Page 185 of Possession

She exhales a shaky breath, and her tears come harder as she white knuckles my shirt. With every moment that passes, she’s more and more distraught, and my anxiety spikes right along with it. “Micah took me to my house today.”

I frown. “You said you didn’t go.”

“No. I said I didn’t pack a bag, but we went.” She shakes her head. “I’ll never lie to you, Brax. I love you too much.”

That confuses me more than anything she’s said so far. I’ve never worried about her lying to me. “Why didn’t you pack a bag when you were there?”

The words come out in a rush. “My mom was there.”

Fuck. Now I get it. My tone dips. “What did she do to you?”

“She didn’t do anything.” Her gaze falls to her fingers mauling the material at my chest. “I mean, she did, but it’s more of what she said.”

I’ve had enough.

I bring my hand to the side of her face and nudge her chin until she looks me in the eyes. “No shit, chica. Tell me what she said that made you like this. I’ll take care of it.”

“She knows who you are,” she blurts. “I mean, everyone knows who you are now. Your case is all over the news.”

“I don’t give a shit what she knows.”

She swallows hard, and her tears come faster. “She was surprised that we’re still together.”

“Why?”

“Because of who I am.” She looks up at me. “And who you are.”

“Baby, you’re not telling me anything. I’m about to lose my patience. You’re not making sense.”

Her face screws up. “Brax, I don’t know how to tell you this. I’ve been dreading it all day, but I can’t keep it from you. You have to know—you deserve to know.”

I put my hands to her shoulders and push her away, far enough to look her in the eyes. “What are you talking about?”

Her face is red, tears are falling from her cheeks, and she can’t control one emotion seeping from her beautiful body. “It’s about Brian.”

I freeze.

“What?” I bite.

She nods. “I’m so afraid, Brax. I’m afraid you’ll never look at me the same again. I’m just—”

My fingers dig into her shoulders. “What about Brian?”

She looks into my eyes, and the expression on her face is worse than after Nic attacked her. That pain was nothing compared to what’s storming through her veins. “My father … he…”

Wait.

My hands drop from her body and take a step back to stare down at her.

She hugs her middle as if to hold herself up from crumpling to the floor. “I didn’t know. I swear I didn’t know.”

I bring my hands to my head and thread my hair before fisting it. I turn and give her my back.

I can’t breathe. My body begs for oxygen.

“He killed Brian.” I utter the words out loud, unable to believe them.

“I’m sorry,” her broken, tortured voice hits me from behind. “My mom was drinking. She let it slip. She said they thought you knew, and that’s why you were targeting my father. She said his attorney is already working on a defense.”

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