Devastated (Anger Management, #1)(32)

She also wished that she could stop thinking about that file. She hadn’t read through the whole thing, but she had a pretty good idea about what it said and-

“Why did he have to read it?” she asked on a groan as she closed her eyes and dropped her head back against the wall as she tried not to think about all the things that her parents said about her over the years.

God, the things they’d said about her…

Kylie clenched her hands into fists in an effort to make them stop shaking, only to fold her arms tightly over her chest. She really wished that she’d locked her bedroom door, she thought with something close to terror a moment later as she sat there, trying to remember how to breathe as her bedroom door was pushed open and-

“So, tell me something, Miss Peabody,” Hunter drawled, as he walked into her room, shirtless and carrying one of those heavy-duty battery-operated camping lanterns that she fully planned on stealing.

“Yes?” she said, not really sure how she was supposed to respond since experience had taught her that having her boss show up in her room at two in the morning wasn’t a good thing. Then again, since he wasn’t yelling at her or throwing a five-inch stiletto shoe at her head, she was going to have to reserve judgment.

That is until he joined her on her bed.

Then she was going to quietly have a panic attack.

“I actually didn’t expect you to answer me,” Hunter said with a sheepish smile that had her eyes narrowing on him.

“Still not talking to me?”

“None of it’s true,” she said, wondering why she was even bothering to try to defend herself. No one believed her once her parents got to them. Once her parents started to spread their lies, it didn’t matter what she said or did. She’d lost count of how many neighbors, teachers, friends, bosses, and co-workers that had once greeted her with a warm smile started to give her cold glares after they’d met her parents.

It never mattered that she’d never lied to them or done any of the things that her family accused her of. Once her parents spread their lies, that was it. She’d lost so much because of her parents and it only got worse after the divorce, but then again, that was her fault, wasn’t it?

She’d known better, knew exactly what they were capable of, but that hadn’t stopped her from stupidly believing that they’d wanted to help her when her world came crashing down around her. She’d been so desperate to believe that someone cared about her that she’d actually been relieved when her parents showed up at her door that she’d stupidly told them everything. She’d told herself that they’d changed only to find out exactly what they were capable of.

They’d figured out that she’d told her ex-husband everything that they’d done to her and were afraid that it was going to come out during the divorce. So, they’d taken steps to make sure that no one ever believed anything she said ever again. They didn’t care that they’d given her ex more ammunition to use against her in the divorce, they’d destroyed her.

Nothing she said or did made a difference, people believed what they wanted to believe, and it wasn’t her. So, she’d stopped trying. She’d stopped caring and focused on getting through the divorce, and once the judge granted her freedom, she’d left town and never looked back, hoping that it would be enough. She’d cut all ties to the rest of her family, worked her ass off to build her resume and safeguard her reputation, only to have it all fall apart when-

“I know,” Hunter said, making her frown.

“Know what?”

“That they lied.”

“How?”

“My men are very thorough, Miss Malone. Your family has a very long and disturbing history of accusing people of shit. It didn’t take long to find out that they’ve accused each other, their siblings, parents, best friends, co-workers, neighbors, doctors, dentists, landscapers, bankers, insurance agents, anyone and everyone they’ve ever come in contact with of something, tried to get them arrested, or threatened to sue them. I also know that you didn’t deserve any of this.”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” she mumbled quietly.

“There’s nothing to talk about, Miss Montgomery. They’re full of shit and I could give a flying fuck about what they say,” he promised her as he placed the lantern on the nightstand while she slowly exhaled, tempted to believe him, and God, did she want to believe him.

“Are you going to let me quit?” Kylie asked even as her gaze automatically shot towards her bedroom door to make sure that it was closed.

“Not a chance in hell,” Hunter said, as he laid down and closed his eyes.

“Umm, what are you doing?” she couldn’t help but wonder.

“What does it look like I’m doing?”

“Testing to see if I’m really a homicidal maniac,” she said, blinking down at him.

“I think they forgot to mention that one to my men,” he said around a yawn.

“I’m sure it will be mentioned after this,” she promised, nodding solemnly even as her gaze once again went to her closed bedroom door and she found herself moving closer to the man that—

Kylie barely managed to get out a startled gasp when she suddenly found herself picked up and placed on the other side of the bed so that Hunter was between her and the door.