Page 196 of Chasing Hope

Her eyes slide to mine so slowly I’m scared for her next words. A lone tear falls as she says, “My own mother doesn’t believe me. Why would a group of strangers?”

Licking my suddenly dry lips, I plead with my eyes for her to believe my words. “Because it happened, Evie. Because you’re telling the truth. Serena doesn’t want to face the truth, but a jury will.”

“It would be easier if he disappeared.”

“I want him dead.”

The cold voice coming from behind me makes me spin. My eyes land on Caleb in the bathroom doorway. His fists are clenched by his sides, yet to my surprise, his anger is gone as quickly as it arrived, the fight leaving him in the blink of an eye.

A sob breaks free from his chest as he repeats, “I want him dead.”

Kieran moves behind him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder, not turned away from Caleb’s initial flinch. “You have every right to be angry.”

I can’t help but note how careful Kieran is with his words. I’ve yet to hear him say how justice will be served, how Marcus will pay for his crimes. He’s avoided it like the plague.

Caleb swallows thickly as he slowly makes his way over to his sister. I wait to hear what he will say but all he does is sit beside her, hold out his hand, palm up, and stay there.

You could hear a pin drop in the apartment.

Evie takes one look at his offered hand before ever so slowly lifting her head to her brother. It’s as if a dam breaks as their gazes lock. The tears rolling down her cheeks turn into a river. Then, a sudden sharp sob cracks from her chest before she topples forward into her brother’s awaiting arms.

My chest aches, physically pains to the point that I have to clutch it, trying to soothe the wave of hurt at seeing just how devastated they are. It doesn’t let up as Caleb drops his foreheadto his sister’s head and weeps alongside her. Both of them clinging to each other.

I turn away from the sight, trying to give them privacy. And to give myself a moment to get my shit together.

I need to be stronger than this. I need to be strong for Evie.

Kieran follows me, although the open-floor plan doesn’t allow any semblance of privacy. With that being said, I don’t think I’d do well if I couldn’t see Evie. I think I’d go into cardiac arrest.

Is it wrong that I never want to leave her side?

Kieran clears his throat, pulling my attention from the two most important people in my life.

“Grayson has tried to do damage control. He called his PR team the second we left the restaurant but it’s online already. A bunny was following Irving and recorded the whole thing.” Kieran takes his hat off to run a hand through his shaggy black hair before continuing. “I think you need to take Evie far away from the city. It’s going to be a bloodbath online.” He looks past my shoulder. “Caleb, too.”

“Fuck,” I curse.

Everything has been taken out of Evie’s hands. Her choice to tell Caleb, gone. Her choice to never see Marcus again, gone. Her choice to not tell anyone…gone.

“She’s being forced again,” I whisper, my voice cracking. “She’s being forced to tell.”

Kieran’s lips thin as he dips his chin. “I know, man. I’m so sorry.”

Trying to wrap my mind around what our lives are going to look like in the coming weeks makes me sick to my stomach. “I’ll take them up the mountain. Rent a cabin for a few days.”

“I’ll tell Coach. He’ll understand. Would encourage it, actually.”

Lifting my arms only to drop them helplessly at my sides, I croak out, “How do I help? What if I say or do the wrong thing? What can I evendoto help?”

Kieran looks at me for what feels like an eternity before sighing heavily. “There’s nothing you can do to fix this. Wejust need to be there for them. Be a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen when they’re mad.” His gaze flicks behind me and back again. “We need to keep Caleb far away from Marcus.”

“Agreed,” I whisper, shuddering. “That fucker better not try and come anywhere near us or I’ll lose it.”

“You had a lot more self-control than I would’ve.”

“Trust me, that was only for Evie’s benefit.”

Eyeing me, he lowers his voice even more. “How are you doing? They were your family too, Valenti.”