Page 139 of Fracture

She sits down in the armchair opposite, and says something quickly to the cameraman, something I don’t catch, because blood is roaring in my ears. When her gaze lands on me, her expression softens, and she reaches across to pat my knee.

“You’re doing great, Stella.”

“I feel like I’m going to throw up.”

She smiles and shakes her head. “You won’t. You’re safe here, it’s just us.”

I suck in a breath and nod. “Just us. Yeah.”

“Ready?”

I nod again, clutching my hands together to stop them shaking. Mallory turns to gesture to a cameraman, and panic wells in my stomach.

“Mallory?” My voice wavers, and she turns back to face me instantly. “What if they don’t believe me?”

Mallory tilts her head, her eyes filled with compassion. She extends a hand to lay on top of mine. “They will. I believe you. Everyone here believes you. They will, too.”

I nod slowly, and puff out a breath. “Then let’s do it.”

Mallory settles back in her armchair, and dips her head to the cameraman. “Ready when you are.”

“Rolling,” he replies, and the studio falls completely silent.

Mallory’s gaze lands on me. “Just for the camera, I’d like you to say who you are, and why you’re here.”

I blink under the harsh lights, focusing on Mallory’s eyes. “My name,” I start slowly, “is Stella Langford. I’m the daughter of Harold Langford. I’m here because for years, my father sold me to powerful men for his own gain. And I want those men brought to justice.”

CHAPTER 35

STELLA

“The movingtruck will be here in half an hour!” Levi calls from downstairs, and Dylan groans.

“Finally!” He carries the last box from my bedroom out onto the landing, dusting his hands once he’s set it down. “They’re late.”

“We could have given someone the keys and had this all done for us, you know.” I tease him, wrapping my arms around his neck and smiling.

“I have trust issues,” he replies with a grin. “Besides, once it’s on the truck, we get a whole week in a hotel in Boston, to fuck.” He kisses my jaw. “To explore.” He nibbles on my earlobe, making me shiver. “And to maybe fuck some more.”

“Well, it is snowing there right now, guess it makes sense to stay indoors and keep warm, right?”

Dylan growls against my throat, his hands running down my back. “Yes, it does.”

“Zee’s here!” Levi calls, and I pull back from Dylan with a grin.

“Come on, you can keep devouring me in the hotel tonight.”

“Why wait?” He asks, his eyes dropping to my mouth. “You never had sex on a plane before?”

I grunt out a laugh and swat at this chest. “Yeah sure, big guy, like you could even fit into one of those plane bathrooms.” I grab his hand and drag him down the stairs, to find Levi and Zee standing outside on the front porch.

“Hey girl!” Zee throws their arms around me, hugging me tightly. “You all good to go?”

“Sure am,” I reply, wrapping my arms around myself and leaning my head against Levi’s shoulder. “You?”

“Almost, truck’s coming tomorrow.”

“I can’t believe you’re moving to Boston, too,” Dylan says, leaning against the door frame.

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