Page 37 of Branches of Betrayal

“And then she held me as I sobbed. You want to know what changed? Zellie became the big sister I always needed her to be. She helped me fight my emotions, and then vowed to help me find you.”

“Wow,” Peyton said quietly. “I was not expecting that.”

Hadina laughed. “I wasn’t either. But it worked. She had connections that I didn’t, and she helped me find you.”

“And the drinking?”

“I stopped—cold turkey. Terrible idea, in retrospect. I was so unwell with withdrawals, and I won’t lie and say that I’m still not tempted to pick up a bottle.” Hadina rubbed her forehead,her face contorted in pain. “I get these awful headaches, and sometimes my body aches. Most people become alcoholics over a long period of time, but I did it within weeks. I consumed so much liquor that I’m surprised my body didn’t completely shut down on me.”

Peyton shuffled forward, taking Hadina’s hands in her own, squeezing gently.

“The impact it’s had on my body… I’m not in my best form. My aim is off, and I get the tremors in my hands and arms every so often. I’m taking a bunch of vitamins to help strengthen whatever I’ve damaged inside my body, but I have a long way to go.”

“I’m sorry,” Peyton whispered, pressing her forehead against Hadina’s. “I’m sorry for leaving you, and I’m sorry you had to go through that on your own.”

“Tentadora,none of this is your fault. I made unhealthy decisions and that’s on me. But I found you and I won’t let you go again. Though,Iam the one who’s sorry. I know I’m a mess and I hate that this is who you came home to. I’m ashamed and I promise to keep trying until I’m the best version of myself.”

Peyton shook her head, sniffling as her own tears mixed with Hadina’s.

“I will love you no matter what version of you I get. None of us are perfect, Hadina, andthatis why we work. We’re both fucked up in our own ways, with a truckload of trauma. But we’ll get through it all—together.”

Hadina nodded, a strangled sob escaping as she leaned into Peyton. They wrapped their arms around each other, feeling their thudding heartbeats between them.

“We will get better, together. When your aim is off, I will be beside you to shoot. When your hands tremble, I will be there to hold them until they still. When your body aches, I will help ease it however I can.” Peyton pulled back slightly, holding Hadina’sface between her hands. She swiped away the tears, pressing a soft kiss to Hadina’s forehead. “And when your heart is heavy and your mind is cruel, making you want to give in, I will hold you and remind you how strong you are. And I will tell you over and over just how much I love you.

“Every version of you is a version I get to love, Hadina. Never apologize for that. The only thing I need is a promise that no matter what happens, we fight and get through it together.”

“Te prometo que.I promise, Peyton.Juntos.”

They stayed like that, huddled together on the sofa, for hours. Peyton held Hadina as she released her tears and her pain, bringing them closer together.

Love was stronger than anything either of them would ever face, and there was no denying the love between them.

That was a bond that would never be broken.

Chapter 21

Hadina

Telling Peyton her truth—everythingshe’d been through and done to herself while Peyton was missing—had helped Hadina in a profound way. Somehow saying the words aloud had helped her take the first real step in healing. Peyton knew who she was, what she’d done, and she wasstillchoosing to stay by Hadina’s side.

Hadina didn’t deserve her.

But she would keep trying so that maybe one day, she would.

They’d fallen asleep, fully dressed and all talked out, on Hadina’s bed around midnight. Now, the sun was shining through the curtains blindingly, and Hadina threw her arm across her eyes.

She groaned, smirking as Peyton stirred beside her and laughed at her dramatics.

“You really are not a morning person, huh?”

Hadina rolled over, nuzzling herself into Peyton’s neck, drowning out the light by using Peyton’s hair as coverage. “I can be a morning person when Ineedto be. But when I have theopportunity to lay in bed, be lazy, and caress the woman I love…I’ll curse the morning sun for ever showing its face.”

Peyton chuckled, batting Hadina’s hands away as she tickled her sides.

Hadina pressed her lips into the small of Peyton’s neck, pressing soft, chaste kisses there. Her touch tickled Peyton, making her wriggle under Hadina’s touch.

She let her hands roam, slipping her fingers underneath Peyton’s shirt. Her fingertips traced the softness of Peyton’s stomach, slowly making their way lower. She was just about to slip beneath the waistband of Peyton’s panties when Hadina heard her phone ring, vibrating off the side table.

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