Page 435 of Rage

I inhale deeply. “Miguel raped Allie earlier this year. He wasn’t charged, but he did it. Y este cabrón” —this fucker— “deserves to pay. She’s your cousin. Tu sangre y tu familia.”Your blood and your family. “That’s why you should care.”

Andrés stiffens, a menacing aura falling over him. For the first time, I sense just how dangerous he can be.

“Run that by me again,” he demands.

“Miguel attacked Allie at SVH. My pops found her afterward. She refused the rape kit and didn’t file charges. Her father’s assistant convinced her to walk away.”

“Esa maldita perra.”That fucking bitch. He curses.

“I want him to pay,” I tell him. “Can you help me with that?”

Andrés rubs his jaw, considering me. “What are you asking?”

“Whatever you’re thinking, that’s what I’m asking.”

His eyes narrow further. I hadn’t considered what to do if he refused.

“We can’t have this conversation here.”

“Alright. Where should we have it?”

“I’ll text you the address. For now, go home. Take care of my cousin.”

Chapter Two

Roman

Istare at the screen of my phone, my fingers drumming against my leg when the text finally arrives.

It’s about damn time.

Andrés has kept me in the dark for six fucking days. I’ve been crawling out of my skin waiting for word from him.

“Everything okay?” Allie asks as she steps into the room, her eyes searching my face.

Smoothing out my expression, I slip my phone into my pocket and widen my stance. “Yeah. Dom’s just bitching about shit with Kasey,” I lie smoothly.

Allie rolls her eyes. “Those two are always at it. I don’t know why Dominique doesn’t just tell her how he feels already. They’d stop fighting if he admitted he wanted her, and she could tell him she feels the same.”

I chuckle, a hollow sound. “Why don’t you tell him that and let me know how the conversation goes.”

She huffs out a laugh, and as soon as she’s close enough, I tug her down onto my lap.

“Roman—” she laughs, pushing against my chest. I wrap my arms around her tighter, holding her until she finally relents.

“You’re ridiculous,” she mutters. “I was going to sit next to you.”

“Not close enough,” I grumble. She makes a sound of annoyance, but I know it’s all for show. Allie sinks into my embrace, her body melting against my chest.

“How are you feeling today?” I press my nose into the crook of her neck, breathing her in. Cinnamon and vanilla. I’m fucking addicted to this girl.

Allie leans forward, but I tighten my arms around her. “Fine,” she says. Her fingers trace the lines of the anchor tattoo on my hand. “It’s just…” She hesitates. “I don’t know.” Her mouth curls into a frown, and I resist the urge to kiss it away, needing to hear her thoughts.

“I thought I’d feel different. Maybe happier or relieved, but…”

“I get that,” I say softly. “Give it time. You’ll get there.”

“Maybe,” she mutters, unconvinced.

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