Page 69 of Always Watching
I really like Atlas’s place. I immediately feel at ease.
“Have a seat,” Atlas says. “Make yourself comfortable. Would you like something to drink?”
“Water please,” I say, toeing off my shoes and hanging my jacket on the coat rack. “Thank you.”
He nods, then walks towards his kitchen.
I sit down on the couch, looking around at the pictures on the wall and end tables. There are a few pictures of North, Atlas, and Wylder together, all looking stoic and serious. They look different, but the same—same facial features, same shape, but different colored eyes and sets to their expressions.
Then my eyes lock on a photo with the three of them and a beautiful woman. She’s dark-haired like Wylder and North, but that’s where the similarities end. I’m not sure how to describe it from just a photograph, but she looks like light. Her expression is open, her eyes shine, and her smile lights up the entire picture. She’s beautiful.
“That’s Julia, the boys’ mom,” Atlas says as he steps back into the room, a bottle of water in his hands. “Did North tell you what happened to her?”
I nod, setting the picture down. “Yes. I’m sorry to hear you lost her. I lost my grandpa a few years ago. It’s not the same, I know,” I rush to say. The loss of a spouse is different to the loss of a grandparent. Grandparents are expected to die in their oldage. But you plan to keep your spouse with you as you grow old together and watch your grandkids play from your porch.
My heart clenches as I think about losing North. I couldn’t bear it. Atlas was able to move on with his life, though I don’t know to what extent, but I don’t think I could. I’d have to die with him.
Atlas nods. “It’s not, but thank you. She was a wonderful woman.” He pauses for a second and I see hurt flash in his eyes. Maybe he hasn’t really moved on. North said she died years ago, when he was younger. He had the boys to look after, so that’s probably why he kept going.
I place a hand on his. “I can imagine.”
He nods. “How you handling everything? North said you were there?”
Swallowing roughly, I remove my hand and say, “Yeah. He… he tried to hurt me. Atlas, I was fucking terrified. But North, he…” I smile and duck my head, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. “He saved me. You saw the state I was in when I was in the hospital.” Atlas nods. “He killed the man who did that to me. I’m… I love him.”
“That’s good,” Atlas says, as if my confession was as simple as me saying the sky is blue—like it was a known fact that I loved his son. “Means you won’t go telling what we do.”
“I wouldn’t. Never.” We stare at each other for a few beats. “What did they… Where did they take him?”
“Into the tree line. No one will check this property for bodies. There are a few buried out there—some mine, some North’s, some Wylder’s.”
I notice how Atlas looks at me, scrutinizing my every expression. He appears to be gauging whether I’ll run away or become suddenly afraid of them because I know what they do. That won’t happen. In a strange way, I feel closer to them, evenWylder. It’s like I’m in on the secret with them, and I’m honored to be in their inner circle.
Still, it’s a little disconcerting for him to talk about piles of bodies with me. “Will anyone come to check it out?”
“They haven’t yet. Want to go see?”
My eyes widen and I’m nodding before I realize. “Yes, please.”
I don’t think he expected me to say yes. Atlas almost looks taken aback. “You’re taking it better than I thought you would. I figured a tiny thing like you would be gone by now.”
I shrug. “I’m not leaving North. I wasn’t before I knew what he did, and I’m not now. He’s stuck with me.”
“For some reason,” Atlas says, opening the door and motioning for me to step out, “I don’t think he’ll mind that.”
The smile on my face feels permanent.
We trek across the grass, the abundance of leaves crunching under our feet. “Are you sure no one will find out?” I ask, looking over at Atlas. He looks relaxed and almost carefree.
“I’m sure. He’s safe, Ranen.”
An imperceptible breath leaves my mouth. I’ll probably be paranoid for the next few weeks, thinking every time I hear sirens or see a cop they’re coming to get one or both of us.
But I’ll do everything I can to make sure North is safe. He’s protected me. I’ll give my life to protect him in return.
We take a well-worn path deep into the woods. I’m not concerned—I know Atlas wouldn’t hurt me. Not only would North not allow it, I feel like Atlas and I have a connection. After he watched over me at the hospital, we’ve been friendly. I don’t think he’d try to harm me to keep their secret. I’d never tell a soul.
Raised voices meet our ears, though they don’t sound angry, just like they’re both talking over each other to get their point across.
