Page 27 of Triumphant Kings (Boys Of Kingston Academy #3)

“And, I told her we were done,” Preston says.

“You did?” Declan and I ask at the same time.

Preston nods firmly. “Also outed our relationship to the whole school, so there’s that to deal with when we get back.

” He gives me a guilty look. “I should have thought it through, but I was just so mad. I’m sorry if this stresses you out.

But I promise I’ll make sure no one fucks with you anymore. ”

“This is the good kind of stress.” I smile.

“Ahh...” Preston rubs the back of his head as he looks to Declan. “They know about me and you, too.”

“Really?” Declan's smile is so damn cute it causes me to grin.

“Surprise?” Preston grunts.

We all laugh for a moment before reality seeps back in.

“I should have ended things a long time ago.” Preston sighs heavily.

“I just, fuck.” He runs a hand over his face.

“I just didn’t want to make you a bigger target than you already were.

” Preston looks to me. “I felt like it was a lose-lose situation. If I told my dad, he would take it out on you. If I kept up the charade, I was hurting you by keeping us a secret.”

“Hey,” I say softly. “It was a hard situation. One I can’t even imagine being in. I’m not mad, and I don’t blame you. But... What about your dad now? I’m sure Tina has gone and run her mouth to her parents.”

“He’s been blowing up my phone.” Preston looks away, and my stomach sinks.

“I’m going to have to deal with him sooner or later.

” He turns back to me. “But I don’t regret it.

If I could kill the bitch myself, I would.

And I’m so fucking sorry for the things she did to you because of her sick obsession with me.

You didn’t deserve any of that, and I should have done better to keep her from doing the shit she did. ”

“No more talking about things we can't change. It is what it is. She’s an evil person. She was planning on doing what she wanted, no matter what anyone said or did.”

“So,” Grayson says. “Any more stuff hiding in your closet?” Grayson jokes.

But when he sees I’m not smiling, his face falls.

“Shit. There is. What else aren’t you telling us, Sadie?

” his voice is harder now. He might be the jokester of the group, but I know this scared him just as much as it did everyone else.

My eyes fall on Declan. He gives me a soft smile, but I see the pain in his eyes.

Pain spikes in my chest. I don’t want to think about this part of my past; it hurts too much. There’s still so much fuzziness revolving around that night that still haunts me. Things I may never get answers to.

“A few summers ago, I was at a party. I got really drunk, or maybe I was drugged, I don’t know.

” I close my eyes, unable to look at any of them while reliving my horrors.

“I ended up in one of the rooms where Raymond’s friend felt like it was his right to touch what didn’t belong to him.

” My voice cracks, and I can feel the energy around me shift.

“I don’t remember a lot of that night, just bits and pieces.

All I remember is being scared, in pain, and helpless. ”

“You were raped?” Preston’s voice shakes, and he sounds like he’s seconds away from all hell breaking loose.

“That’s something I’ll never know. I don’t know if he penetrated me.” I swallow hard, a nauseous feeling taking over me. “But I do know he assaulted me in some way.” My eyes find Declan’s red ones. “And if it wasn’t for Declan, I think that night would have ended a lot worse.”

Preston’s eyes snap to his boyfriends. “What the fuck does that mean?” he growls in a demand.

Declan’s face falls. “I-I-I ah, I found her and took her home.”

“What!?” Preston shouts. “And you didn’t tell me?!”

“I.. I..” Declan struggles to speak, panic and fear on his face.

“Hey,” I raise my voice. “Do not get mad at him, do you understand me? He saved me. He is not the bad guy in this case. Lionel is.”

All eyes turn my way because I've never said the name of my attacker to anyone.

“Lionel Walker?” Collin asks slowly. “That’s who did this to you? Why the fuck didn’t you tell me, Sadie!? I should have pushed for his fucking name when you told me.” Collin runs his hand through his hair. “Fuck!”

“You fucking knew too!?” Preston yells.

“No. Yes. Fuck. No, I didn't know what happened to her. At least not when it happened. She told me a few months ago.”

