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I’ve been thinking all day that whatever is going on with Brooke has to be connected to Tristan blackmailing me. It just couldn’t be a coincidence. So when Xander confirmed it earlier, any doubts I had about coming clean left me.
For some reason, Xander and the Graysons are in some type of war against Tristan and David. I don’t know the details, but I do know one thing: the more information they have, the better.
Then take a leap of faith.
“I’m going to tell you everything.”
Xander stills. His face falls blank, turning neutral and unreadable. “Go on,” he says slowly.
I glance around one last time. “You’re sure we’re alone?”
“Yes, of course.” Reaching out, Xander takes hold of my arm. “Soph, what’s wrong?”
“Tristan is blackmailing me,” I blurt. My hands are beginning to shake.
Xander’s features harden, and his hand tightens around my arm. “What?”
“I’m so sorry, Xan. I wanted to tell you—I promise. But he told me that—he told me—” My voice breaks, and I cover my face with my hands. I’d been hoping to avoid getting emotional, but all the fear I’ve been bottling up is ready to explode inside me.
“Explain. Now.” His voice is harsh, and I cringe.
“He—he broke into my house the night before you took me to the diner. He said that he had something on you, that he had the power to destroy you, to take you away from me.”
Xander’s hand falls from my arm, and even though it’s summer, coldness seeps into my skin. “Then what?”
Wringing my hands, I say, “He told me to get close to you. He said he wanted to break you, and destroy you. And that if I told you, he’d have you arrested. Xander, what did you do?”
He stares at me for a moment. The softness that’s usually there for me is gone. “That’s why you broke into my office last night.”
“Xan, I’m sorry. I didn’t want—”
“Is that why you wanted to move in with me?” he snaps. He grabs my shoulders and slams my back into a tree. “Is that why?”
“No! Not entirely. I knew it’d keep him at bay for a while, but mostly I was scared. I thought he might break in again, and tie—” I cut myself off, my eyes widening. I don’t want to tell him this part. It’s slightly embarrassing that Tristan managed to tie me up while I was sleeping, and I hadn’t woken up even a bit.
My heart beats wildly as he stares at me with hard eyes. It hadn’t occurred to me that Xander might not believe me, might not trust me after this.
Of course that’s how he feels. You betrayed him.
“He tied you up.”
I stare at the ground, clenching my fists to stop them from shaking. “Xander, I—”
“What else did he do?”
My eyes squeeze shut as tears form in my eyes. I have no desire to relive that night.
“What. else. did. he. do.” Xander presses me further into the tree, leaning forward until I can feel his breath on my face. His voice is lethal.
“He kissed me,” I whisper. “And hit me.” Tears fall onto my cheeks. When I move to wipe them away, Xander catches my wrist in his hand.
“Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?” His voice is full of disgust, of hate.
I sniffle, still avoiding his glare. This was a mistake—I should’ve done what Tristan said and kept my mouth shut. Now I’m going to lose Xander. He’s never going to trust me again, and what we’ve managed to rekindle will go up in flames.
“Sophia,” he snaps, grabbing my chin and turning it to face him. His eyes are cold, full of fury.
“He said he’d take you away,” I whisper. “He said he knows everything. Xander, he knew we were meeting the next day. He knew what we were going to be talking about. I don’t know how, but he did.”
