They’re all talkingaroundme. Nottome.
I get it.
Every time they’ve asked me a question, I’ve stayed silent.
I’m still trying to wrap my head around the possibility that maybe… I didn’t actually consent to what was done to me.
“I don’t care how fucking drunk someone is,” Tank snaps. “The second someone carves into your skin, it sobers you up. There’s no way alcohol alone explains why she doesn’t remember.”
“He gave me a drink,” I say suddenly, standing up from the couch.
Every head turns toward me.
“It was in a glass,” I continue quietly. “And I know how stupid that was.”
My hands shake, but I keep going.
“I’m going to head home. I have a Swarovski shipment being delivered tomorrow, and I need to be there to sign for it.”
I’m grateful they didn’t clear out my old place at the compound. I grabbed a nightgown the second Patch finishedexamining me and put it on before I could think too hard about being exposed.
I move toward the door, intending to ask Eli to take me back to the shop.
A hand grips my shoulder, and I react before my mind catches up.
“Don’t touch me!” I shout, jerking away.
The room goes dead silent.
It takes a second for reality to settle.
When I look up, I see my brother.
Bubby.
His eyes are full of hurt… and fury.
“I’m sorry,” I say quickly. “I…I don’t know why I did that. You can touch me. I just… got scared.”
Something in his expression breaks.
He pulls me gently into his chest and presses a kiss to the top of my head.
When I step back, everyone is staring at me with mixed emotions. Rage, guilt, and fear all warring in their eyes.
But beneath it all, there’s one shared emotion.
Pity.
“I need to go home,” I repeat.
I wasn’t lying. The crystalsarearriving tomorrow, and I do have to sign for them…but because of their value, I’ll need to take my ID to the post office to collect them. So technically, I don’t actually need to be home for that.
“I just need the quiet,” I lie. “I’ll be better in a few days, and we can go over everything again if you need me to.”
Another lie.
I don’t think I’ll ever be better again.
