Since it’s early Monday morning, there aren’t many people on the streets, and for that, I’m grateful. The last thing I need is for someone to witness the state I’m in.
I’m still fuming, berating myself for opening up to them.
What did it help?
Nothing, absolutely nothing. It only made them doubt me again.
I went through hell, but they don’t believe me.
They want to check it first.
Fuck all of them.
Saylor and I walk in silence, and I don’t think much of it. I’m, too occupied with my thoughts until he explodes when we stand in front of the van, me fumbling for my keys to open it. “You have no idea how fucking furious I am, Sloan. I told younot to go. I told you toleave. I told you he’s bad news, but you didn’t listen.He would have done unspeakable things to you, and I couldn’t do anything to prevent it. I could only watch. You know how that feels? Do you have any idea how it feels to always stand on the side, being powerless to step in to do something? To just fucking put you over my shoulder and walk you out? You’re everything to me,everything,and you can’t even seem to bother to listen to me becausewhat could the ghost do about it?”
I’m so shocked by his outburst that I forget all my anger and want to open my mouth and tell him I’m sorry, but he just cuts me off before I can even take my next breath. “I don’t know if you’re letting my looks fool you, but I’m not a twenty-three-year-old boy you can boss around. I’m your fucking equal. I may not look like or act like it, but you better believe that I am, and I’m not going to let any more of that shit slide. When I tell you you’re unsafe, you’re gonna fucking listen to me, do you understand?”
Fuck, that little tirade was damn hot.
“Yes,sir,I’m sorry,” I whisper with a small grin tugging on my lips.
He glares at me. “I fucking mean it, Sloan, I—” Stopping in the middle of what he’s saying, Saylor presses his eyes shut, groaning, and I already know what’s going to happen.
He vanishes.
SEVENTEEN
The front doorfalls shut behind Sloan, leaving a heavy silence that blankets our living room.
I turn on the couch to face North and Nash, who exchange nervous glances. Sloan’s outburst echoes in my mind as we remain frozen in place. The truth she just laid bare is both shocking and painful.
She was in a mental institution, locked away because she wanted to help someone. She wanted to help people, and we thought she was out for money or crazy, even, and let her down when she needed us most.
Before I can address any of this, North’s voice cuts through the tense air, “We’re even bigger assholes than we thought we were.”
Nash speaks up, his eyes holding a glassy sheen. “Fuck, this explains why she needs the lights and music to sleep,” he mutters under his breath.
My mind races, recalling the time she had a panic attack while locked in the maintenance hatch. She clung to me, trembling and gasping for breath, her eyes wide with terror. I thought she had panicked from getting closed in, not that darkness was a trigger.
Tally’s voice echoes in my mind.“You called her crazy. Which, by the way, is a trigger for her.”
Oh my God.
“She went through hell.” North’s voice trembles with a mix of anger and sorrow. “And we… Idoubted her.”
Nash clenches his fists, frustration etched on his face. “You called her a gold-digging, moralless, crazy whore, North. We treated her like shit. We let her down. We’re not one bit better than the people who locked her away. She just wanted to help. She broke her rules for us, and we fucking turned on her.”
I can’t deny it, and my throat constricts with emotion as I recall how we treated her. HowItreated her. We were wrong, so fucking wrong, and we let our prejudices cloud our judgment. We should have been there for her, believed her. Fuck, I was in love with her and trusted her with my secrets, my insecurities, with Lio, and with me. I would have given her everything except the benefit of the doubt.
Idiot.
Fucking idiot. Treating her like she betrayed my trust.And still…
“And she still helped Jessie and Lio after that,” I whisper.
“We have to make this right,” North announces, determination burning in his eyes.“And we have to fucking make sure she’s safe.We owe her that much. Have you seen how she fell apart in front of us? And the only thing that helped was being held? She’s lonely, hurt, and afraid. Her tough face is just a façade. She needs all of us to fix this.”
Nash nods in agreement, his anger now replaced by sadness. “She’s been through more than any of us can imagine. We have to show her that we’re truly here for her.”
