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He crouches down in front of her, reaching for her hands, and I feel as if I should be somewhere else, anywhere else. This moment is not meant for me, but I also can’t move. I stare at them, focused on them and what is going to be said next.
The silence is almost deafening. I stare and wait, hoping that whatever is going to happen is going to be a good thing. I don’t know what to expect. I don’t know either of them very well, but what I do know is that shit went down, it’s not good, and I don’t think there’s anything that could be said or done to fix it.
“Your family killed my parents,” Parker whispers. “Then they killed Claire’s parents and her brother. They killed their own people, your uncle, aunt, and all your cousins.”
“Yes,” Wells confirms.
Parker nods. Then she drops to her knees in front of him, and I suck in a breath, holding it, watching them, and without a doubt, feel as if I’m a voyeur. I should look away, but I can’t. It’s like a movie. I just can’t.
Shelby makes a noise from behind us. I should look at her. She’s likely doing something ridiculous. But I don’t. Then I hear her call out for Wells. Parker and Wells both shift their attention from one another to her.
Shelby stands a few feet away. She’s moved into the living room but just on the edge. I silently beg her not to say anything. This isn’t the moment. We’re all exhausted, and our adrenaline is now on zero, our bodies sore and likely just plain tired. Then there’s all the emotional shit.
But Shelby, being Shelby, for whatever reason, decides that this is her time to shine. I wish Hendrick had taken her with him. Not that I hate my sister or wish her any ill will, but she is a fucking disaster.
“If you want someone who doesn’t care about your past, your present, or your future and will give you everything you want, I’m right here.”
I almost lift my palm to my forehead with a smack because this is not the time or the place, but Shelby, of course, has made this whole moment about her. My sister is selfish. She’s not evil, but right now, she’s being a downright bitch.
Coleman walks toward her, wraps his hand around her bicep, and drags her away wordlessly. I don’t watch where they go, and I don’t wonder if she’ll attempt to seduce him. She will, but it’s Coleman. I have no other explanation other than it is Coleman.
I trust him.
I probably shouldn’t, but I do.
Or maybe it’s more that Iwantto because I’m falling in love with him. I’m falling in love with all his flaws, his good parts and his really evil parts.
I am just falling in love withhim.
“I love you, Wells,” Parker says. Her voice is loud, and she lifts her hand to her lips as if she’s surprised herself by saying those words.
Wells shifts his attention to her, his eyes finding hers, and then his lips curve up into a smile. “You do?” he asks. “Even though you know everything?”
“Is that everything?” she asks.
“I think that’s plenty,” he snorts.
She chews on her bottom lip, and I hold my breath as I wait for what she’s going to say. I sit on the edge of the couch cushion, my eyes quickly flicking back and forth, volleying as I wait for what is going to happen next.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to forgive what your family did to mine, but you didn’t do it. Your father didn’t maliciously intend to do it. I can compartmentalize it. At least, I think I can. I don’t look at Henry and hate him, and when I look at you, all I see is love.”
“Fuck,” Wells hisses, cupping her cheeks.
I take this as my opportunity to stand and slowly make my way over to Andrew. Taking his hand in mine, I guide him out of the room and toward the direction of where Coleman took my sister. It doesn’t take long to find them. They’re in the spare bedroom, which thankfully has no bed.
ChapterThirty-Five
COLEMAN
“I don’t want a fuckingthing from you. You’ll be lucky if you live to see tomorrow. Didn’t you learn anything from your fucking brother?” I hiss.
Shelby lets out a snort of laughter, then licks her lips. “You don’t want a taste? I promise the younger berry is much, much sweeter.”
I almost laugh in her face. “Babe, there’s nothing you have that I haven’t already taken full advantage of in this life, and trust me when I say you do not hold a fucking candle to Claire. So just stand over there in the goddamn corner and shut the fuck up.”
Just when she opens her mouth to no doubt say some fly shit, I hear Claire’s laughter come from the doorway. Turning my head, I see her standing there with Andrew. She slides her tongue across her bottom lip, then moves toward me.
“They were making up,” she says softly.
