Page 4 of Drowning in Darkness

I squeak and throw my arms around the woman I’ve been getting closer to these last few months. She’s the head of a charity that helps women who’ve experienced violence, and that’s exactly where I need to be—helping others who don’t possess the means to do it themselves.

“And she’s living with you?” Hunter checks.

“The pool house,” Honor reminds him. I tried to insist on renting my own place, but I think my brother would have kidnapped me himself. It’s clear even now that I’m farther along in healing than he is. Hunter carries guilt as if it were a second skeleton beneath his skin.

“I’d prefer it if she were on the premises,” he argues.

Honor straightens her spine. “That is Stephanie’s choice, not yours. The offer is there. The pool house has the same security measures as the rest of the house. It is alarmed and linked to the main house, the company, and our onsite twenty-four-seven guard.”

“Better security than here,” Nurse Hannah points out.

“We’re only a few hours away,” Honor reassures him. “You can visit any time.”

“No, not any time,” Eleanor grumbles. “Like anyone else, we will check and plan a visit.”

She gets it, and in the face of four strong women, my brother is struggling to gain ground.

“She’ll be close to me, working with the charity,” Honor reassures him.

“Not front-facing,” he asserts.

Not yet. Even I know I’m not ready for that. But I’ve done the healing many of these people face. I can listen, understand, and not judge. That’s all I can offer, really.

“No,” Honor agrees. “First thing this week is prep for the charity ball planned for the weekend.”

My lips tip up, and I marvel at the fact that I’m not running for the hills at the thought of a party when the last one I attended altered the course of my life. But this isn’t a frat party; it’s a bunch of rich folks wanting to spread their cash for tax relief. Honor’s job is to make them believe her charity is deserving.

“We’ll come,” Hunter decides, sliding his phone out of his pocket and swiping open his calendar. “When and where?”

Honor’s eyes narrow. “This weekend.”

Eleanor’s lips press into a thin line. “That’s not happening.”

He glares at her. “You don’t have to come.”

She folds her arms. “Neither do you. It’s Rose’s birthday. Someone needs to keep a lid on that girl, because Mark is run ragged.”

“I’ll keep her close,” Honor reassures him.

Many others might not understand Hunter’s nature. He wasn’t always like this, but I know he blames himself for so much of the bad that’s happened to me. He needs evidence before he believes the world won’t swallow me whole again.

Hunter’s shoulders slump. “Fine, but you will check in with me twice a day.”

I shake my head. “Twice a week, same as here.”

“No.”

“I’m surviving, not thriving, Hunter. It’s time to let me spread my wings, the ones you’ve taken care of for so long.”

“You’re saying this is my fault.”

I shrug and raise onto my tiptoes to place a kiss on his cheek. “I don’t view it like that. I see this as your success.”

Surrounded by love and acceptance, they can’t protect me if I’m choosing to put myself out there. But I am sure of one thing. If anyone comes for me, I have the most formidable women at my back and an overbearing brother at my side.

I’ve already experienced more horror than most in my short twenty-eight years. The laws of the universe dictate that my future should be filled with happiness.

Pity the universe isn’t listening.