Skeletons in the Mist (The McCall Twins) by Jennifer Hayden

while you play this game. It’s only hurting you and your brother.”
    “Fuck you,” he said to Chas as the guards led him by. When he passed in front of Roxy, he looked her directly in the eyes. “Stay away from my little brother. You’re a bad omen.” Before she could step away, he spit in her face. And she just stood there in shock, unable to move. She heard Chas as he stepped forward and gave Devon a shove. She also felt him wipe at her face with a piece of cloth. After a moment, she realized it was a corner of his shirt. He was talking to her but she blocked him out.
    “I need to go outside,” she said abruptly, the bagel she’d eaten earlier suddenly feeling like a rock inher stomach.
    “Okay, okay. Hang on.”
    She didn’t know how long a walk they took, but moments later fresh air hit her in the face. She grabbed hold of the railing in front of her and just breathed in and out restlessly. This had all been a horrible mistake. Another error in her judgment to add to the stack of screw-ups in her life.
    “I tried to warn you.”
    She held her hand up to warn Chas off. The last thing she needed right now was for him to say I told you so.
    “Come on,” he said, gesturing to the steps. “Let’s get out of here.”
    The ride away from the juvenile detention center was made in silence. Chas pulled the truck into the drive thru lane of a fast food restaurant. “What do you want?”
    “I’m not hungry,” she said, her voice almost a whisper.
    “I’m buying and you’re eating. Now what do youwant?” He’d given her time to regroup. Now it was time to build her confidence up again. Nothing about Devon Tavish’s behavior had surprised him. But everything about Roxy Tavish’s had. She’d crumbled like a pile of rocks.
    “I don’t care, Chas.”
    He ordered two cheeseburger meals and two sodas. Then he pulled into a parking space and opened up the paper bag filled with food. He handed several packages to her. “Eat.”
    “I don’t want any food, okay!” She looked up at him and he was surprised to see tears in her eyes. Up until now, she hadn’t let a single one fall. When she blinked, that all changed. The droplets overflowed from her eyes and she swore again.
    Sighing, he stared at her. “What do you want me to say, Roxy? And what exactly did you expect him to say?”
    She didn’t answer.
    “He’s a screwed up kid and he’s been hurt. Just get over your own feelings and think about that.”
    “Don’t say that to me! Don’t you dare act like what he just said to me shouldn’t hurt!”
    “I know it hurt. But let me warn you that you’d better get a hell of a lot thicker skin if you’re going to stick this out to the end. Those two boys are ready to strike out at anyone who will listen. And right now you’re the one that’s there.”
    “I never wanted Daddy to kill himself!” Her voice raised and a small moan escaped from her mouth. “God, I didn’t mean for that to happen.”
    “I know you didn’t. Deep down, so does Devon. He wanted to hurt you and he used whatever means he could.” Chas set the bag of food aside and reached toward her, against his better judgment. His fingers brushed against her curls in a gesture of comfort. “You were a kid, Roxy. Sixteen years old. How many times are you going to take a trip back in time and torture yourself?”
    “Those boys don’t understand,” was all she managed to get out before hiccupping.
    He dropped his hand but continued to watch her. “So tell me about it.”
    She sniffled somewhat. “Tell you about what?”
    “Tell me about your dad. Why’d you run away?”
    “It doesn’t matter anymore. That’s the sad part ofit. The two people who drove me away aren’t even alive anymore.” She shook her head and took the napkin he offered her. Dabbing her eyes, she stared out the passenger window. “He couldn’t handle looking at me.”
    Hearing the pain in her voice, he felt sorrow for her. It was natural. What wasn’t