I clutch at my heart, yet cannot feel the beats.
McCarson continues, “But then something changed. Valencia, you forgave me. Even when I wanted you to hate me the most, ya forgave me for what I did. And you, Giulio, that day when your half-brother was beating you up, I had this calling to help you. I was supposed to light the fire. It was supposed to be me, but this empathy came over me, one I’ve never experienced in me whole life. It made me want out. I didn’t care about the money. I couldn’t hurt ya family more. I wasn’t involved in the fire. I wasn’t involved in physically kidnapping or putting my hands on any of you five. I was told about the ransom calls, but I never made them. I never saw or was involved in any aspect of Addilyn’s disappearance. When I said I wanted out before the fire, I was almost killed. They got livid and framed this on me. Ya see? They framed this all on fucking me and I know I’m not perfect; I’m very much the opposite, but I will not go to my grave without honesty. I’m sick of disappointing others, sick of it because I feel sick to my stomach for what I did. I want to be honest with ya both and I want to help.”
The phone trembles in my hands.
No. No. No.
Fear twists in my gut, as if somebody has just punched me right there. Bryce is involved. I trusted him. I helped him. I defended him. I feel so betrayed now.
Helena begins pacing up and down the living room, fingers through her light honey brown hair. Her instincts told her not to trust Bryce from day one…
Giulio’s stance mirrors mine. He remains still, his hot gaze burning straight into the phone with a disheartened grimace. My throat tightens. Anger boils my blood. We’re so shocked that we don’t even have the fight in us.
“Were you in the basement when they counted the money?”
“Yes. In one of the corners, but I never touched you or your children.”
“Where’s that money now?”
“Burned. It was destroyed, but not by me.”
“All of it?”
“Yes. Initially, I heard it was going to be used to help pay off other people who were hired.”
Giulio clears his throat. “And you never saw Addilyn or were an accessory in any way?”
“Never.”
“Bryce,” I begin, so shattered, “were you pretending to be my friend this entire time?”
“Never. Even though I needed to be pretending, I couldn’t with you. The friendship we have…had…was an authentically genuine one. I really did develop a bond with you. With ya both, but especially you, Valencia. I…I value you so much and it hurts me to the core that I’m losing my only true friend I have here because of a manipulative game that I thought at the time was—” A jagged breath escapes him and a heart-wrenching cry cuts through the phone. Pain marks his every word. “I can’t believe I did it…I want to go back…I don’t want to be alone in this world. I swear—I promise, I never knew about Addilyn, only about my deal. I just wanted the money. I needed it. By the end I realized just how much it was a cruel and selfish thing to do, even if it did help my mother. I couldn’t get out when I wanted to, so they lit that fire and are framing me to prove a point. I deserve all the convictions coming my way…I’m a fucking monster. That’s all I am. That’s all I’ll ever be.”
“Bryce?” I whisper, swallowing the knot in my throat.
“Aye?”
“I…really valued you too.” Tears roll down my cheeks. “What else haven’t you told us?”
“I’m sorry for hurting you all and for everything I’ve done.” Bryce’s agonized voice breaks into a sob. “I want you both to know this wasn’t all on me; I wasn’t the mastermind nor have I ever had a vendetta. All I ever did was follow instructions. I need to make up for my sins because only now do I realize how much I went wrong. I lost everything. I am a monster. I know it…I overheard a conversation and know where Addilyn is. Please trust I’m telling the truth because it’s the last chance to get her back. I’ll tell you it all. I promise. I will.”
My heart stops.
This is it. This is the moment I have been waiting 229 days for.
“Bryce?”
“Yes?”
“Who has our baby girl?”
There’s a brief moment of silence before all hell breaks loose. “Marcus Giannotti.”
Valencia
Sickened is not a good enough word to describe how I’m feeling. The revelation that both Bryce and Marcus were involved disturbs me deeply. I don’t know what’s worse, the fact that I trusted Marcus and grew a friendly liking towards Bryce, or that this was all a game to them.
Bryce McCarson did supply us a Seattle address before hanging up. The sound of the line cutting wasn’t
