Page 72 of Degrading Her

We are contacting you regarding your relationship with Sawyer Feldman. This is an official warning. Do not make any more contact with him, or we will have to take action.

I clenched my teeth, willing my emotions to get under control. I was going tokillwhoever did this. And then I was going to teach Fiona that there were some things you didn’t keep from me, especially when your life depended on it.

“You didn’t tell me about this,” I growled.

“It was a long time ago. I didn’t know what you’d do,” she said. “And you weren’t exactly the most trustworthy person.”

I never claimed to be trustworthy. But I had also never lied to her.

It had to be Hatchcom Focus. They knew that she was with me. That I cared about her.

They had found my weakness.

“You’re staying at the farm tonight,” I said.

“Excuse me?” she asked.

“It’s not safe here.”

Her lips shook, and I was glad. This wasn’t a game anymore. This washer lifewe were talking about.

And I needed to stop screwing around. Roth had to die. Right fucking now.

We drove back to the Feldman Farm, passing through the grounds until we stopped in front of my brother’s house. Fiona shifted in her seat.

“You’re not taking me home with you?” she asked. Guilt fell on my shoulders, making me sink. I wanted her with me. But it was safest for her with Wilder. Not with me.

Wilder wasn’t the leader; I was. And if they were harassing Fiona, then that meant that they were coming after me. “You’re safest here,” I said. “I’ll check on you tomorrow.”

She held herself. Each step she took toward the house made my chest sink. I should have said something. Should have promised her that we would figure it out. That it would be okay. That we would be fine.

But there was no ‘we’ in this situation. It wasmyfault that they were after her, and I wasn’t going to make that mistake again.

As she knocked on the front door, I realized I had only one choice: I had to make Fiona leave me. That was the only way Roth, or any of my future enemies, would leave her alone. She would never be safe with me.

I would make her leave me, even if I had to hold a gun to her head.

Because I could never leave her. I would always come back. But if she left me, I would be forced to let her go. For good, this time.

Chapter 17

Fiona

I knockedon the front door of my sister’s house, guilt simmering in my chest for showing up so late, but honestly? I was relieved that Sawyer had suggested it. Staying in my crappy apartment by myself after it had been broken into wasn’t a situation where I’d be able to sleep. But here, with Maisie? I might be able to rest. Maybe not a full night of sleep, but at least a little shut-eye.

The door opened. “Fiona?” Maisie asked. Her hair was damp, her makeup faded around her eyes.

“Can I?—”

“Of course,” she said, not bothering to let me finish my sentence. She waved at Sawyer in the car, then pulled me inside and pointed at the nearest downstairs room. “Is this room okay again?” she yawned.

“Were you sleeping?”

“We were just,” she paused, “messing around. But I’m about to pass out. What’s going on, anyway?”

Footsteps creaked above us, and I glanced at the ceiling.

“Wilder,” Maisie explained. I figured it was him, but I was still on edge, and he creeped me out a little bit.

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