Page 30 of Before Us (Next Generation 3)

“I … I don’t know. I feel …” I shivered. I should have felt guiltier. Shouldn’t I have? Brody was going to … “He was going to rape me.” I gripped Jaron’s leather jacket, leaning my head against his chest. “But he didn’t. God … I …”

“Yeah, Piper.” Jaron cupped my nape, brushing his thumb back and forth over the spot just beneath my ear. “He was.” He gently pulled my head back, running his fingers over the bruises on my face. “I’ve seen a lot of shit. I’ve been through a lot too but seeing that … seeing him …” His jaw clenched.

“I can’t … I don’t …” My breathing became labored, tears burned my eyes.

“Look at me.” Jaron gently tugged my head back. “What he did, isnotyour fault. What he said to you, none of that was true. You hear me?”

I nodded, the tears falling freely down my cheeks. “I’ve never seen that side of him. He’s always been nice to us. I actually thought he was gay at one point. I thought maybe his fiancée leaving him turned him or something. I thought…”

“Bastards like that will never let you know that they’re a rapist.” Jaron leaned down to meet my gaze. “You hear me?”

I nodded again. “I need out of here.”

“Tell me what you want to do.”

I glanced back at Brody’s body. “We should call the cops.”

“And tell them what?”

“You’re asking me?”

“I am.” Jaron brushed a finger down my jaw. “This is all you, Piper. Your choice. Whatever you want.”

“I … I don’t know what I want. I want this night to be over. I want us to be happy. I want to forget. I just … I want you.” I gripped his jacket, leaning my forehead against his chest.

“I don’t deserve you, Piper.” Jaron cupped my nape. “You can come in now.”

I glanced up, finding him on his cell.

He caught my gaze, his gray eyes darkening even more. He ended the call, putting his phone back in his pocket. About a minute later, there was a knock on the door.

I jumped. “Jaron.”

“Trust me.” He kissed the top of my head and released me. Walking toward the door to my bedroom, he opened it.

A large man filled the doorway. He glanced my way, nodded once and stepped into my room. He was followed by another man who looked identical to him but smaller.

“Piper, that large fucker is Cyrus, and this is his brother, Sammy,” Jaron said, closing the door and clicking the lock into place. “Guys, this is Piper.”

“We finally meet.” Sammy came toward me and stuck out his hand. “I wish it could be under different circumstances.”

“Me too.” I returned the handshake. “Twins?”

“Yeah, kiddo.” He nodded toward Cyrus. “Although this fucker beefed up on me so now I look like a damn pussy next to him.”

Cyrus only grunted. “What do you want us to do?”

“Piper?”

I turned to Jaron. “What?”

“Tell him,” he said gently.

I glanced at Cyrus who now stood over Brody’s body. “I … I feel like we should call the cops but …”

“Nothing will happen to you, Piper.” Jaron moved to my side, hooking an arm around my shoulders. “I promise you that. I’ll go to jail first.”

“No.” I shoved out of his grip. “You could be there for years. If I say it was self-defense.”

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