“Fuck!” Preston shouts, grabbing the bottle of water from the tray nearby and throwing it at the wall. “I’m so fucking sick of everyone knowing things and keeping it from me!”

“I didn’t fucking know shit,” Grayson adds in. “And you don’t see me losing my fucking mind.”

“Stop,” I beg. “Please, I’m sorry. I didn’t tell anyone who it was, okay? Please, just stop."

“Sadie, Lionel is under suspicion of multiple rapes,” Collin says.

“I know.” My eyes well with tears.

“Sadie, baby,” Grayson’s voice is thick with emotion.

“I don’t want to think about it,” I plead with him.

“He could have raped you,” Preston growls.

“I know,” I sob. “You don’t think I know that? I’m the lucky one. Unlike all the other girls. Because I don’t remember. I don’t have to live with what they do.”

“That doesn’t diminish your pain, Sweetheart," Declan says.

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” I feel myself shutting down. “You know the truth. I promised not to keep anything from you, and I told you. Now you know all my dirty little secrets. Can we please just try to find a way to move on from this?”

The group of them look at one another, but they don’t say anything. I don’t miss the lingering look between Collin and Preston. But I don’t have the energy to worry about that right now.

“Sadie?” An unfamiliar voice has me looking over to see a nurse standing in the doorway. “You're awake, good.”

She steps in and takes a look at my guys with a soft smile. “Mind if I have some time alone with Sadie?”

Declan looks at Grayson. “Let’s go get her something to eat.” Then his eyes widen. “Shit.” He looks at me. “I mean... I...”

“It’s okay.” I laugh. “Something to eat sounds amazing right about now.”

“Are you sure?” His brow furrows.

“Yes.”

The guys give me a kiss on the cheek and Declan gives Preston a worried, guilty, lingering look. The idea of the two of them fighting doesn’t sit well with me.

“Don’t be mad at him,” I tell Preston. “He saved me. Remember that.”

Preston just stares at me, making me sigh. Stubborn man.

“Come on.” Collin grabs his brother by the arm.

“Don’t fucking touch me,” he snarls, shaking his arm out of Collin’s hold.

“Fine. But the nurse needs to do her job.” He stares at his brother hard.

I watch the two of them have this stare-off, and I’m wondering if someone’s going to start throwing hands, but thankfully, Preston lets out a low growl before stepping over to me.

He grabs the back of my head and leans down to press a hard kiss to my lips.

“I fucking love you. Do you understand me?”

“Yes.” I smile, my heart fluttering. “I love you, too.”

Collin kisses me goodbye, too, telling me he loves me and he’s gonna be back soon.

When they’re all gone, I let out a heavy sigh and close my eyes, letting the nurse do her job.

Once she’s done, my friends all rush in. They’re in tears, sobbing their eyes out. I feel like shit for worrying them.

After a lot of apologizing, crying, and promising not to do anything like this again, they’re asked to leave because visiting hours are over.

That doesn’t apply to my mom, though, because she comes to visit me as soon as my friends leave.

“Sadie.” Tears spill down her cheeks as she rushes over to me. As soon as she wraps her arms around me, I break again.

I've never cried so much in my life, and I hate feeling so weak.

“I’m going to get help again,” I promise her when we’re done crying.

“I’ve never wanted to see you like this. Not the first time, and never again. Sadie...”

“I know.” I snuggle into her. “I feel like all I’ve been saying is I’m sorry. But I am.”

“Promise me that if things get hard, you’ll talk to me. Or one of your guys. Just don’t suffer alone, okay? You’re the most important person in my life. And I can’t lose you,” her voice shakes.

“You won’t,” I promise. “From now on, I’m going to trust the people who care about me and stop worrying about being a burden when I know I’m not.”

“You're not,” she insists. “And you never could be. We love you. We just want to keep you happy and safe.”

“I know.” Something else I feel like I’ve been saying over and over again.

But I mean everything I told them. No more running. No more hiding and no more secrets.

I’m not too stupid to think that the stress is gone, but it’s how I manage it that will make a big difference.

Starting with working on healing my body, more therapy appointments, and letting the people who love me help is the best way to start.