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But I think I do. I may not have been there, I don’t know the extent of what he did to her, but I do. I know enough. He said enough that I ache. I hurt in places that feel like a violation. I hurt for her because deep down where I’m scared to go, I know what he did to her.

“Why?” I whisper again, crying all over again but for her.

Her throat muscles flex and a tear cuts down her cheek. “Because I would do anything for you.” She wipes at the tear like it had offended her. She’s still not looking at me. “You’re my whole heart, Everly. You’re my sister. My soulmate. I would have given him anything he asked to save you.”

“He hurt you.”

It’s not a question.

Her jaw tightens. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Lauren—”

Her blue eyes snap to mine, bright, wet and filled with so much pain it hits me in the gut with a mallet.

“No. Drop it.” She scrubs a hand under her nose. “I did what I did. I knew what I was getting into. I accepted mypunishment. I’m not some fucking victim, okay? I won’t be. Not his. He’s not getting that satisfaction.”

I say nothing. We both know she’s lying.

To me.

To herself.

But I get it. She’s not ready to face the gravity of what was done to her. I don’t even know if I’ll be there when she’s ready to.

“Were you going to tell me?”

She takes a deep breath. “I called you that night. I needed...” her gaze drops to her lap. “I needed to see you.”

Knowing what I know now, not answering that call is a knife twisting in my gut.

I know I should be furious for what she did. It wasn’t her call to make. She made that choice on her own. She’s an adult.

But Bron is a monster. He’s a cruel and sadistic creature that preys on weakness. Mine. Lauren’s. Lachlan’s. He’s a bottom feeder who uses people, manipulates them. Hurts them.

Lachlan was emotional. Bron enjoyed how hard Lachlan tried to love him. He thrived on the knowledge that his dad would never stop trying to gain that affection from him, affections that Bron is incapable of returning.

I was financial. He needed someone desperate and lonely to twist and squeeze dry. No one our age has the money I had after my parents died. No one older would put up with him. Iwas broken and at my lowest point and so hungry for that love I lost, I didn’t see it until it was too late.

Lauren was sexual. He had something she would give anything to set free. He hurt her. He took something from her that nothing is going to get back. He used her to fulfill some sick obsession he’s always had where she was concerned. The number of times he brought up her proclivities when she wouldn’t give him the time of day. Must have felt like winning the lottery when she finally submitted.

“How long did you know?” she asks quietly.

It’s my turn to avoid her gaze. “I saw you that morning.”

“Fuck.” She drops her face into her hand. “I was going to tell you. After he fulfilled his end of the bargain and broke up with you I was ... goddamn it.” She sniffs and lifts her head. “Is that why you’ve been avoiding me?”

I give a slight nod. “I needed to think.”

“I knew something was up.” She drops back onto her backside and crosses her legs. “I thought he told you.”

I shake my head. “How did you find me?”

For the first time, she gives me a lopsided smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “I was at the salon when the hive started buzzing about you and Bron. Someone mentioned you were on your way to Holland’s.” Her smile slips. “I got there just in time to see him dragging you to the car. I ran, but you were alreadygone. I grabbed your purse and keys and followed you in your car ... oh shit!”

Startled, I watch her scramble to her feet and run.

It takes me a few seconds longer to push up. All the aches and pains hidden by adrenaline are starting to make themselves known.