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)
Tanner shakes his head. “No, I wouldn’t go as far to say that,” he tells me. “I still helped break into that house, and I still looted the place when they told me to. I could have walked away the minute I realized it wasn’t a house party.”
“That might be true,” I tell him. “And I don’t want to justify what you did, but you were just a kid getting pressure from the Hardin brothers. They had no business taking you there or even hanging out with you in the first place.”
“Either way, I’m no victim, and while what I did can’t even compare to the horrors they put that woman through, I still have a lot to make up for.”
I nod, agreeing with him wholeheartedly. “I get you’re coming from a good place, but I honestly doubt there’s anything you can do or offer that could ever make up for what happened that day. She lost her child and was raped beside his dead body. She doesn’t need you to try and make up for it. She needs justice and closure, just like Addie does.”
Tanner nods, his gaze dropping to where his hands rest on my knees. “You’re right,” he tells me. “But I don’t know how I can give her the justice she deserves without putting you and my family at risk.”
“I know you don’t want to hear this, but sometimes the risk is worth the reward.”
“No, absolutely not,” he says. “I told you this. If I go to the police, they will come for my family, come for you, my friends, me. I’m not putting us through that. Fuck, Killer. I nearly just lost you, Addie, and Jax. I watched you bleed out in my hands. These guys are no joke, Bri. The shit Colby did … that’s nothing compared to them.” He shakes his head, panic beginning to plague him. “I only just got Addie back. What do you think it would do to her if they got their hands on her? I just … I fucking can’t, okay?”
“Okay,” I say, grabbing his hands and squeezing. “Okay, we’ll figure it out, but one way or another, that woman is getting justice. I can’t live with myself knowing the truth about this and not doing anything to help her.”
Tanner nods, able to agree with that. “We will,” he says. “I promise you that. I don’t want to be that guy who stands back and allows this shit to go on. After everything Addie went through, it’s opened my eyes, and I’ve realized how fucking wrong I’ve been to hide from this.” He swallows hard, his lips pressing into a firm line as indecision plagues his stare. “There is one thing I’ve been thinking about, but I don’t know how to make it happen or where to even start.”
My brows furrow as I trail my thumb over his knuckles. “What is it?”
He brushes his hand back through his hair and lets out a heavy breath. “It’s nowhere near enough but I was thinking, with her permission of course, I could open a foundation in her son’s name to help prevent crime in less fortunate areas and which also supplies a safe place for victims just like her who have nowhere else to go. Maybe if they just need someone to speak to, there could be counselors on hand, or other survivors to talk to.”
Pride swarms through my chest, and I pull him in toward me, pressing my forehead against him. “I think you’re the most incredible man I have ever met,” I tell him. “I think it’s a great idea, but like you, I have no idea where to even start with a project like that. But you know who would?”
Tanner pulls back, weariness in his eyes. “Who?”
“Your mom.”
“Fuck.”
“You’re going to have to talk to her about this at some point.”
“I know, but … fuck. That’s not going to go down well.”
“I know,” I tell him. “But as long as you’re still holding on to this, you’ll never be able to move past it. Consider it personal growth, or hell, just doing the right freaking thing for a change.”
He gives me a pointed stare before finally letting out a breath. “You’re right. I’ll figure out a way to tell her. But for now, are we cool?”
I nod as my gaze shifts to the counter, my brows furrowing as I consider what I need to say. “There’s just a few things I haven’t been able to figure out.” I pause, waiting for his reaction, and as he watches me with openness, I go on, knowing I’ll get the complete truth from him. “How the hell did Orlando come across photographs of that night? And why hasn’t he said anything until now?”
Tanner scoffs, irritation burning in his dark eyes, but there’s something else too, something I can’t quite put my finger on. Whatever it is, I don’t like it. “There are so many fucking reasons, Killer. I’m the brother of his client’s victim. I almost broke his jaw. I’m dating his new stepdaughter. Take your pick, there’s so many reasons he’d benefit from having my obedience,” he says, shifting his eyes from mine as though he’s trying to hide something, which doesn’t make sense as he’s being an open freaking book right now. Every question I’ve asked, he’s answered with complete honesty. “As for how he got them though, that’s a fucking mystery to me. But down in those cells, he mentioned something about my father. I just can’t figure out why.”