Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 124451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
“Maybe I am,” I scoff, glancing back at the pool to make sure Jax and Ari can’t overhear our conversation. “What you did … I never thought you’d be capable of something like that, let alone not coming clean about it after. It’s been years, Tanner. That mother is still grieving, and those assholes are still roaming the streets, tormenting the families of Hope Falls. Who knows how many other women have been attacked.”
“Babe—”
“No,” I cut him off. “All the blood they’ve spilled since that night is on your hands too.”
“That’s not fair,” he says, grabbing my arms and pulling me away from the door, hiding us around the corner for a little more privacy. “I told you what they did to me, what they said. What kind of choice is that? Keep my family safe, or risk it all trying to put them away?”
“Or,” I say, stepping back from him again, anger burning through my veins. “You could have been a fucking man and owned your shit. You were a kid. You could have spoken to your parents or the police and ensured your family was protected while they worked on putting the Hardin brothers away. Worst case scenario, you would have done a few months in juvie, so don’t go acting like you were backed into a corner. You weren’t, and you never have been. That mother is still out there, still waiting for justice for her little boy, and you’re the reason she hasn’t gotten it.”
“It’s not that simple,” he spits through a clenched jaw, desperation in his eyes. “I can’t just walk down to the police station and tell them all about it. I have people I need to protect, people who are relying on me to keep them safe.”
“Oh, please,” I scoff, already having made my opinion on that quite clear.
“What about Addie?” he questions. “What do you think they’ll do to her if I confess and nothing comes from it? Or what about you? You’re the most important person in my whole fucking world. If I report this, I’m hand-painting a fucking target on your back. Do you really think you’ll be safe? You know these assholes. You’ve feared them for years and know exactly what they’re capable of. Do you honestly think the cops aren’t aware of who they are? That they haven’t tried locking them behind bars a million times, only to watch them slip right out of their grasp?” Tanner pauses, shaking his head in frustration before looking back at me, that pain in his eyes shredding me to pieces. “I get it, okay. I do. I know you want to do the right thing and protect those who can’t do it for themselves. It’s one of the reasons I love you so fucking much, but I’m begging you, don’t push this. It’s a death sentence, Bri. I won’t be the reason why someone I love ends up in the ground.”
My whole body shakes as tears well in my eyes, not knowing what to do or what to even say. All I can do is stare up into those eyes I thought I trusted. “Tanner—”
He steps into me, his hands dropping low and curling around my ass, and in one quick movement, he lifts me off the ground and presses my back against the wall. Tanner’s lips come down on mine in a gentle, longing kiss. It only lasts a few moments, but when he pulls back, his eyes are overwhelmed with emotion.
Tanner drops his forehead against mine, both of us breathing heavily. “Just tell me you don’t hate me,” he whispers, the words lingering between us like a heavy paperweight.
My hand curls around the back of his neck, needing to hold him closer, terrified that he’ll pull away before I’m ready. “I could never.”
And just like that, Tanner nods and lowers me back to my feet before brushing his knuckles down the side of my cheek. His eyes linger on mine, and then all too soon, he turns on his heel and walks out, leaving me with the burden of what he did still weighing down on my shoulders.
Chapter 12
BRIELLE
Stepping through the doors of the cafeteria, I’m immediately faced with a crowd of bodies. Apparently it’s pizza day, and if you don’t get in quick, you don’t get any at all. Considering I got held up talking to my English teacher about my latest essay, I can only assume the good shit is gone.
“Over here, Marge,” I hear Ari call over the chaos of the cafeteria. My head snaps up, and I find the girls huddled around our usual table, watching as Ari points to a spare plate beside her. “We saved you some.”
Fuck, I love them.
A grin tears across my face as I cut through the cafeteria, but my gaze sweeps to the boys’ table out of habit. Tanner’s intense stare locks on mine, making my heart race as the tension builds around us. I hate this weirdness between us, but here and now isn’t the place to have this out.