Page 129 of Cruel Dominion

“You shouldn’t. It’s on me. All of it.”

…but if you let me, I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.

She sighed loudly, looking down at the ground.

“I always knew my dad was a bastard, but I didn’t know this was his fault too. Whenever I think he can’t cross the line again, he jumps right over it.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose. “But he offered to save your mother’s life. I can’t be upset that you chose the way you did.”

I stood, walking over to her.

“Are you still here?”

Her eyebrows went up.

“With me? I’m in love with you, Anna. It’s been six years and I’m not going to stop. I need to know that you—” I flagged, my throat getting tight. I rubbed my hands over her arms. “I need to know that I didn’t lose you.”

Her lips were pressed together, but she didn’t look scared, or angry or disgusted. She looked calm. Hurt. Tired.

“What happens now?”

“Now,” I sighed. “You know everything. If you want, you can go to the cops, the press, whoever you want and ruin my life.”

Her pupils shook.

“Or…”

“Or what?”

“Or you could stay here with me.”

“Carter, I?—”

“Stay,” I begged, kissing her cheek, close to her ear, her neck. “Stay.”

29

ANNA

Six Weeks Later

Holy shit. Did you see the headlines??

I rubbed my eyes as I reread Summer’s text. It made sense that she would text me at 5 a.m., considering she was one of those freaks who ran five miles before everyone else even woke up. For one terrifying second, I wondered if we’d been caught. If they found Josh’s corpse, wherever Carter’s men had stuffed it, and we were all completely and totally fucked.

I clicked the link she sent and couldn’t suppress my gasp.

Michelle and Hudson Vaughn Divorce After 28 Year Marriage.

Of course, that was only the headline for respectable news organizations. As I tapped to the main news screen, the gossip rags had much more salacious takes.

Michelle Vaughn Blindsides Hudson with Divorce Papers.

Michelle Vaughn Spills the Tea about Governor’s Charity Theft.

“He Made So Many Dirty Deals”: Michelle Vaughn on Governor Ex.

No matter how much I scrolled, they just kept going. Apparently, Mom served Dad divorce papers last night, which were quickly leaked to the public, along with quotes from her “friends” revealing all his dirty laundry.

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