Page 89 of Piggy

He leans his head back, lets it rest on the seat. “Bobby came in, saw the whole thing.”

“Bobby?” I balk.

Grayson nods. “He did the same to her. She fucking hated him. Now she screamed — until she didn’t. Her eyes never left me. I can’t explain it, but I felt... a connection.”

“You're insane, Grayson!” I scold, but snap my palm over my mouth. I tremble, afraid I just offended a dangerous man. He definitely isn’t who I thought he was.

He doesn’t get mad. Just sighs and closes his eyes.

I try to deflect, my voice small. “Well... what happened next?”

“Police surrounded the house. Bobby ran, but I knew it was pointless. Or maybe I wanted to be caught. Either way, I handed her my gun and said kill me.

“Obviously, she didn’t pull the trigger. She just stared and said:I don’t feel alive ever.I told her I felt the same way.”

I shiver, my heart bleeding for that poor woman. “What happened to her?”

“She testified against us in court. Bobby and I got eight to twelve years. I got out in five. American justice.”

I let out a shaky breath. My fairytale’s shattered.

He leans closer, and I tense. He glares, his gaze challenging. “What? You hate me now, Piggy? Gonna run. Go back on your word like all women do.”

I stammer, confused.

He shakes his head, almost… defeated. “But I see it in your eyes. Afraid of the man wholovesyou. You’re a hypocrite, Charlotte. Talkin’ about love like it’s everything. And now, I’mnothingto you.”

“Well!” I snap. “I didn’t know what you did was... that bad. I just feel so awful for that girl!”

He smirks.

Literallysmiles.

Like this could possibly be amusing!

But then, he leans back, that smile fading fast. “Trust me. She’s fine. It was Meghan.”

Chapter 26

Charlotte

My body trembles, my voice cracking as I say to Grayson, “Meghan? You rapedher?”

He sighs heavily and mutters, “Fuck.”

I blink, then whisper to myself, “That poor woman.”

“Charlotte,” he says with determination. “I’m the same guy you fell in love with.” He reaches for my hand, his muscled forearm a reminder of all the nights it wrapped around me. I would float my fingers along those smooth veins and muscles as I fell asleep, feeling loved and safe.

Now, I tense as his palm covers my hand... but a flutter stirs in my stomach anyway.

Dang it.This is so hard. I try to shove down the butterflies because I may not like Meghan, but she’s still a human being!

Just then, the dash lights up as Grayson’s phone rings.

Oh my gosh!Meghan.

He groans and reaches to decline the call, but I am faster.