Page 114

“It doesn’t matter now, does it? He’s ended it.”

“Seems like it was the other way around to me,” he snides.

“How exactly would you know that?”

He doesn’t say anything. Just tuts like he’s disappointed.

I lean my elbows on my knees and cover my eyes with the heels of my palms.Fuck, this is a disaster.

A small sob spills out, and I hear my brother shift. He can't reach me, but he mutters for me to move toward him. I shuffle, and he puts his good arm around me, the small sob growing into breathless cries. All the hurt of the last few days spills out and for once, it’s my brother looking after me and not the other way around.

“If it’s any consolation, you were right about him,” I sniff.

“Yeah, I tried to tell you. You didn’t have to sleep with him,” he snarks.

I’m guessing he doesn’t know about the kidnapping and the basement, so I keep my mouth shut about that.

“It’s more than that, Danny.”

“I know. I’m just being a dick. But really? My boss? You hated him.”

“I thought he was leading you down a bad path. I thought he was a criminal.”

“I told you he wasn’t.”

“Okay, but you haven’t exactly been forthcoming about what your job is, Danny. What was I supposed to think?”

“It was a secret because of the danger of his family. Iwork in an underground farm. We grow plants for restaurants. You’d love it; it’s all hyper-nutritious.”

“I know. I’ve been there.”

He pulls back, and his eyes bug out. He pauses for a moment, then winces. “The crop top...in his office. Please tell me that wasn’t yours.”

“Would you prefer it if it belonged to someone else and he was cheating on me?”

His mouth gapes, and if the situation weren’t so dire, I’d probably laugh.

“In his office, Olivia? Damn. I’ve actually got more respect for you. You’re nasty.” He laughs.

I shove him, and he winces. “Oops.”

Wiping away another tear, I lean into my brother.

We’re silent for a moment until he says, “Remember what Mom used to say? If it’s meant to be, it’ll be.”

“Yeah, and if it’s not, it’s just pushing you toward what is,” I reply, smiling a little, the ache easing in my chest.

“The reason I came here today is to tell you it’s not safe here right now. Not for you. We’ve managed to convince Millie and Travis they were wrong, but it’s not as simple with Austin’s family.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll be hiding too, recovering until I can get back to it.”

“We’ll be going together?”

He shakes his head, and another whimper escapes.Fuck, I need to pull it together.

“It’s up to you where you go. You can choose. I just need to book your flight now.”