Chapter 11
“Stop” Just hearing my stepfather’s name made my skin crawl. You don’t get to use him as an excuse.
“He threatened to tell everyone about the bruises. Sage.”
Caspian’s voice dropped to a whisper that seemed to echo in my bones.
The ones you thought you hid so well under long sleeves and makeup. Said he’d make sure everyone knew what really happened in your house if I came near you again.”
My legs gave out. I sank into my chair, the world spinning in a way that had nothing to do with whiskey. You’re lying.”
“I’ve spent six years watching you build this
life.
He knelt beside my chain, eyes level with mine.
“Watching you fight your way into this world that tried to keep you out. And I’ll be damned if I let them tear it down because of my mistakes.
“I don’t need your help. But my voice betrayed me, trembling like that terrified teenager I thought I’d left behind.
My phone buzzed. Unknown number.
Such pretty pictures making the rounds. Remember our little secret? Time to come home, little girl. Robert misses his favorite stepdaughter. – R
The phone clattered to my desk. Caspian grabbed it, his face darkening as he read the message. His hands clenched so tight I could see his knuckles turn white
“He can’t hurt you anymore.” His voice held a promise that made my heart race. “But Victoria Palmer and her father can destroy everything youve built. Unless we fight back. Together.”
“Why?” I forced myself to meet his eyes, searching for any trace of the boy who’d broken my heart. “Why now? Why me?”
“Because you’re the only person who ever saw the real me.‘ His smile held no trace of the smooth quarterback charm. “And I’m done letting them use our past against us.”
My computer pinged again. Diana’s final warning: Board meeting in 45 minutes.Choose your next move carefully, Miss Winters. Some wars aren’t worth fighting
The warrior lawyer in me – the one who’d survived Robert, whod built a career from nothing, who’d learned to fight with contracts instead of fists – knew the smart play. Take the deal. Save my job. Keep running from the past.
But maybe that was
was the problem. I’d spent six years running. From Casplan. From Robert From the truth.
“I need to know everything” My voice came
came out stronger than I felt. “If we’re doing this, no more secrets. No more half–truths.”
Caspian nodded, his expression shifting to something I hadn’t seen since that night in his study – raw vulnerability.
“The bet was real, but what happened between us wasn’t part of it. The money, the laughter you overheard-
“Not hear.” I stood up, gathering the scattered papers with shaking hands. “We need somewhere safer.
The look of understanding that passed between us made my heart stutter.
He knew what I meant. Somewhere Robert couldnt find us. Somewhere Victoria’s photographers couldn’t capture us.
As we headed toward the door, my phone buzzed again.
Han all you want, little girl. You know what happens when I find you. And I always find you.
Caspian’s hand closed over mine, warm and solid in a world suddenly shifting beneath my feet. “He won’t touch you again. I promise.”
It was a promise I wanted desperately to believe. But I learned the hard way that promises break as easily as hearts.
One promise from the boy who broke my heart, against six years of nightmares from the man who broke my spirit. I was caught between ben devils, with
nowhere left to fun
1/2
Chapter 11
But the look in Caspian’s eyes as he held my hand in promise at that moment – partly hopeful, partly determined–made something long dormant in my chest stir.
Hope is dangerous.
Trust is deadly.
But right now, they were all I had left.
“Let’s go,” I said, grabbing my coat and files. “Before I change my mind.”
