Page 56 of Dangerous Love

“Sienna, honey, what’s happening? Don’t run off again.” Her tone softened. “Let’s problem-solve it together.”

I sighed, tears running down my face as Grace’s nurturing tone soothed me like it had for the last few years. “I can’t look at them, Gracey. They were in on it, the two of them, working at bringing the poor dumb girl back into the family.”

Her voice thinned. “Oh, sweetie... I know it came across terribly wrong. But I promise you both of those men love you. In their own warped ways.”

I scoffed. “Yep. I know. But they’ve crossed a line. I broke up with Riley. I’ll never look at him the same, now that I know he faked running into me, and the whole reconnecting by accident…” I choked, taking a deep breath until my heart settled. “I can’t, Gracey. I just can’t.”

“Where are you? I’ll come and see you.”

“I don’t want to be found, Grace. I’m safe. I just wanted you to know. Tellhim.”

She sighed. “I’m not going to get you to change your mind, right?”

I wiped the tears running down my face, fear strangling my belly. “No. I just need space.”

“Will you ring me when you’re ready to come home?”

I didn’t answer, because in all honesty, I had no idea what I would do when the time came. Right now, the betrayal felt like nothing had before. I’d lost both my brother and my heart. Everything in me hurt, the pain slicing me with every breath. Instead, I just whispered my true sentiment before disconnecting the call.

“I love you, Gracey.”

CHAPTER28

Riley

Trey’s couch felt nowhere near as good as my bed, but if I continued bitching about it, the bastard would probably drop fire ants in the cushionsjust to give me something to whine about. I flipped over, my elbow desperate for something to rest on. I lodged it beneath my head, my bicep as close to a pillow as I could muster at this time of the morning. When my body aches grew more intense than the fatigue weighing my muscles down, I dragged myself up until I was seated against the scratchy polyester.

Might as well get up now.I rubbed my eyes, a big yawn stretching my face as I wondered whether Trey stashed good coffee anywhere, when my phone blared through the room. When The Cranberries played, I instantly recognized Avery’s ringtone and pressed the green button on my screen. “Hey,” I answered, waiting for the extra lecture I knew was coming.

“Do you know where Sienna is?” Avery’s obvious panic finished waking me up.

I straightened. “What do you mean? Isn’t she at your house?” Anxiety punched me in the gut. Everyone knew Sienna was as impulsive as they came, and with a history like hers, if she wasn’t home, she could be anywhere.

“No. She rang Grace and told her she wasn’t coming back. She said she’s safe but wouldn’t say where she was.”

“Shit,” I growled into the handset.

“Any idea where she could have gone? Met any of her friends?”

I sighed. “She has no friends. We’re it.”And we betrayed her.Sadness drowned me as I accepted what a bastard I’d been. Not only because of what I’d done, but for not having fought for her when I could have.Should have.

“I’m gonna ring the cops…”

“Avery, wait.” I jumped to my feet, sweat pooling at the base of my neck. “Let's not do that.”

“Why not?” he snapped.

“Because she already hates the way we’ve been treating her like she’s some broken doll, and we’re about to do it again.”

“I don’t fucking care. She is like a broken doll with the way she acts.”

“No.” My tone grew firm. “She’s a woman. And it’s about time we treated her like one.”

Avery took a deep breath, silence stretching between us. “What if she gets hurt?”

Images of Sienna alone and scared gripped me, but this was nothing compared to the visions of her despair as she said goodbye to me yesterday. “She knows where we are. We’re going to tell her we love her, and we’re going to give her space. Because she is smart. She is strong…”She is the best thing that’s ever happened to me…

“Fine,” Avery sighed. “But it’s killing me. It’s killing me, Riley. I need to know where she is, so I can protect her.”

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