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‘I went past your house, but you don’t live there anymore. Why didn’t you tell me you moved?’

‘Why aren’t you answering me?’

The last message confirms what I need to do.

‘If I don’t hear from you in an hour, I’m calling the police.’

“Could you please check if the movers brought my slippery elm tea and make me a cup, Damon?” Perhaps if my voice sounded less croaky, I could say I had laryngitis. With him and his wife, Dee, just having their second child, I would tell him I didn’t want to pass it on and maybe delay us seeing each other until the bruising around my neck went away.

Damon returns, handing me the cup.

I sit up and sip on the liquid, the warmth immediately easing the irritation. With half the tea down the hatch, I decide that a test run is in order.

“How do I sound?” Only a pinch better.

“He will know something is wrong.” Honesty. Always. It’s what I can rely on Damon for.

“I won’t be far,” he states, leaving the room.

I can hear him talking to someone. Probably one of his IT guys. Jordan or Kai. I haven’t met them, but Damon has them working here at my new place as he doesn’t want to leave me alone. I don’t want to be here alone. So, for now, the IT can stay.

I take a deep breath and then hit the dial button, the call connecting immediately.

“Geezus, Si, you better have a good reason for ignoring me. Brad told me there was an incident at his mother's house?”

“Wow. Straight in there. Calm down, I’m fine.” I try to sound cheery,but my voice distorts it.

“What is wrong with your voice?” Liam asks while one of the kids cries in the background. Good, maybe this would force a swift conversation.

“I have laryngitis.” Let's hope he believes me.

“How did you get laryngitis? You never go anywhere.” Shit, he has me there. Think. Think. I can’t tell him I work atSin. That will open up a whole line of new questioning.

“I went out with Gloria the other night and must have caught something.” My cheeks are on fire as the lie flames them.

He and Gloria have never met, so this will never come up as a lie.

“Well…that's not good. But I am glad you are getting out. Brad says you were at one of his mother's parties with a man. He also says something happened there. An assault?”

Dammit. I wish Brad would keep his big mouth shut.

“Something happened, but I’m fine. Besides, I’m thirty-five, Liam. I can do what I want. And I can look after myself,” I croak, taking another sip of the tea.

There is a long sigh on the other side, followed by a long stretch of silence. I can imagine my brother running a hand through his hair in frustration, as he always does with me.

“I know, Si. I am just worried about you. After James and what happened, I don’t want something to trigger a repeat. If you tell me you are okay, then I’ll believe you.”

I choke back a sob, my eyes blinking rapidly as tears once again well. I am not okay, but I can’t tell him that. He has his own life. His own stresses.

I swallow and then take a breath, trying to steady myself.

“I’m fine. Really. When I am feeling better, we will get together and catch up. Then I will fill you in on everything.” I try to add cheer tomy voice again, hoping he believes me. I don’t have the strength for this right now.

Another long pause followed by another sigh.

“Fine. But send me your new address. I’m glad you moved. I don’t think living there with all the memories of James was good.”

My niece cries in the background, and I can tell Liam is distracted as he tries to soothe her.