Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 79932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Brecken sniffled behind me, and I whirled around, torn between begging for Crossland’s forgiveness and the need to take care of my baby sister.
Crossland shook out his hand, following the security as they dragged my parents out of the room.
I focused on Brecken, smoothing my hands over her cheeks, her tears getting caught on my fingertips. She was trembling, and her eyes were distant like she wasn’t here at all but reliving some horrible experience that I hadn't been able to protect her from years ago.
“You're safe,” I said, drawing her a little closer. “Brecken, I need you to breathe. I need you to know that they can't touch you. I've got you. I'm going to get you out of here.”
She blinked a few times, the light coming back to her eyes as her bottom lip shook. She sucked in a deep breath and blew it out slowly.
“We’re safe,” she said, repeating the words a few more times as she did her best to get ahead of the panic attack I could see lingering on the edge of her features.
She hadn’t had one in a couple years, but the last one had sent us to the emergency room. I didn’t want that for her, didn’t want that to happen now, and I fucking hated my parents for putting her through this.
Concern rippled over her features as she spotted Crossland following our parents outside. “You have to go after him,” she said, her voice carrying every ounce the strength she possessed as she held herself together.
“I'm not going to leave you like this,” I said, even though every instinct in my body was roaring at me to go after Crossland.
“I'm fine,” she said. “I promise. I'm doing my breathing. We can break down about this later. You have to go see what's happening out there.”
I nodded at her assurance, wrapping her in a tight hug before I hurried through the crowd who was already looking at me with judgment in their eyes.
I couldn’t really blame them. It was more than obvious who those people belonged to, what brought those people here, and it sure as hell wasn't Crossland. That's not the company he ever kept, and I could see it on so many of their faces. My presence here ruined what this night was supposed to be about.
Guilt ate at me with every step I took, but I finally managed to make it out of the room, and out of the hospital where I stopped dead in my tracks, watching as Crossland scribbled on his checkbook before tearing out the paper and shoving it into my father's hands.
“This is just enough,” my father said, pocketing the check. “I won't press charges tonight, but you better believe this isn't the last you've seen of us.”
My entire body went cold, dread slicing through my veins.
Security shoved my parents unceremoniously into the back of a cab that I was sure Crossland paid for, and even as they drove away, even as I felt the distance between us, I couldn’t move.
Their presence, their words, the scene they’d caused, it reduced me to nothing but that weak little girl who couldn't escape them all those years ago. That same girl who fought tooth and nail to get her sister out of the same situation.
I was no longer the confident twenty-nine-year-old who had proudly gotten my sister into college, I was just the daughter of trashy people who’d just ruined what was supposed to be a monumental night for the love of my life.
After getting the nod from Crossland, the security detail went back into the building, but kept him in their sights.
Crossland paced the length of the pavement, shaking out his hand.
“Let me get you some ice for that,” I finally said, finding my voice. If I could count on anything, it was the protective instinct I had for somebody I loved, and despite feeling awful for being the cause of this, my need to make sure his pain was eased outweighed my shame.
“I don't need ice,” Crossland snapped, using a tone he never used with me before.
It made my entire body lock up and tears prick the backs of my eyes.
“I'm sorry about the money—”
“I don't care about the money,” he cut me off, continuing with his pacing even though I came closer to him. “I care about the fact that tonight's publicity was supposed to be for this hospital and my parents, and it's been replaced with me being unable to control my temper and causing a scene with those lowlifes.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat, every word he vented to me making me curl in on myself.
He stopped pacing, looking up at the night sky as he shook his head. “And Bristol,” he said. “She's here. This is going to tarnish her image too. Goddamn it.”