Page 194 of On a Fault Line

“She’ll recover,” Nic says, his tone lacking empathy.

“I broke her.”

“In more ways than one,” Graham responds.

I shake my head at him. “I love her.”

Nic clears his throat. “Then that’s why you have to walk away.”

“I’m doing it because she needs to be away from me—she needs an alibi. I’m doing it because I know I need to repent first for what wrong I’ve done with your sister. But I’m not doing this because it’s what’s best for her long-term.”

Graham takes a step closer, and I brace myself for another pounding. Maybe this time, I’ll fight back.

But he doesn’t make contact. Instead he hands me an envelope.

I glance down at it. “What’s this?” But I already have an idea.

“Cash.”

“No. I don’t want your money.” I turn to Nic. “I don’t need money.”

“Take it,” Graham insists. “That way when we demand you move out of state, we’ll feel less guilty about it.”

“But not until Tanner is wiped from this planet,” Nic adds.

“I guess I should thank you,” I respond sarcastically.

Graham paces. “I don’t care what you do.” He looks like he hasn’t slept in days.

I’m starting to wonder if the Hoffman brothers find me a bigger threat to Penny than the predator who drugged her and tried to rape her. But now’s not the time for a logical conversation when both of them are spurred on by my betrayal of trust.

“I’ll stay away from your sister, for now.”

Graham’s eyes narrow on mine. “Then take the money and have a fresh start without her.”

“No, thanks.”

This has never been about money, and it never will be about money.

I need to get out of here. “I’ll let you know when I receive the signal.”

“It should be soon,” Nic adds.

It better be soon.

Focusing on something else will be a good way to get over the image I have burned into my memory of Penny lying on the floor, crying her eyes out—at my fucking feet. And I watched as she fell apart and did nothing to help put her back together. I let her pour her heart out, and I just stood there and said nothing of value.

She’s never going to forgive me.

And I doubt I’ll be able to forgive me either.

I glance at her door, and I swear I can hear her sobbing through the insulated walls.

I’m sorry, Princess.

I thought being discharged from the United States military was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to endure, but walking away from Penelope Hoffman right now has outranked anything I’ve experienced in my past.

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