Heartstrings on Fire novel Chapter 1112

"Kearney," he said, his voice a whisper laced with urgency, "it's a secret about our big brother, Sean. You're dying to know, aren't you? Give me your hand first, and I'll spill the beans."

Phenix, however, sensed Kearney's approach and seemed to panic a bit. "Stay back! Don't come any closer!"

Kearney hastily retreated a few steps, his voice trembling slightly as he said, "Okay, okay, I won't come any closer. Just tell me, what is this secret?"

Phenix was palpably agitated. She wanted to know everything there was about Sean. The world was devoid of him now, and any tidbit about Sean seemed like a salve to her wounded soul.

Kearney's voice took on a conspiratorial tone. "This secret isn't just about Sean. It's about you, me... We're not orphans. Our dads were comrades-in-arms with Reggie, taking on the world side by side. But then, one by one, they were taken out by someone close to us. Don't you want to know who our enemy is? Someone lurking amongst us."

A flicker of life sparked in Phenix's eyes. "Who is it?" she asked, a hint of vitality returning to her voice.

"It's someone close, right here amongst us. Don't you want revenge, Phenix? We could've had normal lives, grown up in loving homes. But that person destroyed everything, leading Sean down the path that turned him into a fugitive, then a mercenary, before his untimely death. Everything was orchestrated by that person. Don't you want to avenge our parents, to avenge Sean?"

Kearney's words struck a chord in Phenix, igniting a fiery vengeance within her. The gruesome image of Sean's death haunted her. Yes, she thirsted for revenge, wanted those responsible to pay dearly. But her adversaries were terrorists, most dead by now. Who was left to confront? She felt aimless, with nothing to anchor her to life, wishing only to join Sean in the afterlife.

"Tell me, who killed Sean, who killed our parents?" Phenix demanded, energy coursing through her.

Kearney reached out. "Come down first, and I'll tell you everything, just give me your hand."

Phenix, as if under a spell, slowly extended her hand towards Kearney.

But then, as if snapping out of a trance, she recoiled. "You're lying, aren't you? Just making up a story to lure me down?"

Before she could finish, Kearney grabbed her arm, pulling her away from the ledge and into his embrace.

Phenix realized then—there was no secret, no enemy. Kearney had been diverting her attention all along.

She tried to break free, desperate to escape. "Let me go, I need to find Sean, I have to be with Sean."

But Kearney held on tight, not uttering a word, just holding her close.

"Phenix!!" Suddenly, a voice, shaky yet authoritative, called out from not far away.

Both Kearney and Phenix turned towards the rooftop door, only to see Reggie standing there, an imposing figure despite his recent surgery. He shouldn't have been able to move yet, let alone appear here on the rooftop.