Page 97 of Making Home with You

I loosen my grip, even as my heart continues to pound and my brain screams at me to pull her into my arms again.I watch as she takes a deep breath, sliding her hands up and down her thighs as though to steady them.Eventually she looks up at us.

“Joe found the last woman,” she says calmly.“Found out what Andrew had done to her, about the payout and the confidentiality agreement.It’s what he does and it’s why no one has ever been able to stop him.HR turns a blind eye because all these women eventually retract their stories and mysteriously end up promoted,” she continues.“Either that or they disappear, several hundred thousand dollars richer apparently, but not so keen to tell their version of events anymore.”

“Jesus, Sarah,” I say, pulling her back into my arms.“Why didn’t you tell me about this?Why didn’t you tell me how much danger you were really in?”

She shrugs in my arms, her words muffled against my chest.“I don’t know,” she says.“It’s not that I wanted to keep it from you, Finn, it’s just that you were going through your own shit and I didn’t want to add to that.”

“Oh baby,” I breathe out, burying my face in her neck.“You don’t ever need to worry about that, okay,” I whisper, my words meant only for her.“You can always tell me anything, always.Iwantyou to tell me everything, okay.”

Sarah nods but says nothing more.

I catch Ryan’s eye as we stand in the stairwell, Sarah in my arms.He doesn’t say anything but I get the feeling he’s known more about this than I have.Joe too, obviously.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”I ask.“Why didn’t you tell me what the fuck was going on with her?”

Ryan opens his mouth to speak but Sarah cuts him off.“I asked him not to,” she says, hand on my cheek.“I’m sorry, Finn, truly.I know I should have told you.”

“For the record,” Ryan says.“I did tell her to tell you.”

“As did I,” Joe adds.

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm because as much as it pisses me off that I’ve been kept in the dark about just how fucked up this whole situation is with her boss, I haven’t exactly been honest about what’s been going on me either.

Exhaling, knowing now is not the time for that, I turn to Joe.“Are you gonna want her statement tonight?”

He nods.“That would be best,” he says.“We can swing by the station now and I’ll make it quick, I promise.”

I turn to Ryan who nods.

“Okay,” I reply.“Let’s go.”

Ryan, Sarah and I follow Joe over to the station.Joe makes good on his promise and takes Sarah straight through to the interview room to take her statement.Ryan disappears to no doubt catch up with his old work colleagues, leaving me standing like an idiot in the middle of the station, wondering what the fuck I’m supposed to do now.

“Finn.”

I turn at the sound of my name, see Ryan standing by the door.“Come with me,” he says nodding his head.

“But…”

“They know where we are.It’s not far.”

I walk over, follow him out of the station and across the road to an Irish bar.Ryan opens the door for me and when I walk inside, I see a room full of cops and immediately feel at ease.

“What are you drinking?”Ryan asks, slapping me on the back as he gestures toward the bar.

I shove a hand through my hair.“Something strong.”

He nods and we walk over.I take a seat and wait and when Ryan returns he hands me a beer and a shot, clinking his coke against my glass.

“So,” he starts, as he takes a seat on the stool beside mine.“Let me just start by saying I did not know all the details about the boss and the shit he’s pulled.”

I glance sideways and see Ryan watching me.

“I’m serious, Finn,” he says.“This whole rape thing is news to me and I’m fucking pissed about it, okay?”

I nod.“Yeah, me too.”

“She knows how to handle herself though and I’m glad for that.”