Page 45 of Branches of Betrayal

Taking Hadina by the hand, Peyton led her inside the walk in shower.

“You’re still fully clothed.”

Peyton tutted, walking into the shower with her, the water soaking into her clothes. “Wet clothes can be dried. Let me take care of you, baby.”

Hadina acquiesced, taking a step backwards to give Peyton more room. While she would never tell Hadina, Peyton had heard her pained cries in the shower after she’d tended to business. This was the only way she knew to make it even slightly better for Hadi, to take away some of the work so she didn’t have to think or feel or do anything.

Taking the bottle of body wash from the shelf, Peyton lathered up her hands and began to rub at the red stains covering Hadina’s body. Hadina sighed softly, closing her eyes and letting the water cascade down her face. Peyton’s touches were gentle and slow. There was something sensual about it, without it being arousing. She wanted to look after Hadina in the way she knew her love would look after her.

With an extra level of delicateness, Peyton washed Hadina until she was clean. Hadina stayed silent, only emitting another sigh when Peyton began to wash her hair. She took extra care with Hadina’s long, raven locks as she shampooed and rinsed, repeating the process again. Only when Peyton had applied conditioner and was rinsing it out did she feel Hadina begin to tremble. Her body shook in silent tremors and Peyton felt the hot tears run down Hadina’s face.

Grabbing a towel from the rack on the wall, Peyton switched the shower off and wrapped Hadina up. “Let’s go, love.”

Hadina nodded, letting Peyton lead them to the bed where she pulled back the duvet, ushering Hadina to lay down. Stripping herself of her now wet clothes, Peyton crawled in behind Hadina, curling her body. Entwining themselves together, Peyton held Hadina close until they both drifted off to sleep.

Almost twenty-four hourshad passed by since Hadina had sent Eddie Poplar off with a beat up car and the dead body of Derick Hernandez. Peyton had woken up to breakfast tacos and a mug of freshly brewed coffee, courtesy of Hadina. But then the day turned into a waiting game and both of them were starting to get anxious.

“You have no patience,” Zellie muttered from where she sat, cross-legged, in the plush emerald armchair.

Peyton scoffed. “People in glass houses shouldn’t throw rocks.”

“Stones. It’s supposed to be stones.”

“Urh! Same difference.”

Hadina laughed and pressed a soft kiss to the side of Peyton’s neck. “I like it when you yell at my sister.”

Peyton blushed, burrowing further into Hadina’s side.

“¡Consigue una habitación!”

Both Peyton and Hadina looked up to glare at Zellie. “You’re the one inourspace.”

Zellie flipped them off. “This is afamilyroom in our family house. I am allowed to be here.”

“Hm, true. But are you wanted here?” Peyton countered, a sudden bout of confidence coming over her.

“Ooooh, so feisty. Hadi, your kitty has claws.”

Hadina rolled her eyes, making Peyton laugh. Even if she wasn’t Zellie’s biggest fan, which seemed like an understatement, Peyton had to admit that she enjoyed seeing some humor between Zellie and Hadina. After all they’d gone through, a bit of hilarity was the least they deserved.

The tune of Hadina’s phone loudly interrupted their playful bickering. Peyton sighed, seeing Harris’ name on the screen. There was no denying the fact that shit was about to go down.

“Ta bueno. ¿Qué pasa?”

Peyton watched Hadina tap the screen to put Adrian on speakerphone, placing the phone between them on the table. Zellie raised her eyebrows, leaning forward in her chair.

“La tenemos. We got her. I was tracking Poplar and he went to one of the regular meeting points. I guess Treyva had anticipated it because she was waiting for him. Then a text came through on the burner phone; an address and time to meet.”

Hadina sucked air through her teeth. Zellie grinned ferociously. Peyton, however, watched as her hands began to tremble where they were folded in her lap.

“Tomorrow. Eight p.m. She even signed it asRegina.”

“Send a text back to confirm.”

This was what they’d been waiting on. What Peyton had wanted ever since she got back to the Adis home.

Revenge.

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