The officer I’m speaking with gestures for me to talk to Adam.
“Tristan was here,” I say.
“What?” Adam asks.
“He assaulted Lily,” Ryder says, “but she wasable to get away. I helped keep him subdued until we got the authorities involved.”
Adam’s eyes are wide, shifting back and forth between us. “Lily, is this true?”
I nod.
“How did you get away from Tristan?” Adam asks.
“I kneed him in the groin,” I say plainly.
Adam’s eyebrows shoot up.
“What, you didn’t think I had it in me?” I ask.
“Of course not,” Adam says, so matter-of-fact. “Why do you think I’ve made every effort to protect you over the last couple of years?”
“Why didn’t you just teach me how to protect myself?” I retort.
“Because you’re too naive to know when you’re unsafe!” He gestures at Ryder. “Look at who you’re with right now!”
“Who I’m with right now is the person who taught me to protect myself and who trusted that I was strong enough to handle things.”
“Lily.” Ryder’s voice is soft in my ear. “You don’t have to get into this right now.”
I turn to face him, and my heart tightens with admiration for this man. He’s not even defending himself to Adam. Instead, he’s telling me we don’t have to go through this now. But I’m tired of sitting back and letting my brothers decide my fate. I’m strong; I proved that to myself tonight. Part of that strength means sticking with Ryder, the way I should have from the very beginning.
“I do,” I reply to Ryder. Then I look back at Adam, and I soften my tone. “Look, Adam. I know you love me. That’s why you’ve tried to protect me this whole time. Instead, you’ve pushed me down so far, I don’t even remember how to function like a real person. I can’t live like this anymore. I won’t.”
Adam opens his mouth to speak, but I cut him off. “And guess what? Your expert consultant, Mr. Calhoun? He was being paid by Tristan to make sure I was kept as traumatized as possible.”
That shocks Adam into silence.
I reach a hand to his shoulder. “I don’t blame you, Adam. You’ve been trying so hard to keep me safe, and you trusted the wrong person. But I hope this shows that your judgment isn’t perfect either.”
His eyes soften, and he holds my gaze before turning his eyes to Ryder. “So you’re choosing him?” Adam asks, his voice a little softer.
I look up at Ryder, seeing the glimmer of admiration in his eyes. “Yes.” I look back at Adam. “But more importantly, I’m choosing myself. You can support me or not. But either way, I’m going to live my life the way I see fit. I might make some mistakes—in fact, I hope I do. I deserve the chance to learn and grow the way everyone else does. But I will not allow you to rule my life. Not anymore.”
Adam looks at me, our eyes locking and full of things unsaid. Regret and pain. The wish that our mother was still here to guide us through these rough times. But above all, love for one another.
He pulls me into a hug, holding me tightly against him. “I’m so sorry, Lily.” He smooths down my hair and gives me a kiss on the top of the head, then pulls away.
“Lily?” the officer says. “We still have some things to handle.”
I nod, wiping my eyes of the tears that formed. Adam nods in acknowledgment and heads back toward our family. He still looks upset with Ryder, but at least he’s not pulling him around the corner to punch him.
I take in a shuddering breath, and Ryder squeezes me around my waist.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
I nod. “Yeah.” I give him a grin. “Better than I’ve felt in a long, long time.”
CHAPTER 42
