Page 61 of Crush

It meant nothing to me.

“Did you file charges? The guy’s a borderline paedophile.”

Jonny nodded his agreement. “No, not quite. They call it ephebophilia. Interest in prepubescent children is paedophilia. Anyway, Amber refused to prosecute him. Stockholm Syndrome they called it.”

Stockholm syndrome?

“So, the fucker is free?”

“No, they ensured he went to trial but he only got six years.”

I repeated Jonny’s words once again in my head. Stockholm Syndrome. “Shit. I hadnoidea.”

“How would you? I suspect you aren’t that close to Amber. She doesn’t let anyone in.” The way he delivered that sentence made me wonder if he knew there was more going on with us. He was a shrewd man after all. I remembered him watching Amber and me when we were with Mia and Luca towards the end of the night. The point where she had loosened up and started to be more tactile with me. He must have seen the chemistry between us, the attraction.

“I agree I’ve only known her a short while but I’m usually a good judge of character. I knew she was hiding something but not this,” I almost choked out. God my mouth felt dry.

“Indeed.”

My brow creased as I took my seat again, “Why are you telling me all this?”

Jonny’s eyes darted to mine, “I need your help. Will you help me?”

Nodding, I patted his leg. I didn’t know what else to do but the man needed reassurance, “Of course. If I can.”

“You know I said I needed you to keep Amber busy,” Jonny questioned; his expression one of desperation.

“Yes.”

“Well, he’s due out.”

“Really?”

“Yes, Alexander Harker, the man who stole my daughter in the night and took her innocence is due for parole. It’s the same day as the charity ball. That’s why I asked you to take her as I need you to keep Amber close. She doesn’t know he’s coming out and I’m worried she may try and see him again.”

“But that’s ridiculous. Surely as an adult, she knows what happened was wrong.”

“I’m not sure. Her therapist says so and that she gets angry when they talk about him, but I think part of her is still brainwashed into thinking what they shared was true. Like he didn’t just use her. Amber won’t talk to me about it now.”

“This is so fucked up. Shit. Yes. Of course, I’ll help you.”

We both sat in that study for at least another hour. I just listened as he gave me more details about the condition Amber had been left in when she’d been rescued.

Now some of her behaviour made sense.

After watching Jonny down another three drinks, I helped him up the stairs towards his wing of the house where his room was. After the alcohol had helped him release the guilt, he felt about his daughter paying for his business partner's crimes, it was like leading a broken man to his doom.

Once he was safe in his suite, I went to my room. It was a tough call to make, Amber’s bed or the guest room. I knew I needed time to process all he had told me. The facts had put a spin on things. It had made Amber more human to me. Fuck. Why couldn’t I have been told about her past before we’d slept together? I nowmorethan gave a shit.

I lay on the top of the guest bed, fully dressed minus my bow tie. I hadn’t got a clue where it was but who gave a shit. I now had bigger fish to fry but I needed to get my head together before I spoke with Amber. Did I tell her I knew what had happened to her? Would it encourage her to open up or clam up? And if she did, did Ireallywant the hassle of being forced to deal with someone else’s baggage?

After mulling that thought over for the rest of that night, or should I say morning, I decided that yes. I did. When it came to Amber-Leigh Swift, I realised whatever it was that was going on between us, was far from done.

She may not know it or accept it, but she needed me. We needed each other.

Twelve

Amber

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