Tom seems lost still, but I can’t help him with that.Everything he’s done has turned my world upside down.He left me in danger and didn’t warn us of the consequences.I was stalked and frightened and the security that I’ve felt my whole life has been shaken.
He could have done better.Told us more.
If that was the only thing, I might forgive him.But what he did to Wyatt, and in turn me, is inexcusable.I understand the guys not wanting to upset their friendship to pursue a relationship with me, but to basically threaten to expose Wyatt is too far.He was supposed to be Wyatt’s best friend.
“Here, pip.”Dante hands me a bottle of water and kisses the top of my head.
Confusion crosses Tom’s face.The guys don’t care what Tom thinks anymore.After all, he knows about all of us.Maybe he thought the guys were just messing with me.That they didn’t really love me and want to keep me.Like I was just a phase to them.Something they had to get out of their systems.
I turn to watch Finn and Dante while they make a small breakfast for us.They act like Tom isn’t even here.
My heart aches a little because these guys were the best of friends.Sometimes guys grow apart as they get older, but not Tom and his friends.They grew closer.Shared everything in their lives.Their work.Their social lives.Not women, fortunately.
I know it’s not my fault that Dante and Finn are at odds with Tom.The only one to blame is Tom, but they felt bad about starting something with me.They were reluctant to risk their friendship.
So what is their relationship now?Where does all this leave them?
Because Tom’s part of my life.Cutting him out isn’t an option.While I’m mad at him and probably won’t trust him for a while, he’s my family and I don’t cut out my family.We’ll have it out and then be back to normal.Or a new normal.I don’t know if I’ll ever see Tom as my protector anymore.
The problem is, Tom’s their family too.That’s why this all hurts so much.They’re a unit, brothers not by blood but by choice.Tom being cut off from them will hurt him worse than anything that’s happened to me.
Finn chops fruit on the island while Dante scrambles some eggs and cooks some sausage.And Tom sits there, trying to focus on the screen in front of him instead of his sister and his best friends.
I’m not ready to forgive him.But this part will hurt to watch.Maybe with time it will get easier and we’ll be able to talk and work through our problems.
I step up next to Finn and lean on the counter with my back to Tom.Finn smiles at me and lifts a strawberry to my lips.Instead of opening my mouth and letting him slide it in, I take it with my fingers and eat it.He smiles and fills the bowl with cut fruit.
The tension is thick in here.Maybe the guys don’t feel it.Maybe they’ve cut Tom from their lives completely for what happened to me and what he did to Wyatt.But I don’t think this is the end of their relationship.
If it is, I know it’s not my fault, but it still makes me sad.The guys are as much a part of my life as they are Tom’s.Yes, things will have to change, but maybe we can make this into something better.
Dante puts the eggs and sausage on a plate and nods his head in the direction of the dining room.Finn leads and Dante puts his hand on the small of my back.
When I look back, Tom watches us with a frown, but it’s not anger.I can see the sad realization in his eyes that he’s lost something he doesn’t know how to get back.Before our gazes can meet again, I turn to leave with Dante and Finn.
* * *
Wyatt
Our plan is flawless, but we have to wait until tomorrow to leave.Even though I’m anxious to get back to Sara, the guys will keep her safe.We’ve done everything we need to do, but we have to regroup when we get back to the others and figure out our next move.
The Feds were right.Even if they arrest Peter, he won’t stay in jail long.We need to figure out a way for him to either give up on his daughter or reconcile in some way so we’re not constantly looking over our shoulders.
Drew sits on the other bed with the laptop open, typing.I access our business files to download what we need for work and review our emails to make sure nothing is urgent.
It’s still early and the night is just beginning.I have no way to notify the others of what’s going on.
But it’s not good.We need to figure out how to keep Sara safe and what to do about our living situation, because I’m not letting Sara live alone in the townhouse.Even if her parents return, I don’t want to put them and Caitlyn at risk.But I don’t see how it will work with Tom back.It’s his apartment too.The company is in all our names.
We can’t just kick him out.
“Your tension is making me edgy.What’s happening?”Drew shuts his laptop and tosses it on the bed.His brown eyes meet mine with a question in them.
I run a hand through my hair and set the tablet to the side.“How do we make this work?”
Drew sighs and shakes his head.“How close is Finn with his father?”
“Not at all.Doesn’t want him to have anything to hold over his head.”Just the FBI bringing it up made me cringe.“It’s not a viable option.”
