Page 124 of Dust to Dust

I’d fought to keep silent, but I couldn’t anymore. “Out of all the dancers, why did he target you when he knows what you mean to me?” I questioned.

“Because I’d experienced trauma like he had.”

“Your parents?” I questioned to which Callum and Dare exchanged a look.

She nodded. “Kellan needed someone to talk to, but he felt it was too complicated to reach out to a therapist.” After glancing between my brothers and me, she added, “He was also afraid of what you all would think of him if he went to therapy.”

Callum grunted. “Silly eejit. Like we would’ve thought of differently.”

“Wouldn’t we?”

At my question, both Callum and Dare snapped their attention to me. “It’s not like we’re mental health advocates, which is unfortunate considering the way we were brought up.”

“Good point,” Dare mused.

“I’m his leader. There’s nothing he can’t talk to me about,” Callum boasted.

Isla shook her head. “I promise he couldn’t.”

While Callum grumbled under his breath, I asked Isla, “In all these times together, he’s really never touched you?”

“Not entirely.”

At the thoughts of Kellan’s hands anywhere near Isla’s body, my fists tightened at my side. I tried to keep my expression impassive even though I felt murderous.

“After we talk, he likes me to hold him for a little while. Or sometimes he holds me.”

“Well, fuck me,” Dare muttered under his breath.

“What is it you talk about?” I asked.

Isla’s tongue darted out to nervously lick her lips. “That’s between Kellan and me.”

“Excuse me?” Callum questioned.

“Just like a real therapist, I won’t betray his trust.”

“Considering your involvement with Quinn, you’re well aware of the business we run.”

“I know,” she whispered.

“Then surely you can see why it is integral to know if that said business has been compromised.”

“It hasn’t.”

At Callum’s lethal expression, my muscles tensed. “You will tell us the content of the conversations, Ms. Vaughn,” he demanded.

“Please don’t ask that of me.”

“You mistake my intent.” Callum slowly rose to his feet. “It’s not a request—it’s a demand.”

“Leave it,” I growled.

Callum cut his eyes to mine. “I will see this through.”

Although her body trembled and jerked in fear, Isla shook her head. “I won’t betray Kellan.”

“Then perhaps I need to acquaint you with a harsher line of questioning.”

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