Atone (Recovered Innocence #2)(51)

“Don’t do this,” she says.

“You’re not alone anymore. Don’t you get it?”

“I can’t drag you into this. You have no idea what I’m up against.”

“I have a damn good idea what that f*cking * is capable of.”

“Please don’t make me hurt you.”

“The only way you could do that is if you walk out that door without me.”

She sags in my embrace, her head bent.

“We can help you,” I say. “We can protect you.”

“I don’t see how you can when the police couldn’t.”

“What do you mean?”

She doesn’t answer.

“Vera. Talk to me.”

“I can’t stay here. It’s not safe. He’ll be watching the office. He probably already has photos of us coming in here. He knows what I look like now. He knows what you look like and—thanks to your overprotective streak—what you are to me. You’re going to be a target now too.”

“That’s an argument for us to stick together, not separate.”

“Why do you have to be so damn stubborn and smart?” She tips her head back on my chest. “Fine. Come with me. But that means leaving your cellphone, Cora, your job, everything behind. Are you sure you want to do that? Do you even understand what that means?”

I hesitate. I’m not an idiot. Leave everything and everyone behind. I’ve been toying with the idea ever since I got out, but now that it can be a reality, I’m not sure if I can do it. I’d be hurting Cora. I’d be throwing away an incredible opportunity doing work I actually like and am good at. I’d lose any chance at reconnecting with my parents.

On the other hand, I’d get to be with Vera.

“What’s going on?”

I release Vera and turn toward Cora. She’s got her hands on her hips. Her gaze bounces between Vera and me, then sticks on me. I pull my cellphone out of my pocket and look at it. Cora follows the movement. I can see the moment she realizes what I mean to do. She glares at Vera, her eyes hot and angry.

I hold my phone out to Cora. “I’m going with her.”

“Why?”

“She needs me.”

“And I don’t?”

“You have Leo now.”

“That doesn’t mean I don’t need you anymore. Don’t go.”

“I’m sorry.” I take her hand and put my phone in it, curling her fingers around it. “I’ll contact you when I can.”

“What about your job? What about Mom and Dad and the life you’re building here?”

“I barely have the beginnings of a life here. It’s not enough. I can start over somewhere new where I’m not recognized and stared at.” I reach back and take Vera’s hand. “I have more with Vera than without her.”

“What exactly do you have with her? A life on the run? Do you even know why she’s running? I bet she hasn’t told you the real reason, has she?” She leans around me to glare at Vera. “Go on. Tell him the truth, Gwendolyn.”

Vera gasps, covering her mouth with her hands.

“Shit.” I spy Nolan and Savannah behind Cora, hovering just around the corner. “Not here.” I jerk my head toward the office.

Vera doesn’t want to go back in there. It takes some convincing, but I finally talk her into it. I take her hand and won’t let go. The minute I do I know she’ll bolt.

Once we’re inside with the door closed, I round on Cora. “How did you find out?”

“I was suspicious of her from the start, remember? When you started spending time with her, I got worried. So I checked the search history on your computer. You knew she wasn’t who she said she was from the start but didn’t tell me. What did she say to get you to keep it quiet? Is that when the sex started? God. You’re just like every other guy. Jerked around by your dick.”

“It was nothing like that. You don’t know the whole story.”

“I know more than you do.”

“What are you talking about?”

“A simple Google search. That’s all it took to find out everything I needed to know about Gwendolyn Marie Johnston.”

“No. Please don’t tell him,” Vera begs. “Please. He doesn’t deserve that. Don’t do that to him.”

“Me?” Cora asks. “I’m not the one f*cking him and lying to him.”

“We don’t f*ck,” Vera spits out. “Fucking is having your virginity sold to the highest bidder and being tied down so he can collect his prize. Fucking is not knowing the name of the guy sticking his cock wherever the f*ck he wants because he paid to get off on you. Fucking is being forced to your knees, to your stomach, or to all fours to fulfill whatever f*cked-up request some sick f*ck has. Fucking is paying your room and board in blowjobs whenever and wherever the master wants. What Beau and I do isn’t f*cking.”

“Am I supposed to feel sorry for you?”

“Knock it off!” I put my arms out, separating them. “Both of you.”

“If you don’t tell him,” Cora challenges Vera, “I will.”

“No. You won’t,” I tell Cora.

“I don’t want to come between you and your sister.” Vera pulls her hand from mine. “I should go.”