Page 79 of Auctioned to the Reaper

“Said he fell asleep. Crossed the center line. Exactly what the report said.”

“Gray…”

“I spent ten years hating myself for something that bastard did.”

My voice cracks.

I clear my throat.

“I broke my promise to Mom. I’ll always regret that. But I didn’t make Tyler fall asleep.”

“No,” Autumn says softly. “You didn’t.”

I look at her.

“And I couldn’t have stopped him.”

“No.”

For the first time in ten years, the words don’t sound like an excuse.

They sound like the truth.

I squeeze her hand.

“Still doesn’t bring Eli back.”

“I know.”

We sit quietly until the sheriff’s cruiser turns into the driveway.

Daniels gets out and approaches the porch.

“Blackwood. Need a statement.”

“Tyler’s inside. He’s been drinking. Admitted the break-in and the message.”

The sheriff nods.

“I’ll have a deputy speak with him.”

He disappears into the house.

Autumn stands.

“Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

I follow her down the steps.

At the bottom, she turns toward me.

“Gray?”

“Yeah?”

“Why did you really come back?”

I look at her.