Page 107 of Betrayal (Corrupt Empire 1)

“What the hell? No. What do you take me for? You know me, is that something I’d do? Sleep with someone out of what? Gratitude for helping me? That’s fucking sick. And things with Peter are over. You saw the video. How can I be with anyone after this? I’m so messed up. It wouldn’t be fair.”

I turned away from him, anger flooding my veins. I had to deny it. I had no other choice. Pulling out the bits I needed, I started on making Aiden’s protein shake. I also dumped cereal into a bowl for myself.

“It’s just hard not to jump to conclusions when you’re fucking holding his hand.”

“I’m allowed to hold hands with whoever I want. He’s been there for me. It’s complicated, James. There are things I can’t tell you.”

He put a hand on my shoulder, turning me to face him.

“What things?”

“Stuff about my family. Reasons why we think my parents were murdered. I don’t want you getting involved with it. It’s fucked up enough as it is.”

His eyes betrayed the hurt he felt at me not confiding in him. How could I? He didn’t need to be involved. Enough people were already. I didn’t want James knowing how evil they were.

“You’ve never kept anything from me.”

And now I was keeping everything from him. It killed me to do it.

“I’m sorry. Look, James, I hate to ask this of you, but you can’t tell my uncle I’m here. You cannot tell anyone. We agreed to tell you because I told Aiden I could trust you.”

He looked stricken for a moment as if conflicted on so many levels before he sighed.

“I won’t tell anyone, but you have to promise you won’t go off the grid with me again.”

“I promise.”

He tugged me into his arms, burying his face in my hair.

“Fuck, I missed you so much. So fucking much. I went crazy without you. Avery, Christ, don’t fucking leave me again. It’s been hell. My family have been hell. My dad is being a cunt again. I can’t deal with it. Not without you.”

Hearing that made me feel like the world’s worst friend. I should’ve been there for him.

James nuzzled my neck. I froze. This wasn’t just a friendly hug. I wrenched out of his grasp.

“James…”

“I’m sorry. Fuck. I just, seeing you, being close to you.”

“Don’t.”

We might’ve had that shared connection once. A mutual need to escape, but everything changed for me. I wasn’t the same girl I’d been before my parents had died.

He rubbed the back of his neck, looking away.

“Just help me make tea for both of us. I have to finish this for him.”

I indicated the blender where I’d shoved the ingredients for Aiden’s shake. James nodded and did the tea for me. I finished up and picked up my cereal and the glass for Aiden.

We went back through into the living room. Aiden sat on the sofa. His eyes narrowed when he saw us. He knew there was something wrong. I had to sort myself out. Aiden couldn’t find out James and I used to sleep together.

He could never discover the truth.

He’d never let me see James again.

And I couldn’t live without my best friend.

---