True Colors (The Masks #1)(67)

I touched Libby’s shoulder. “You have nothing to be ashamed of. You were the victim here. It’s guys like Liam and Mason and Carter who have to go down for this.” Libby looked at me, surprised that I’d read her so well. Eric gave me a look that told me we weren’t seeing the same thing on Libby’s face. I popped her mask back on and forced a smile. “You’re brave and your actions today will put an end to this.”

“I should have spoken out weeks ago. I could have saved Indie and others so much pain if I’d just had the courage to say something.”

I squeezed her shoulder. “You had the courage to act today and it’s not too late. Indie and Micah are...” I grinned. “They’re gonna be fine. And so will everyone else.” I dug the memory stick from my pocket and passed it to her.

She took it with a relieved smile. “I’m going to see Mr. Van der Belt tonight.”

“Do you want me to come?” I hoped she’d say no. I so didn’t think I could cope.

“No, it’s okay. Mom and Dad are both coming with me. I told her enough on the phone. She’s a counsellor. She’s good with handling this kind of thing.” Libby looked to the floor.

“So all we need to figure out now is what to do with Indie.” I sighed.

“She can’t go back home.” Libby shook her head.

“Most definitely.” Eric crossed his arms. I couldn’t help thinking how sweet it was that Eric had stepped up, introduced himself to Libby, and slotted himself into the situation. His forthright behavior provided a sense of safety, even in spite of his terse tone. “We don’t know if those guys will retaliate.”

“They won’t.” I looked up at him. “You should have seen the look on his face after you threatened him. He was petrified, Eric.”

“Threatened?” Libby frowned and, as if seeing me for the first time, her eyes went wide. “Did Liam hurt you? Did he find you in the house?”

“No.” I bit my bottom lip. “I ran into Mason down by my car. Eric arrived just in time.” I touched my throat.

“Oh my gosh.” Libby’s breaths went all quivery.

“It’s okay, Libby. I’m alright, everything’s fine.”

“We shouldn’t have left you.” She touched her forehead, looking ready to break down.

“Libby.” I shook her shoulder. “It’s over. I’m fine and he’s not going to touch me again. Mason Donovan might be a psycho, but he’s just as scared as his brother of being caught. I think the Donovan boys have gone into hiding. We won’t be seeing them again.”

“You might think that, but you don’t know that for sure.” Eric’s jaw clenched.

I turned from his anger and focused back on Libby. “Indie can come home with me.”

“No way.” Eric voice was steely. “Your parents are in Hawaii. You girls are not going back to stay in an empty house.”

“Indie needs to be somewhere that she feels safe. Staying with strangers is not going to provide that for her.”

“Staying in an empty house with you isn’t either.”

I let out a frustrated sigh. “Fine, what would you have us do then?”

Shoving his hands in his pockets, he drew in what I could only assume was a calming breath. “Go and stay with someone?”

“Like you?”

“No, you’re right about Indie staying with a strange guy. She’s never even met me. And besides, I wouldn’t willingly inflict my mother on anybody.” He frowned. “I think you should call your brother.”

My nose wrinkled before I could stop it. "He’s still a stranger to Indie.”

“With a family and wife and young kids who present no threat to her.”

“I don’t want to stay at his place.”

“Call your sister then.”

I made a face. “I’d rather deal with an irritated Seth in a pristine house than a clucking Layla in her chaos.”

“Whatever. Just call one of them.” He pulled out his phone and passed it to me. I hated the cold, indifferent expression on his face. Unfriendly Eric was back in town and I dreaded what that meant for me. I tentatively took the phone and walked away from them, reluctantly dialing Seth’s number.

To say he was shocked by my revelation was an understatement. Much to his credit, he did listen without interrupting too many times and even agreed to let me take Indie home to my place. He’d bring Julia and the girls to stay with me until Mom and Dad got back. Oh joy! I hung up the phone battling a mixture of relief, exhaustion, and dread.

The dread part was winning and I stayed in my private corner for a second to gather myself. Seth agreed to come to my place, but on the condition that I called Mom and Dad. He also said Indie could stay with us as long as she needed, on the condition that she call her dad. She wouldn’t want to. I knew this already and I shuddered at the thought of having to tell her.

But selfishly, the thing I was dreading most about my immediate future was facing Eric again. I had crossed a line, broken my promise to stay safe and I think it was the end of us. Something so sweet and amazing which had only just begun was about to end and there was nothing I could do about it.





Chapter 32