Page 26 of Corrupt Idol

“Why?’

“So, I had time to wrap my mind around all this. So, I would know everything’s going to change and spend more time with her…” Her voice broke off as emotion got the better of her. She swallowed hard and looked out the window so he wouldn’t see her face. “I should have been told.”

She jerked when he took her hand and intertwined their fingers together. She tried to jerk away, but his hold was solid. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Relax.”

“I am relaxed!” she snapped.

He gave her a steady look that made her feel as if she was being childish. He was acting like the supportive older brother she needed, but couldn’t trust. He was switching personalities again, jockeying for the position that would aid his cause, which was what? She wanted him to be consistently vile or nice. She couldn’t handle him playing both sides.

“I don’t want you touching me.”

He sat back and closed his eyes. She dug her nails into the back of his hand, but he didn’t move.

“Jesse.”

He appeared to be asleep. She gave her hand another experimental tug, but only got their hands moved from his lap to hers. She stared at their interlocked fingers and felt something inside of her tear. Jesse had been the best older brother. What the hell happened to him?

She closed her eyes against the burn of tears. Past and present clashed, leaving her emotionally shattered. Life wasn’t giving her time to adjust. She didn’t have time to fortify her walls or regain her composure. She was stripped and stranded in the middle of a storm. All she could do was buckle down and hope she didn’t break before it was over.

* * *

By the timethey arrived in Salt Lake City, she felt worse than ever. She hadn’t been able to get a wink of sleep, not when her mind was racing a million miles a minute. Thankfully, Jesse slept the whole way and woke as they touched down.

She led the way to the baggage claim and claimed another coffee as soon as she could. She didn’t argue when Jesse shouldered his pack and her duffel. She pulled out her phone to text Abel as they exited through the double doors into the sunshine.

It was warm, but Utah didn’t have the blanket of humidity that Texas did. She stood at the curb and searched the lineup of cars for Abel’s as she sipped her iced coffee.

“Why Salt Lake City?”

She ignored his question until he tugged on her hair. “What’s your problem?”

“Why Salt Lake?” he asked again.

“Why not Salt Lake?”

“What’s here that isn’t in Texas?”

She held his gaze as she said, “It’s about whatisn’there.”

His eyes narrowed. “Meaning?”

“You know exactly what it means. I wanted away from you, away from anyone who knows you.” She tipped her face up to the sun. “The fact that I fell in love with the city was a bonus.”

“Did running away work?”

Temper canceled out exhaustion. She stepped toward him, so close she could smell him. He didn’t wear cologne, but she never forgot the smell of his musk. Before, his scent had been familiar and comforting before she associated him with nightmares.

“I did what I had to,” she said through clenched teeth. “You don’t get to judge me for that.”

“Violet?”

She had been too focused on Jesse to notice Abel had pulled up to the curb. He had his windows down and was watching them intently.

“Abel,” she said with false brightness and swallowed her rage. She got into the passenger seat and leaned over to kiss his cheek. “Thanks for picking me up.”

“You didn’t mention you were bringing anyone,” Abel said as Jesse tossed their bags in the trunk.

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