Page 48 of Break Me

Samuel glances back at me. His eyes hold a vow and a goodbye stitched together.

“Make sure she gets home safe,” he says to Mouse and then walks away.

Samuel

Church is already in session when I walk in.

Every chair around the long table is filled. Smoke hangs low near the ceiling. The conversation comes to an abrupt stop when I walk in. Every eye tracks me as I make my way to the empty seat.

Knox is standing at the far end of the table, hands braced on the wood like he might tear it apart. His jaw is locked. His eyes are red, not from tears, but from rage.

Jon sits to his right, his opinion carrying as much weight now as it did when he wore the president's patch.

He doesn't look at me at first. Somehow, that hurts worse than any words he might say.

I take the empty chair across from them and sit.

“What the hell is going on, Wolf?” Knox doesn't raise his voice. He doesn't have to. “Because I just found my sister naked in your bed. So, you better start talking.”

I open my mouth, but am stopped before I can say anything.

“How long?” her father asks.

The room goes still.

He finally looks at me then. Really looks. But his gaze doesn’t soften.

“Months,” I answer.

“How many months?”

“Nine,” I say without hesitation.

Knox explodes. “You lying piece of⁠—”

“Knox,” his father snaps. “Sit down.”

“You’re just going to let him⁠—”

“I said sit down.”

It’s the old voice. The one that used to end wars.

Knox drops into his chair.

Jon turns back to me. “You’ve been around my daughter since she was a little girl,” he says. “Since she was a kid running around this clubhouse with scraped knees and big eyes. So, I’m going to ask you one question, and your answer better be the truth.”

My throat tightens.

“Did you touch her before she was eighteen?”

“No,” I say immediately. “I swear to you.”

His stare drills into me, searching for cracks. Lies. Weakness.

“Even after. I fought it. But it was no use, I’d fallen in love with her,” I continue, voice rough. “And I hated myself for it.”

Something shifts in his face. Just barely.