Page 86 of Finish Line

Dom’s anger deflates a little, but he doesn’t back down. “It would be better than seeking him out.”

“He could take you again,” Cin says to no one, worry coating her voice.

Dom throws his hands up. “That’s what I said!”

I cross my arms, huffing. “I never said I’d do that. I won’t sit back and hide. If the opportunity comes where I can rid the world of that evil bastard, I will take it.”

At that last statement, everyone yells their opinion back and forth.

I stand, numbness creeping over me again.

Dom states again and again that I need to hide myself away because I’m too vulnerable to Roger’s will. He doesn’t trust me, after all.

Nick glances over at me, his eyes widening as he sees me shut down and retreat into myself again. “Shut up!”

Shocked silence races across the room.

“Would you stop for a second? Look at her.” Nick gestures my way, and seven sets of eyes turn toward me. “Do you understand what you’re doing to her? Doubting her? Dom, think about what you’re saying and how it’s being perceived. If you weren’t one of my best friends, and if I didn’t know you well enough to understand that what you’re saying comes from a place of fear for her, not from a lack of trust, I’d be knocking your ass out for talking to Shelby like that.”

Dom’s eyes widen as he realizes how his words sounded. He turns to take a step toward me, but I step back, causing him to freeze in place.

“Dom.” Nick’s eyes never leave me. “There’s a major difference this time. She has us. None of you are under his hypnosis and can’t be hypnotized again. The last time, no one knew if he was alive or what we were dealing with. This yelling isn’t doing a damn thing.”

He steps in front of Dom, pulling his fist back and letting it fly right into Dom’s chin. “Okay, I lied. That’s for saying what you did. She went with him because of Cam and Hannah.”

Dom doesn’t retaliate and nods solemnly.

“Nick’s right. We need to help her in any way possible. We might not like it, but it’s what we have to do.” Luke grimaces.

“Thank you, Luke,” I say. “I’m going to change and go for a run.”

Dom reaches out his hand again, but I skirt around him and back to my room. I pull on my shorts and grab my music.

I go out to the deck, stretch, then run.

Dom wants to protect me, but he needs to understand that I can’t sit on the sidelines and let them put their lives in danger while I’m safe, wrapped in a bubble. He wasn’t wrong to ask what was different this time.

I thought a lot about this. When I met Roger, I was young and inexperienced. I’ve grown since then. I’ve met four wonderful, caring, pain in the ass guys who I love and would do anything for. I’ll ask Louis to make sure I can’t be hypnotized anymore. That will be one less thing I need to worry about. Then maybe we can talk Mom and Peter into a cruise.

Whatever I do, as long as we stand together, we stand a better chance.

CHAPTER TWENTY

SHELBY

On Cam’s birthday, he and I wake early to watch the sunrise from our boards and to go surfing for the last time.

Rain clouds dot the sky, and rays of sun stream through them to warm my face.

“Wow, I’ve never seen something so beautiful before,” I mumble.

“I have,” Cam says.

When I glance over at him, my face heats from his scrutiny.

“I don’t think I can thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me these last few months.” My fingers trail through the water.

“I didn’t do much other than stay away from you.”

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