.
"I... I was drunk then..."
"In wine there is truth, Emily." Drake put away his phone. "You said you loved me, said you wanted me. And now, I've decided to make those words reality."
I finally understood his intentions, fear washing over me like ice water. For these four years, I thought I was avoiding the pain of losing my sister, but in reality, I might have been avoiding an even darker truth.
