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“That’s sooo wrong that you said that, but I was thinking the same thing. What happened? Did you escape?”
“No. Crimson let me go.” I pulled at a loose thread on the blue pillowcase.
Teagan folded her arms across her chest, her eyes narrowing to slits. “That’s kind of weird.”
“It was, but I wasn’t going to ask questions, ya know.”
“You never got an answer about why she let you walk away?” Teagan asked.
“No. I have no idea why she decided to let me go. All I can think of is that Crimson needed me to get to something or someone else.” I shrugged. Over the years, I’ve played the scenario in my head a million times, trying to make sense of Crimson’s actions, but I only ran into a brick wall.
“Is this the first time you’ve really talked about it?” Teagan crawled up the bed and sat beside me, stretching her legs in front of her.
“I had to tell Dad and the cops some of it, just not that I started the fire. I blamed it on Crimson.”
“Good! Goddammit, she held you hostage, Phoebs. The fire wasn’t your fault, and neither was . . . your stepbrother.”
“I wish I could believe you. I lit the match.” My chest heaved with my tears, and I buried my face in my hands until my cries subsided.
“Dammit. With everything you’ve told me, I forgot about Peter. He knows what you shared with me?”
“Yup.” I popped my p as I wiped the moisture from my cheeks. “I was desperate to talk to someone. There were so many times I wanted to tell you, but I was scared that you would hate me. I couldn’t handle losing someone else. Peter was so sweet to me once I told him, then a few weeks later, he changed and started hurting me. I think he was just playing with my emotions, and when I realized it, I was in too deep and couldn’t break things off with him. He had full control.”
“Fucking bastard. Both of them!” Teagan slammed her fists into the mattress. “Geez, you went from Crimson to Peter. One abuser after the other.”
“It’s why I don’t want to date anyone.” I looked at her through swollen eyelids. “I don’t trust myself to pick a decent guy.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t understand the situation, or I wouldn’t have been a brat about the parties and meeting someone.”
“Don’t be. It’s good for me to get out. Hell, I don’t mind a hookup, but other than that, no thanks.”It’s why I like the society! Black Mamba could be as rough as he wanted, but it never triggered me. Peter never hurt me during sex.
The love of my life had been rough, but he cherished and respected me in his bed. I nearly barked out a laugh. We were teenagers, but the sex was mind-blowingly good.
My heart folded in on itself, and my stomach twisted into a million knots. I had killed the only guy I had ever loved. I clenched my jaw and forced myself to bury the pain once again. It was over. I’d shared the worst with Teagan, and now we could decide what to do about Peter.
“There’s something else.” Hopefully, she would understand what I was about to share.
“Crap. I’m not sure if I can handle anything else.”
“It’s not as bad, I promise, but you have to swear that none of this leaves this room.”
“Girl, I ain’t sayin’ a word. I don’t want Peter to come after me or anyone I love.” She raised her hand to her chest. “I’m ready.”
“My real name isn’t Phoebe.”
“Ohhhhh. Okay.”
“My real name is Ariana Ellison.”
Teagan’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. “Holy. Fucking. Shitballs. Theo is your dad, which means his last name isn’t Jenkins like you both told me it was. He’stheTheodore Ellison and you’re his daughter?” Teagan shot me a look of disbelief. “I know you’re his daughter, but holy crap. You really come from money, girl. Theo is famous. I’ve read an article about his tech inventions and company, TechG8, but I hadn’t seen a picture of him.” She smacked her forehead with the palm of her hand. A few seconds later, she peeked over at me. “Why the name change?”
“Dad wanted to protect me. Crimson was never arrested, and we were afraid she might take me again. It’s also why dad shipped me off to the academy on the East Coast.”
“Girl, you can’t make this stuff up. I feel like I’m watching true crime or something.” She slumped against the headboard.
“You have to keep calling me Phoebe when we’re around everyone, okay? I can’t jeopardize anyone else’s safety.”
A mischievous glint sparked to life in her brown-eyed gaze. “How about Phoriana.”
