Page 17 of Branches of Betrayal

Piper threw her hands up in frustration. “Tell her that! Burying your feelings may have worked for us all our lives, Hadi,but things have changed. You have someone who genuinelyloves youand you can’t afford not to show her that.”

Hadina was quiet for a moment before she locked gazes with Piper. “What she went through, what she had to do… I don’t know how to help her come back from that, Pip. She said she became a monster and how do I help her when I’m one too?”

“Oh, Hadina,” Piper whispered, shaking her head. She stood and made her way to sit next to Hadina, wrapping her arm around her sister’s shoulder in comfort. “You’re not a monster and neither is Peyton. Calling yourself that is what you’ve always done to protect yourself and I guarantee it’s how Peyton is trying to protect herself too. You have to show her that you love her, darkness and all.”

“I do, you know. I love every part of her.”

Piper smiled. “I know that, silly. But I’m pretty sure Peyton needs tohearthose words from you.”

Hadina chuckled softly, pulling Piper into a tighter hug. “What would I do without you, little sister?”

“Let’s not imagine situations we’ll never have to go through, hm?” Piper pulled out of their embrace and pressed a kiss to Hadina’s cheek. “Now go win back the heart of your pretty little temptress so that I don’t have to find myself a new bestie.”

Hadina let herself laugh fully this time. “Yes, ma’am.”

Standing outside the bedroom door,Hadina took a deep breath before knocking lightly.

“Go away,” Peyton called out, her voice hoarse from crying.

Hadina waited a moment, debating whether she should come back later after Peyton had had some time to calm down.

No,she thought to herself,too much time has passed already. That’s part of the problem.

She opened the door and barged inside, closing it behind her. Peyton, who had been curled up in a heap beneath her duvet, sat up in shock and glared at Hadina. “I told you to leave! What are you doing here?”

“I’m not leaving you. Not again.”

“I don’t want you here,” Peyton countered.

Hadina moved to the bottom of the bed, a smirk pulling at her lips. “So make me leave. Tell me you don’t love me and I’ll go.”

“That’s not fair and you know it. I told you to leave—why isn’t that enough?”

It pained Hadina to hear the hurt and defeat in Peyton’s voice, but she wasn’t going to give up. She wouldnevergive up. “Because we both know it isn’t what you really want.”

Peyton scoffed, swiping her overgrown bangs out of her face. “You barely know me, Hadina. Let’s admit that this is more like crazed infatuation and the sooner we cut it off, the better.”

“I don’t know you, huh?” Hadina repeated, moving around to the edge of the bed. “Funny, because I’d argue that I know you better than anyone. I know the way youtaste, Peyton. I know how you tremble and bite your lip to stop yourself from screaming when you orgasm.” Climbing onto the mattress, Hadina crawled to kneel beside Peyton, looking down at her with a deviousness in her eyes. “I know the way you crave somethingmorethan the life you’ve been trapped in. I know that despite everything, the danger associated with my lifestyle gives you a thrill that you want to chase, even if you can’t admit it.”

Peyton tried not to give a reaction, though Hadina could see from the way her chest rose and fell that she was feeling exactly what Hadina had intended. She was remembering, and her walls were breaking down in the process.

“You think I want tochase the thrillafter I was just fucking kidnapped?” Peyton snapped. “You’re delusional.”

A spark ignited in Hadina’s core at the violence in Peyton’s tone. She knew that it resurfacing meant thatherPeyton was coming back. Taking a gamble, Hadina hooked one of her legs over Peyton’s so that she was straddling her.

“Get off me,” Peyton said, though it came out more like a plea, soft and without any confidence.

Hadina trailed her fingertips down Peyton’s cheek, reveling in the way Peyton’s eyes fluttered at the contact. “I know you, Peyton.Conozco tu alma,” she whispered, her fingertips now trailing across her chest. “This heart? It belongs to me. You’re mine,tentadora.”

A few tears slipped from Peyton’s eyes as she looked at Hadina. “Your lies are as sweet as honey, Hadi, but it only makes it hurt more when you eventually sting me.”

“Never again,” Hadina said quietly, cupping Peyton’s face in her hands. “I swear.”

“Please leave,” Peyton cried, her tears falling heavier. “Leave before you break my heart all over again.”

“No,” Hadina answered with resoluteness. “I won’t ever leave you again.”

Peyton groaned, sniffling as she looked at the ceiling. When she finally returned her gaze to Hadina, there was a sad surrender in her eyes. “God, I hate you. I hate you so much it hurts. But I love you more than I could ever hate you, and somehow that hurts more.”

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