Page 40 of Branches of Betrayal

Hadina grinned, something she only ever seemed capable of doing around Peyton. “Where to now?”

There was a rhythmic tapping for a few seconds as Peyton strummed her fingers off the dashboard while she thought. “Take me somewhere I’ve never been before.”

A sultry, twisted thought arose in Hadina. She laughed, her body fizzling with anticipation.

“I think I have the perfect place.”

Chapter 22

Peyton

Comingto terms with the fact you were a different person was something Peyton had never thought she’d have to do, but life had thrown so many curveballs at her that she no longer had a choice. In the years since Melina had died, she had been through so much and had become someone her sister wouldn’t recognize. But, Peyton bargained with herself, she knew her sister would be proud that she had survived and was willing to do whatever it took to stay alive.

But facing Eddie Poplar, thinking about how close they were to getting Demi…It had sent Peyton’s anxiety into overdrive. She needed a break from thinking about it, from knowing what was about to come.

“Where are we going?”

Hadina smirked. “Someplace you’ve never been.”

“Tell meeeee,” Peyton begged.

“Nope. It’s a surprise.”

Peyton sat on the edge of her seat with eagerness, watching the city through the window as they drove downtown. So manyof the buildings were historical, beautiful looking, resembling old saloons and hideouts.

Hadina pulled over into a parking lot in the middle of town, a bunch of high rise buildings around them, throwing Peyton off the scent.

“Where are we?”

Hadina shook her head, tutting. She went into the trunk of her car, taking out a long piece of black material.

A blindfold.

“What are you up to?”

“Keeping your mind busy,” Hadina stated, walking behind her. She gently tied the blindfold over her eyes. She checked that Peyton couldn’t see anything—she couldn’t—before pressing a soft kiss to Peyton’s lips.

Peyton reached out to pull Hadina back to her, but Hadina laughed and stepped out of reach.

“Take my hand,” Hadina commanded, entwining their fingers.

Peyton’s heartbeat increased as they began to walk. She trusted Hadina and followed her lead, doing what she was told whenever Hadina instructed her to take a step. Before she knew it, Hadina pulled her hand free and told Peyton to stay where she was.

“Hadina! You can’t leave me here.”

Hadina laughed. “Relax, baby. I’ll only be a few steps away.”

Peyton stood, waiting rather impatiently, on the spot where Hadina left her. She could hear the passing of keys and Hadina’s low murmur of thanks. Her leg shook nervously—with a hint of eagerness—and she struggled against the temptation to remove the blindfold to see where they were.

“Guess who,” whispered Hadina’s voice, her lips pressed into the shell of Peyton’s ear.

A wide grin spread across Peyton’s face as Hadina led her by the hand again, guiding her forward. The warm, humid heat of Texas was quickly swept away as they stepped inside a building, the AC brushing their skin with a coolness that made Peyton sigh in relief.

The smell of popcorn filled the air as they headed deeper inside. Once they reached a stop, Peyton gripped Hadina’s hand tighter. “Can I take this blindfold off now?”

“Mi reina, tenga paciencia!We’re going in an elevator and then you’ll be able to take it off.”

Peyton sighed dramatically, earning an amused laugh from Hadina.

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