Page 190 of Branded
And a past full of demons.
Of pain.
Of memories and a truth that meant I could never, ever have anyone know the real me.
But in that moment, Hazel and Raph bought it.
“Okay, honey,” Hazel whispered, slipping her hand free and brushing a kiss to my temple. “I’ll call you in a couple of hours, and we’ll get you home.”
“Are Pru and?—”
“Pru’s still scouting. Marcel is at practice. We didn’t tell them about the panic attack, just that you were dizzy again. I’m sure they’ll be by later.”
More penance I needed to pay.
“I am okay.”
Hazel smiled. “I know, honey. Talk soon.”
And then she was gone.
Unfortunately, Raph was there.
“I’m sorry I scared you,” I whispered, struggling to keep my gaze on his.
“Don’t apologize.” His eyes flicked to Marin then back to mine, voice dropping. “If you don’t want to talk to her, I’ll find?—”
I didn’t want to talk to Marin. I didn’t want to talk to anyone.
But I wasn’t going to get out of this without talking to someone.
So…I’d talk to Marin.
I’d say what I needed to say, give enough that I could get the fuck out of here, and then I would lock my shit down, make sure Raph was good and solid, and then I would find him a woman he could love and trust and be with.
Even if that meant setting me aside.
No, because that would mean setting me aside.
Because that was the right path for Raph.
And it just so happened to be the right path for me.
Twenty-One
Raph
It had taken everything in me to walk out of that room, and I knew it had been just as hard for Hazel when she came close the moment the door slid closed behind me.
I wrapped my arm around her as we moved to the elevators, waiting until we were inside to order, “Tell me.”
“Her stepdad and mom had a very…tumultuous relationship.”
Yeah, well, clearly that was the understatement of the year, considering what had happened over the last couple of hours.
I released a breath, trying to control my temper. “He hurt her.”
That wasn’t said as a question, but Hazel still took my words as one.
