Page 53 of Betraying Him
I tell her about how my father turned into someone I didn’t recognize anymore when my mom died. I tell her about the summer I met Harley and how happy I was, until I came home from a date with him to find my dad waiting for me. I tell her about the threats and the promises he made if I didn’t do as he told me to. I tell her about what I did and the fallout.
I tell her about what’s been going on between Harley and me ever since, and about how my father has been keeping close tabs on me. I tell her everything, including what happened the times I’ve visited home since starting college, and about how my father is currently looking for a husband for me so he can gain influence over certain people.
Halfway through my story, she jumps up and starts pacing the room, but I don’t stop. Once the floodgates have opened,I can’t help but tell her every detail. About what he will do to me, about what he will do to Harley if he has even the slightest inclination that I didn’t completely cut things off all those years ago, and about what he’s been doing all of these years.
I finally come to the end, and I’m surprised to find my eyes are dry.
I’ve only ever told one person about all of this, and when I did, I found myself sobbing uncontrollably while Logan comforted me, but this time, I feel… free. I feel like getting this out in the open is what’s needed, and maybe it shouldn’t just stop at Lana. Maybe I’m finally strong enough toreallydo something about my father.
“I just don’t get it. Why did he send that man last night?” she asks when she stops pacing. I note the way her teeth are digging into her lip and the way her hands clench—she’s pissed. More than pissed, and she wants to do something about it.
Honestly, I know the feeling.
“He set up a meeting even after I refused, and I blew off the guy he was trying to set me up with. So, he decided to show me—even though he’s more than proved he’s not all talk—that the warnings he’s been giving me weren’t just words. He’s got it in his head that I’ll give in eventually, that I’ll do to another family what I had to do to Harley’s.”
“You need to stay here. You can’t go back to your dorm when you don’t know what’s waiting for you. At least if you’re here, we can keep our eyes on you, and you’ll never be alone.”
I inwardly groan. Did she not hear me when I told her about everything that’s gone on between Harley and I? This is thelastplace I should be. Sure, it’s been nice to stay here today so I don’t have to deal with the quiet and relive everything, but I like my own space. As soon as I’m feeling well enough to walkaround without nearly collapsing from the pain, I’m out of here.
I shake my head adamantly, knowing what a bad idea it is. “I can’t stay here, Lana. It’s not going to happen.”
“Why the fuck not?” she bursts out, clearly close to losing it.
I know it’s only because she’s worried, and while I really do love her for that, I’m not in the mood to argue. There’s no changing my mind on this.
I open my mouth to give her all of the reasons why it’s an absolutely terrible idea, but a familiar voice has me snapping it shut.
“I agree. Whycan’tyou stay here?”
My head snaps toward the sound, only to find Harley standing in the doorway.
Shit, shit, shit. How much did he hear?
THIRTY-SEVEN
HARLEY
Walkingin to hear Lana telling Savannah off for not wanting to stay here was surreal. It honestly made me breathe a sigh of relief I’m not the only one who doesn’t want her going back to her dorm.
Savannah’s face pales when she realizes I’m here, and my gut sinks. Is this how she’s always going to react to me now? Have I been that big a piece of shit that she can’t stand to even be in the same room as me? Did last night make her realize she deserves to be treated better than she has been? Because she does.
She looks nervously at Lana, and I bite the inside of my cheek, waiting to see what either of them will do. When both of them stay silent, I realize that maybe I just walked in on something a lot more important than just the two debating whether or not Savannah should stay here.
“Okay, I don’t know what’s going on here.” My eyes flick between the two of them, and I note how Savannah’s shoulders lose a little of their tension, so I focus my gaze on hers. “I just wanted to talk to you and found you both discussing whether or not you should stay here, and I agree with Lana.”
“B-but what a-about…” she stutters and trails off, and all I want to do is approach her, reassure her, comfort her, but I know it won’t be well received, and fuck if that doesn’t sting.
You’re the one to blame for all of this, asshole. If you had just paid more attention to what was going on, then you would have realized she did what she did because she didn’t have a choice.
I take a deep breath to center myself before fixing a pleading gaze on Lana, silently asking her to give me a moment alone with her best friend.
She regards me for a moment, clearly picking up on my silent question, and slowly nods before walking toward the door. “I’m just gonna go find Cole. If you need anything, Savannah, and I meananything, then just yell.”
Lana reaches the door and glares at me in silent warning. I understand her hesitation to leave us alone, and I’m grateful she does because she scares the shit out of me sometimes.
Okay, maybeallthe time.
I step out of her way, further into the room, and she closes the door behind her, leaving me to talk to Savannah alone for the first time in months.
