Page 79 of Pretty Threats

He nods.

“There was a misunderstanding. He told me to come to his place and I went. But at the time, he and his roommates didn’t really want anyone over. I didn’t see anything,” I add hastily. “But they were concerned. And their bosses were, I guess.” I run a hand through my hair and glance out the window at the ocean. “Killian hasn’t left me alone since. It’s been an excuse for him to do something that’s pretty hurtful.”

The corners of Liam’s mouth turn down, but he says nothing. I don’t know whether he’s angry at me or Killian or both.

“Even if I’d seen something incriminating—which I didn’t—I couldn’t let myself be held prisoner forever… Especially when he’s capable of doing terrible things to me.” I take several long swallows of my coffee and then lick my lips. “I know he’s your brother. I’ll understand if you don’t want to be put in the middle, but I was hoping you might intervene. You’re really the only person I can imagine him listening to. Except I guess for his new bosses, but I don’t know them. And I don’t think they’d be willing to tell him to stop what he’s doing.”

“What is he doing?” Liam asks.

“Insisting I live with him. Never letting me go to campus on my own. Limiting where I go without him.”

“You’re here now. Where is he?”

“I snuck out. I’ve been hiding from him for the past two days. But he’ll find me soon. He always does.”

“What do you mean by always?” His eyes narrow. It’s infinitesimal, but I see it. “How long ago did this start?”

Heat blazes in my cheeks. “Sorry, I… didn’t plan to bring up the past. This situation started about a week ago.”

“Hmm.” Liam sits back with his gaze steady on my face.

“So, would you be willing to talk to him?”

“What’s your relationship with him? I don’t mean the fact that you’re his stepsister. I mean have you ever dated him or done some equivalent of that?”

“Not in the normal sense.” My gaze leaves his and stares at his desk, absently taking in the computer, the silver letter opener with a Celtic knot handle, and a stack of papers. After drinking the last of my coffee, I perch the cup on the window sill.

When I look back at Liam, his expression is exactly the same as it has been. Unreadable.

“Killian’s relentless, so he’s worn me down sometimes,” I whisper. “You don’t know what he can be like. No one does. Because he’s only this way with me.”

“You haven’t encouraged him? You don’t flirt with him?”

“No.” My fingers rub the side of my neck. “I try to avoid him.”

“But you went to his place? That’s how you saw something you weren’t supposed to see?”

“He ordered me to come, so I did. Saying no… never really works.”

Liam’s eyes narrow. “Are you saying he’s been forcing you to have sex with him?”

“No.” I take a sip of air, my heart hammering in my chest. I’ve clearly miscalculated his response. “It’s okay.” I shoot to my feet, shaking my head. “Forget I ever came to talk to you. It was a mistake.”

As I start toward the door, Liam clears his throat and says, “Stop. Sit back down.”

My fingers trace the grooves in the brass knob. “Can we just pretend I never came?”

Liam stands and gestures for me to return to my seat. I bite my lip and shake my head. Tears of frustration burn the surface of my eyes. By coming here, I may have made things worse. If Liam tells Killian, or even implies, I accused him of sexual assault, the lengths he might go to to retaliate are terrifying. Would my dad be safe? Would I?

Killian promised not to target the people in my life, but I’m sure that was a lie in service of his mission of getting me to fall in love with him. There’s no way I can trust anything Killian said during that time.

My fists ball at my sides. “I can see this isn’t the way for me to handle things, Liam. I’ll transfer to a school on the West Coast. There’s a chance he’ll stay here for his job, instead of moving.”

“I thought you have a golden opportunity to work with your favorite director?”

My gaze flicks to his face. “Marianne told you?”

“Yeah, she told everyone. She’s proud of you.”

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