Page 35 of Hiding Secrets

It was even worse.

I don’t know how to go back to Everton and not burn the place down, starting with the Donovans.

Hunter and Marcus described what they witnessed in Elliott’s files. They told me they knew it was going to be bad, but nothing prepared them for the contents. When they asked if I wanted to see the evidence I shook my head, I didn’t want to see the videos or pictures. No one should be able to see that shit. They didn’targue or push for me to view them and they looked relieved to not have to witness them again. I don’t blame them.

She should have never been through any of this. Not at any of her foster homes, or with the Donovans. She wasn’t the only one. Every child brought into Everton had a file, even the ones that were lined up in foster homes as ‘future brides’.

“I’ll fucking kill him.” I slammed my fists on the concrete slab of the island, “I will watch the life drain from his eyes with a fucking smile on my goddamn face!” My stool slid back as I shot out of it, needing to move.

“I think we wouldallhighly enjoy watching this whole family perish but…”

“There is no ‘but’!” My hand flies into the air, my brows pinch together in frustration.

“Should I come back another time?” Elliott’s soft voice breaks through the tension in the room and all three of us turn to see her sheepishly standing at the edge of the room in one of my large shirts and her sweatpants, looking like she’s ready to sprint back to my room if need be.

I wiped my hand down my face, “We were just discussing what Marcus found. Come.” I curled my fingers at her.

She looks over at Marcus and Hunter as she takes timid steps towards me. The moment she was within arms reach I pulled her to my side, letting my thumb caress her. I feel her body start to relax as I keep up the small strokes .

“What did you find?”She asks.

I go to answer her but when my focus lands on her, I see she isn’t asking me. Her eyes are fixed on Marcus on the other side of the kitchen. His own dart from her to Hunter and then land on me. I give him a faint nod and he sighs.

“I was able to break past the cyber walls of Everton and the Divine’s community files–”

“Cyber files?”

“Computers. I got past them and uploaded as much as I could before their systems were alerted.”

“Okay? And why couldn’t you tell me this before?”

“Because what I found, included files on you.”

“Me? What about me?” Her words were rushed and her hand gripped the back of my shirt.

Marcus runs his hands through his curls, averting his eyes from Elliott, “Everything. From past foster homes to your every step in Everton. Grades, counseling sessions.” I look at Elliott and watch her face grow expressionless, her skin looking paler than before.

“Elliott, I have to ask…” I shoot him a glare, feeling like he was going to cross a line. It didn’t stop him from continuing, “How much do you remember about your time with your biological parents and the foster homes?”

“Not much, I remember chunks of it. Mostly from the foster homes. My parents, those memories are…fuzzy.” She shifts on her feet next to me and I give her a reassuring squeeze of her waist, “It’s more of remembering feelings, smells, sounds.”

“We found a lot of things from that point in your life. Everton has all of it in their recorded files.”

“Like what?” She shifts out of my arm, taking a step towards Marcus.

“I won’t talk about it again.” His jaw ticks.

“Okay, then show me.” She straightened her posture, “Show me the files.”

“That’s not happening.” Marcus blurts out.

“Excuse me?”

“You need to heal, this isn’t what you need to see.”

“Andyouthink you know what is best forme?HA.”

What the fuck?

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