Page 89 of These White Lies

She’s only partially right, but regardless, I’m not just going to stand here and take her attitude.

“I don’t,” I admit quietly, guilt gripping me by the throat—because Idoknow some of her story and suspect it has a lot to do with her mistrust of me. “You’re right. I don’t have a fucking clue what it’s like to be you. But you also have no idea what I’ve been through.”

Her chin jerks up, defensive.

“Let me introduce myself: Hi, I’m Elizabeth, and the person I trusted the most betrayed me in multiple ways. And that was before he set a bunch of killers on my trail. I built my business from nothing only to have it ripped away in a very public way. Everything I thought was true and important turned out to bebullshit. And to top it off, I’m judged because I survived and thrived instead of curling up in a ball and rocking in a corner.”

My breathing has picked up, and I have to make a conscious effort to hold onto my temper. “And I’ll tell you something else. Your brother knowsallthose things about me. I’ve never hidden any of it from him.”

Her lips press together, but her eyes… There’s something raw flickering before she masks it.

I take a breath, aware that I’m letting my emotions run away with my mouth. “I’m sorry about what you’ve been through.” I mean it. I don’t want to imagine what she’s suffered. “But your brother and I are a separate issue. I have no intention of hurting him.”

“Yousaythat.”

My spine stiffens. “Are you sure this is about your brother?”

Her eyes flash. “Excuse me?”

“It just seems like you’re?—”

“You don’t know anything about my life,” she spits, the words sharp as a blade. “Or how I feel.”

I hold her gaze. “What happened to you was unfair. Horrific. But before you judge me…” I lean forward slightly, refusing to break eye contact. “Remember, everybody has their scars. Not all of them are visible.”

The air between us stills.

We stare at each other for a long beat, both refusing to blink first.

Her expression shifts—anger, then something more dangerous. “He told you.”

“Not the details,” I say immediately. “He didn’t betray your privacy.”

Her nostrils flare, and she glances away like she needs to look at something that isn’t me. “Good,” she says finally. “Because if he had…” She trails off, but the implication hangs in the air.

“You’ve been through hell, I get that. And whether or not you believe me, I’m not here to make his life harder—or yours.”

Sera tilts her head, studying me with an expression I can’t quite read. “You say it like that, Ialmostbelieve you.”

“That’s because I mean it,” I fire back.

Her mouth curves—not quite a smile, but close. “I’m still not convinced.”

“I don’t need you to be. I just need you to not make his life more difficult because of me.”

Her eyes widen like she hadn’t expected that response and then narrow again. Finally, she blows out a breath. “He doesn’t let people in. But if he told you about my…” She gestures at her scars. “He trusts you.” Her eyes harden. “But if you hurt him, I won’t just hurt you. I will destroy you.”

“Noted.” I keep my tone even, but I don’t back down an inch.

We stand there for another beat, locked in an unspoken test of wills. It’s a shame she hates me because I think, under different circumstances, we could be friends.

Without another word, she leaveswithoutslamming the door, which I take as a minor victory.

25

BRADY

Rhodes kills the headlights two miles out, the SUV rolling the rest of the way on low beams, until he pulls into a narrow cut out surrounded by trees. The woods are dense, the moon breaking through the canopy enough to send long shadows stretching in front of us. It’s not ideal for our purposes, but I’m not willing to wait for another overcast night. I want this done tonight.