Page 36 of Love Triggered

Nothing good ever comes from someone starting a conversation like that.

“Depends. Is this question going to make me have to kick you out of here?”

“I don’t think so. At least, I hope not.”

“Alright, go ahead. What do you want to ask?” My stomach clenches in anticipation, and my leg bounces nervously.

“Why didn’t you ever tell me you had a twin sister?”

My heart feels like a jackhammer in my chest. Of all the things I thought he was going to ask, that wasn’t one of them.

“Well... um… The day I was taken, she was with me. She saw it happen, but luckily, she was hidden.” I swallow heavily, thinking about that day. “I was always afraid that the men who took me would go back for her if they knew about her too—if they knew she’d seen me being kidnapped, or if they thought getting two for the price of one would be a better deal.”

Greyson cringes at that last statement, but doesn’t say a word.

“I never said anything because I didn’t want to put her at risk. I wasn’t going to chance her being dragged into that misery.” My shoulders slump a little and I lean back in my chair.

“So you didn’t trust me not to say anything?” He looks hurt, but there’s nothing I can do about it.

“The longer I was there, the more I began to trust you, but by that time my mind was made up about protecting my sister. Someone could have easily overheard me talking to you about her—one of the other girls, one of your father’s men, anyone. If your father had known, I have no doubt he would have tried to get her too; I’m sure identical twins would’ve massively increased his profits. He was a monster, and I wasn’t going to risk her life. So I just kept my mouth shut completely.”

Greyson nods, looking disgusted at the mention of his father. “That’s true. If he’d known, he would’ve taken her too. And probably killed the men who missed her the first time.”

Greyson hasn’t told me everything his father did to him, but I know it’s pretty bad. He said his father—whose name I now know is Richard, though I only ever called him Omega—used to beat him badly, but he won’t tell me the full extent of the torture. His shoulders tense and he shuts down every time we get near the topic.

All this time, I knew his father was a cruel asshole. I’d witnessed what he could do, but I didn’t realize it was that bad for Greyson normally. Since the day I was sold, I’ve been holding onto this hate, thinking about how Greyson got to live his life free, away from the chains of being someone’s sex slave... But it turns out he was bound to his own chains the entire time. Every time he tells me something new, it slowly chips away at the anger I feel toward him.

In a perfect world, I would’ve met Greyson when we went off to college. We would’ve fallen madly in love, eventually gotten married, had babies, and lived a blissful life where Lya, the guys, and us could all be together as a happy family.

Unfortunately, that’s not reality. It will never be our lives.

Our reality is that we’re two damaged people, shattered into a million pieces, trying to patch ourselves together—only to get cut by the sharp edges of our broken souls. He has a history of trauma that rivals mine. Are we too broken to be together? Will our jagged edges ever line up to make us whole?

“Now, I have something else to ask you.” Greyson’s deep voice pulls me from my thoughts.

My mind starts racing with all the possibilities. I know he wants more. I know he’s getting impatient, but the moment I let him in, there’ll be no going back.

This will be it for us. The beginning and the end.

“Okay, what is it?” My voice slows, giving away my hesitation.

“Go to lunch with me. We’ve been meeting in the library for the past few weeks, let me take you out.” His voice is demanding now, rather than questioning. He’s not asking me to go with him—he’s telling me we’re going to lunch.

“Ah, what? I can’t miss out on my egg salad that I brought today.” Joking has always been my natural reflex when I’m feeling nervous or uncomfortable.

"Angel, don’t deflect. Your egg salad can have you for supper, but I get you for lunch.” His eyebrows immediately crinkle at what just slipped out of his mouth. “I mean, I get totakeyou to lunch.” Clearly, he didn’t mean to make a subtle sexual innuendo, and I can’t help but chuckle. A pink blush spreads across his chiseled cheeks, something I never expected to see.

“Are you blushing right now, Greyson?” I tease.

“No, it’s just… I didn’t mean to say that.” His reaction shows that he’s so unsure right now, probably wondering if it was too inappropriate.

“Greyson, don’t act shy now. I’m fine, I thought it was funny. No need to be so serious around me, I won’t break. I’m not some weirdo who hates humor,” I say with a laugh, rolling my shoulders back as I meet his gaze.

“I’ll remember that, angel. So, lunch? Where do you want to go?”

“I’m guessing you won’t take no for an answer?”

“No. I won’t, but it’s cute that you think I’ll give up.” That cocky smirk is slapped back onto his face.

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