Page 32 of Twisted Redemption

But I ignore it, standing on my tiptoes to give Felix a quick kiss on his cheek. He grabs my arms, leaning in and murmuring in my ear, “Is something wrong? You’re tense.”

I shake my head dismissively. “Just tired.”

His eyes narrow, but he releases me.

“I’ll walk you out,” Blaze says, standing from his chair. But before the words have even finished leaving his mouth, I can tell he regrets saying them.

And it’s like a slap across the face.

“I’ll be fine.” With what I hope is a withering smile, I turn to go. “Have a good night, everyone.”

“You too,” Dominic calls after me.

I head through the house, and when I step outside, I let the warm evening air wash over me. Goddamn, Alex keeps his house cold.

I head to my car quickly. As I get in, a feeling of unease washes over me, and I glance back at the house. I can’t help but wonder if I’m making a mistake.

But what if I’m not? What if everything is fine, and I’m about to ruin the Graysons’ nights by freaking out over nothing?

And, no doubt, getting four separate lectures from each of the men inside.

Not worth it.

So I put the car in drive, ignoring the dread that feels like a fifty-pound weight on my chest, and head home.

CHAPTER EIGHT

BROOKE

I GRIP THE steering wheel so tightly my knuckles begin to ache.

David’s words repeat in my head like a broken record.

You don’t want to know what I’m capable of.

You bitch.

How did I not see the type of person he is? Was I so desperate to fall in love? To prove to myself that I could live without Blaze?

Turning the radio down, I do my best to concentrate on the dark road ahead of me. Soon, I’ll be home. Then I can burrow into my comforter with a new fantasy book and forget about this nightmare of a day.

It hasn’t even been five minutes since I pulled out of my brother’s driveway, but that tightness in my chest has already intensified. Maybe I really should’ve stayed. I don’t think David will resort to violence with me, but I could be wrong.

Because I also thought he was kind. Loving. Gentle. The perfect man, who’d someday make the perfect husband and father. But that was before I realized that a person who loves you doesn’t say the types of things David said to me. Before he cheated.

And if I didn’t think he would do that, then maybe I actually don’t know what he’s capable of.

Pulling into my driveway, I peer at my house. Why didn’t I leave some lights on earlier? I hate the dark. You never know what’s lurking in the shadows.

Once my car is in the garage, I let out a sigh. “You’re not a baby, Brooke. Just get inside.”

Slowly, I open my car door and head into the house, flipping on a light as soon as I can before typing the code into the alarm.

See? Still armed. David was bluffing.

The warm glow of the lights calms me, and I kick off my shoes. I’m still not used to being back here, especially since the place doesn’t feel like home. Not when almost every part of me has been erased from it.

I’ve put up a couple pictures of me and Alex to help, and I have one of us with our parents. But that’s only so my mom doesn’t bitch too much about not feeling loved the next time she’s over.