Page 114 of Lies Like Love

A weight drops inside me with the single nod Jude offers.

Fifteen. Which can only mean…

“He…”

She was underage.

His father’s obsession with me wasn’t where his sickness started. Veins of his perversion traced even further back. Jude’s existence is proof of it.

“I should have seen it.” He tips his head back and seals his eyes.

Daylight reveals every emotion he tries to hide.

“How could you have?”

Jude shakes his head. “If I had, I could have stopped anything from happening to you before it ever did.”

“Jude.” I grip the sides of his face in my hands and stop him from shaking. To hold him in place. While he’s physically whole, somewhere deep he’s breaking.

“You didn’t know.” My tone is firmer this time, and I will him to believe it.

He pulls me into a hug, melting his body into mine and burying his face in my hair. He kisses the side of my head. My temple. My neck. He holds me like we’ll both fall apart if he doesn’t.

“I was the proof he was sick.” Jude’s body shakes with every word. “It’s why he took me from her. I was the proof, and I brought him to you. He could have done so much worse. I’m sorry, Fel. I failed you. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” I brush my fingers over his back. “It’s no one’s fault but theirs.”

“I promise I’ll never let anything bad happen to you again. I promise.”

“I know.” I hug him tighter.

For the first time, I believe him.

36

Jude

IholdFelandwait for reality to hit. For her to push me away and tell me she can’t ever forgive me for the secrets I kept.

Instead, she buries herself in my arms. Melts to me like she’s never trusted me more.

Have I fucked her up that bad?

Or am I worth her forgiveness?

For years I believed if I came clean with her, she’d never speak to me again. Her forgiveness didn’t balance on the scale of all the wrongs I did. And the fact that she lets me hold her now cracks me wide open.

That, and the knowledge that this is far from finished.

I should have known it wasn’t over eleven years ago. Her mother was dead, and my father was locked up. Every loose end tied in a seemingly perfect bow when villains never fall that easy.

There’s always a bigger bad pulling the strings.

I suspected her grandparents when Sage handed me proof they’ve been accepting money from my father’s offshore accounts. But something about what her grandfather said at the gala made me question my convictions.

They want Fel back in their world so they can marry her off and cut ties with my sick family for good. They want a better life for her as means of obtaining one for themselves. Only, someone else won’t let that happen.

The same person who sent those pictures to my phone yesterday.

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