Page 105 of Indecent Obsession
“We won’t go.” I don’t know what else to do, but if this is what happens when she hears Verity’s name, what will happen when she sees her? And sees her with Wyatt?
“It’s too late to cancel.” Wyatt runs a hand through his hair. “We have to make an appearance. Especially with Tom gone.”
He reaches out and puts his hand on her knee. She doesn’t react. What did this girl do to her?
“Sara, I can call her and tell her I can’t take her.” Wyatt squeezes her knee.
Finally, she lifts her pale face to his. She focuses in and shakes her head. “No. If Tom is still in contact with her, maybe she knows something about what he’s into. There has to be a reason he wanted her there that night. He wouldn’t have done this otherwise.”
Her eyes well with tears again. Fuck Tom.
He had to know this would break her. She rests her head against my chest.
“What did she do, flower?” Finn looks like he wants to tear someone apart.
She blows out a breath and turns to him with a weak smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “She was my best friend. We shared everything with each other.”
Her gaze slides to Wyatt. “Everything.”
Wyatt swallows. “We don’t have to go through this, trouble. I’m here with you. I don’t want anyone else.”
That smile doesn’t reach her eyes and I can feel her pulling away again. I tip her face my way and search her haunted green eyes. If I could, I would back out of my date and take her instead. I know I can keep her safe. I’ve been doing it for years.
But whatever happened between Verity and Sara, I’m not privy to.
I don’t know that Drew will be able to protect her, especially from herself, or from crawling into her psyche so far we can’t reach her. There’s a reason Tom roped us into watching out for his little sister.
She was fragile after her father died. Everything seemed to hit her extra hard, and we had to work to help her rebuild that shell we all need in this society. By the time she was in high school, she seemed good.
During holidays and the occasional weekend, when we were around, she was happy and healthy with a handful of good girlfriends. If they knew we were there, they’d all hang out at the pool, showing off their newly found figures.
But we didn’t pay them much attention. If we wanted someone, we had women at college. We were wealthy, smart, and heading up. Girls knew that. They wanted us. We didn’t have to mess around with Sara’s friends.
Right after her high school graduation, Tom hurried home from our internship because he was needed. He never told us what happened to her, but the next time we were there, her friends were nowhere to be seen.
Sara closed herself off. Not from us but from other girls. She’d be friendly and polite, but she no longer had an inner circle until she met Madison Harris. It was like a light grew inside her again, chasing away the darkness.
What was Tom thinking? We all know he didn’t want Wyatt and Sara together. But to set him up with the girl who crushed Sara is just evil. If he were here, I’d strangle him myself.
Maybe the most messed up thing is that Sara is willing to face Verity again to find out more about Tom.
Chapter 30
Accounts Payable
Finn
I’m wound up. I need to fight someone for making Sara almost cry. Tom is the obvious target. He’s always up for some sparring.
What kind of fucked-up thing was he cooking up? Setting up Sara’s archnemesis with Wyatt, the fucking love of her life? Not literally, but it’s been obvious Sara has feelings beyond friendship for Wyatt. We all knew it.
Maybe this was Tom’s way of cutting her off from Wyatt. Using Verity as a cleansing tool. Fucking Tom.
“We should eat.” Sara straightens and her society face falls into place. The one she wears when she’s out with her mother or at a benefit. It makes me want to fuck her until that face disappears.
But right now, she needs her armor so I’ll let her keep it. Dante sets her on her feet and we all walk back over to the dining table. My knee bounces from the excess energy. Dante talks a little about work but I can’t listen. I eat a few more bites but I can’t sit here.
When I stand, my chair scrapes the floor. They all look at me expectantly.
