Page 209 of The Invite
I’m confused. It was inevitable and it’s good for us. This way, they’ll reach Anonymous quickly, causing him to fall for our bait.
“So?” I prompt when Augustus remains quiet. “It’s what we wanted.”
Pained and apologetic black eyes descend on mine, and they crumble my house of cards in a sentence. “One of them is about us.”
CHAPTER – 53
Augustus
“Us?” Nessa stammers.
It takes all of my strength to push the words out. “They know we’re together.”
She stumbles back and I catch her.
This isn’t how it was supposed to happen. The world wasn’t supposed to learn about us like it’s a dirty fucking secret or a scandal for their gossip columns and social media posts. Yet it’s being spread and talked about exactly like it is. They’re tainting and diminishing what we have, what we feel for each other.
I haven’t even told Nessa the full extent of it.
It will destroy her to know there’s also a picture circulating around of us. Or how her reputation is being tarnished. I’m just as much to blame for her devastation as the person who’s unveiled our secret.
The threat I made to her in the classroom where I cornered her, each harsh and taunting word replays in my head. Like a terrible prophecy that’s come to fruition.
Everything I warned her would happen if it got out that she and I slept together, has come true.
They think she seduced me.
A sexual predator is what they’re calling her.
The job she told me she loves is in jeopardy.
The difference—it wasn’t at the hands of me. It’s all my fault that she’ll be living her worst nightmare from tomorrow. The one I vowed to protect her from.
I’m vibrating with rage. Devastation a close second.
Of all the things I’ve said to Nessa till tonight, I never wished it to be this. My biggest worry—handling the wrath of my mother. She’s going to come after my woman—not that I’m going to let it happen—for breaking the stupid NDA. I never should’ve signed it in the first place and ripped it apart instead.
Nessa fights against my hold like a scared and frail little girl. Her entire face goes pale, no longer glowing from the countless orgasms I gave her a minute ago. We went from basking in the highest of highs and plummeted to the lowest of lows.
“This can’t be-e happen-ing,” Nessa chokes out, her breathing turning choppy.
“Honey, please don’t cry,” I murmur against the top of her head. “I’m so sorry.”
My entire being is attuned on taking care of Nessa that figuring out who is the culprit doesn’t even cross my mind. My innocent little prey is my first and only priority. Always. The rest of the world comes later—including my sister.
Nessa looks so lost and broken, I just want to cocoon her into my arms. So, I do by picking her shaking frame beforesitting down on the nearby chair and bundling her onto my lap. I hold her tight and accept the brunt of her anger and sadness.
It takes her long moments to recover and each millisecond is a punch to my heart. I massage her back, kissing her head while rocking her. She hangs onto me like my touch is a balm to her hurt. It’s the only reason I haven’t gone on a rampage.
“Who would do this?” she murmurs after her sobs have died down. Her voice is rough and pained. “How can anyone know?”
Somebody followed us that night we went to investigate Amber’s murder. The picture floating on the internet was taken outside Nessa’s house. They took a picture of us while we made out in the car. Whoever it was must’ve been at the school too.
Fuck! How could I have been so reckless?
I pride myself on my vigilance. Yet I failed appallingly.
“They must’ve seen me show up at your place.” I give her the half-truth.
