Page 65 of Revenge (Corrupt Empire 3)

“What’s wrong? Did someone do something to you?”

“N…No… I… I… can’t breathe.”

“Where are you?”

I could hardly get my words out. The four faces were staring at me, unblinking. Why the hell were they there? What was going on? My chest felt so tight. I didn’t know what to do or say.

“Avery, are you still there?”

“Y…yes.”

“I’m going to need you to put your head between your legs and just breathe, okay?”

I shifted, putting my knees up as I bent over them. I tried to take a deep breath, but it wasn’t working. My lungs burnt.

“Breathe, princess. Just breathe.”

I took a shuddering breath, trying to focus on Aiden’s voice.

“That’s it, and another.”

I did as he said, breathing in and out.

“Good girl. Keep breathing.”

I took five more breaths, feeling the panic begin to subside. My heart rate started to slow. I could no longer see their faces.

“Aiden,” I whimpered.

Coming to work had been a stupid idea. I couldn’t do this. I wasn’t ready. How could I face the world when all I could think about was how I’d killed another person? When all I could see was death.

“What happened?”

“I don’t know,” I whispered. “I was talking to Uncle Charlie and Ed and I just felt so sick and weird. And I saw them again… but this time Frazier and Tristan were there too.”

“You saw your parents again?”

“Yes.”

There was a long pause. I hadn’t hallucinated them in months. This didn’t bode well. I was deteriorating all over again. I could feel it.

“Okay, I’m going to come get you.”

“What? No, you can’t.”

“Avery, you’re having hallucinations again. Do you really think I’m just going to leave you there alone?”

“But you can’t come to the office, you know that.”

He sighed.

“Do you think I give a shit if anyone finds out you’re my wife? I don’t. Not any longer. I’m fucking done with this now. No more lies. No more secrets. I’m coming to get you and that’s the end of the fucking discussion.”

“But Aiden…”

“No. Do not argue with me. I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Do not fucking get John to drive you home. Wait in your office. Do as I say or I won’t be fucking responsible for my actions. Do you hear me?”

I swallowed.

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