Page 83 of Hidden Memories

I run.

Because if Nic was in bed with the Mafia, then Kat hasn’t just lost everything?—

She’s not safe. Not even close.

And whether she wants me to or not, I’m not letting her go through this alone.

I chase Kat down the stairs, her name ripping from my throat. “Kat! Wait!”

She doesn’t stop.

She bursts through the doorway at the bottom. The crisp autumn air slaps me in the face as I run after her.

She’s running from everything. From the truth, from the life she thought she had… But she’s also running from me.

Because she knows—if I catch her, if I hold her, it’ll make this real. She won’t be able to bury it anymore.

I know it, too, but I don’t stop.

She cuts left, through the stable yard, eyes darting like she’s searching for somewhere to hide. Somewhere to fall apart where I won’t see her.

But I do see her.

I catch her inside the barn, where she’s doubled over, hands on her knees, her whole body shaking with breathless, guttural sobs.

It wrecks me.

Her shoulders tremble, and she’s trying so damn hard to hold it all together, but it’s not working. A wheezing, painful sound rises from deep in her chest, and it shreds me open.

“Gone,” she chokes out, her fingers curling into fists at her sides. “Theo has lost everything.”

Her voice cracks, and the sound is worse than a bullet to the chest.

“Ten fucking minutes, Santi. That’s all it took for Theo to have nothing. No college fund. No house to go back to if I can’t make this work…” Her breath stutters and her head falls forward, tears dripping onto the dusty barn floor.

She’s unraveling right in front of me.

“I just need a second.” She fights so damn hard to steady herself. “I just need a moment to get myself together because I have really fucked up.”

I can’t take it anymore.

I step forward and gently tug at her arms, pulling her upright. Before she can stop me, I haul her against my chest.

She goes limp in my arms. Her hands fist my shirt, and she presses her face into my chest, muffling her sobs against me. Every quiet, broken sound cuts me to pieces.

“What have I done?” she whispers.

I grip the back of her head, anchoring her to me. “You haven’t done anything.”

“I should have kept those drives to myself…”

“That wasn’t an option…”

She shakes her head like she doesn’t know the answer but still thinks she’s right. She plants her palm firmly on my chest, trying to push me away before she sinks too deep. “I can’t talk to you about this.”

I step closer, bracketing her between my body and the barn wall.

“You can tell me anything,Michi…”

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