Page 57 of Revealing Mark

“I’ll call you when I’m ready to talk about it. I have to go.” I ended the call before she could argue.

My phone began to ring again and I knew I had made a mistake contacting her. She wouldn’t stop until she knew what was wrong.

I was tired and my stomach was grumbling. I wiped away a few tears before sniffling. What do I do now? What if she was already on her way to my apartment?

Where did I go now when I didn’t feel like I had anyone to turn to? I’d never felt so alone in the world. I began to formulate a plan when I hurried back to my apartment. I would pack a bag. Where would I go? I could check into a hotel but I would have to ensure I lost the bodyguard who I was sure my brother and Mark still had watching me. If I had managed to lose thembefore, I knew I could do it again. It was the only way to get some peace while I tried to work through my turmoil so I would be able to confront my parents. I didn’t want to say something I would regret in the heat of the moment. I had to have a long, hard think about it and allow myself to work through the feelings of betrayal. Otherwise, there would be no way to come away from the confrontation with my family still intact.

When I got to my apartment, I opened the door and closed it, throwing the keys on the nearby table. I was about to rush into my room when I stopped.

Mark stood with his arms crossed in my living room.

“You broke in?” I gasped. I felt violated. He had agreed to give me space.

“You left me with no choice. You won’t talk and we have been worried out of our minds.” He stalked over to me, and I backed up.

“What happened?” He indicated the mess of photos still scattering the ground. I hadn’t been able to touch them again.

I shrugged.

“You can’t treat the people you love like this, Tracy. Does this have to do with the whole blowout about me telling Matt about Jack?”

I closed my eyes briefly, wishing that was my only issue, but no wishing would take away the revelation I had discovered.

He grabbed me firmly by the arms and shook me slightly. It undid me and tears raced down my face.

“Speak to me,” he demanded.

I shook my head and felt his hands tighten. He couldn’t make me.

“I can’t help you if you won’t tell me what’s wrong,” he bit out. His eyes flared with anger and I knew I was pushing him but I refused to be bullied into something I wasn’t ready for.

“The same way you wouldn’t tell me what was the matterwhen you were trying to drink yourself into a coma,” I shot back defiantly.

The realization hit his features and he relaxed his hold.

“You’re hurting your family.” He released me. “And I won’t let you do that to them.”

Family. The word tore through me. I let out a shaky breath.

He studied me. “I gave you some space but it’s time to get your shit together.”

“I don’t have to listen to you. You don’t get to tell me what to do, remember?”

He rubbed his jaw. I was making him angrier but I didn’t care. I was feeling reckless and uncooperative.

“You’re being an immature bitch.”

That hurt. I didn’t want him to think that of me but I pushed against the temptation to reveal everything.

I reached for my phone. “Get out now or I’ll call the cops.”

He studied me. Maybe he was trying to gauge how serious I was.

“I’m done.” He strode to the door. “Maybe your brother can reach you.”

He slammed the door behind him. I sank against the door, feeling like I had lost something I couldn’t explain.

I had to get out of here before Matthew or Sophie showed up. I wanted time to prepare how I was going to break it to them. As far as I was concerned, they were as innocent as I was and I didn’t want to cause them unnecessary pain.