Landmine - Post Malone

44

"Dillon..." Isla says softly and takes her hand, "Austin is trying to keep us apart for his own selfish reasons. He is not a good man and has manipulated you into believing he is. It's all an act."

"But...but, he has been helping me. He has been helping me look for you. He has gone all out. He said he would never stop me from looking for you. He said we will never stop until we find you," Dillon says trying to push down her cry. She is so hurt right now. Was everything a lie?

"Dillon, can't you see what's right in front of you? Is it not obvious? He was using you. It's all a lie. I have been hiding from him and so he is using you to find me. Once he gets me he will kill Luke and do away with you. Can't you see that?"

"He is good..." Dillon whispers, it feels like her chest might just explode. Could all those things Austin had said and done been one big elaborate plan to manipulate her into helping him get to Isla?

"I know my brother, Dillon," Luke says. He sounds so remorseful, embarrassed even. "He has always been underhanded and manipulative. The Austin you know is not real. It's all an act."

"No..." Dillon hums shaking her head. She can't believe that. She does not want to believe that. If that's true her heart will shatter into a million pieces. "No...he loves me," Dillon whispers, casting her eyes to the floor as they fill with heartbreak. "Dillon, honey, he loves no one but himself," Isla says gently. "But...his men. Louis. Mitch. They followed him out here; they stood by him. They remain loyal because of how good he is to them," she points out. "They follow him because he has dirt on them. They are scared of him. Do you know what happened to Louis' father? He was a respectful, good man...Austin killed him when Louis tried to leave," Luke says.

Becky had told her what happened, she wouldn't lie to her and she saw the anger and pain Becky had for Louis' father and what he had done to Louis as a child. Louis had chosen to 'deal' with his father and Austin had stood by him. Yes, perhaps it was not right for them to take the law into their own hands. But both Louis and Austin are good men, and Dillon believes that with her whole heart. She won't argue the logistics of what happened to Louis' father with Luke. She will keep Austin's secret. But, is there a possibility Becky had been lying to her? "No..." Dillon whispers, shaking her head as she feels another piece of her heart crumble. "They lie and protect Austin out of fear, Dillon. They are scared of him; it has nothing to do with loyalty or honour," Luke says.

Alright. Luke may have a point. The men, Louis, Mitch and even Becky are fiercely loyal to Austin. They follow his orders without question. She knows they would do anything he asked of him. She had always believed it was out of loyalty and because of how loyal Austin was to them. But, could it be something more sinister? Could they be so deeply loyal simply out of fear? "What about the people?" Dillon asks lifting her head and looking at Luke, desperate to disprove what he is saying. "What people?" Luke asks.

"From the town and all the surrounding towns? They have told me how wonderful Austin is and all the good things he has done. They adore and respect him."

"All lies. He would have threatened them, and out of fear, they fed you lies to keep him happy. This is all one big well-orchestrated plan, Dillon. I know it's hard to wrap your head around all this. But, I only speak the truth. Austin, my brother, is not a good man. Believe me when I say that reality hurts me more than it does you. I love my brother...but he hurts people for his own satisfaction."

Dillon feels lightheaded, and the room spins, so she grabs hold of the edge of the kitchen counter. Lies? It's all been one big lie? Austin has made it clear that he would chain her up if she does not do as he says. He has been very controlling of her movements, and while she thought it was just him being overprotective, was she just blind? Is this why he was so insistent that she not speak with Luke? Was Luke the only one he could not control with fear and knew he would tell Dillon the truth about Austin? Has Austin been the bad guy this whole time? Who is the real Austin? But he gave her a shotgun and taught her to shoot it. Why would he do that if he wanted full control over her? Yes, he restricted her to the ranch and practically tied her to his side, but he relented when she pushed hard enough and he did so just to keep her happy. Seeing her happy is his weakness, and he will do anything she asks if she tells him it would make her smile. He had given her freedom to roam once she learnt how to use her shotgun - he was just concerned about her safety. Or was he? Was he just manipulating her into believing that to keep her somewhat obedient?