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Maybe whatever drugs they had me on were loosening my tongue too much.
‘It wasn’t like that. Well, not after the start. I wanted him to stalk me.’
‘This is messed up.’ Maeve sat back in her seat, looking stunned.
‘I was lonely, and I enjoyed his attention. I craved it. He made me feel safe, needed.’
‘You could have been safe with us. You’ve been ignoring us for months, avoiding us. I thought it was because you were too wrapped up in Tommy.’ Cam’s voice barely hid his anger.
‘I’m sorry.’
‘Why? Why didn’t you tell me? We’ve never kept shit like this from each other?’ His words hurt almost as much as the bruises that decorated my body.
‘You guys were a perfect little unit. You and the kids and Mum. I didn’t fit.’
‘You’ll always fit, Katie. We love you.’
‘I know you do, but I didn’t gel with Mum like you did. And for a while, Tommy was a great distraction. The parties and events, the way he made me feel special when he could have chosen anyone else. I wanted his love so badly, I overlooked so many warning signs.’
‘It’s not your fault, Katie. Not for feeling alienated by your mum’s return, and not for being with Tommy. He’s clearly unhinged, and you couldn’t have known that.’ Maeve pulled me into a tender hug. ‘It’s okay to find it hard with your mum. She hates herself for what she did to you.’
‘I know why she left. Dad was no better than Tommy, but it didn’t make it hurt any less that she abandoned us to him.’
A noise sounded at the foot of the bed, and I winced as I looked up sharply. Mac stood in the doorway, dark circles beneath his eyes, as he offered me a broken smile. My heart leapt at the sight of him despite the nervous tingles washing over me.
‘I’m so sorry, Katie. I should have been there earlier.’
He walked toward the bed, leaning in and handing me a single red rose.
Cam was on his feet, fist swinging at Mac, before anyone had a chance to react. Mac’s head snapped to the side as Cam’s fist collided with Mac’s jaw with an almighty thwack.
‘Cam!’ Maeve and I shouted in unison as I sat up, despite the pain shooting through me.
‘You stalked my sister,’ Cam spat out.
‘She told you? Well, shit. Yeah, I did.’ Mac rubbed a hand over his jaw while taking a step back.
‘And you think that’s okay?’
‘I never said it was okay. But I don’t regret it for a minute.’
‘Enough,’ I said. ‘Cam, I can deal with Mac myself. Go home and get some sleep. Will you bring Mum to see me later? I think I need to talk to her.’
Maeve squeezed my hand before standing and looping her arm through Cam’s, guiding him away from Mac. ‘We can do that, she’ll be worried sick. I can bring some clothes and bits, too.’
‘I could kill for a slushie,’ I said, offering a smile that made my lip ache.
When they were gone, the silence was crushing as Mac and I stared at one another. My pulse quickened to have him near me, knowing all that had passed between us.
‘Thank you for finding me,’ I said softly, adjusting the bed to a sitting position to take the strain off of my aching muscles.
‘I’m so sorry I was too late.’
‘You found me before he could come back. It could have been worse.’
Mac sat down in the chair next to the bed, his eyes roving over me as he took stock of my injuries. ‘They haven’t found him yet. Do you know where he might be?’
‘Maybe with some of the band? Or drunk in a hotel somewhere.’
