Page 119 of Betrayed

“Not everything, but they’ll be done with the house soon.”

I didn’t like the idea of her being anywhere but with me, but I had to let her make up her own mind. It felt like an eternity before she asked, “You’re sure you don’t mind?”

“Sure?” I laughed softly and brushed her bangs to the side. “Blake, I’d insist, and carry you home with me if I didn’t think it’d piss you off.”

She didn’t quite laugh, but she smiled as she said okay.

Tension fell from my shoulders as relief washed over me.

If she’d chosen a friend’s house or staying at her dorm, I would’ve gone crazy and pulled a play from Jamie’s playbook—and camped outside her door.

We talked for a few minutes before a soft knock interrupted us.

“Come in,” I called out, pulling Blake close when she tried to stand up. I should have released her, but my arms didn’t get the message.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Jack came in, carrying Blake’s backpack. “ I wanted to return these before you leave.”

This time, I let her get up.

“Thank you.” She immediately reached into her bag for her phone. When she turned it on, it chimed non-stop for what seemed like forever.

Jack asked quietly, “You good for tonight?”

Blake’s shoulders sagged as messages continued to chime in.

“She’s staying with me, but I don’t think it’ll be a good night,” I answered. Blake looked even more defeated as she started scrolling through her messages.

“Let me know if you need anything. The rest of the team said to tell you the same.”

“Thanks, man.” We shook hands before hugging it out with a solid clap on each other’s back.

After Jack left, I walked up behind Blake and wrapped my arms around her. “You don’t have to read them tonight.”

She turned in my arms. “Priscilla is blaming me because she’s locked out of the house,” she wept into my chest.

I pried her phone out of her shaking hands. “Why don’t you wait until tomorrow to read the rest?” She’d had enough stress and trauma for one day.

I felt her nod into my chest. “Can we go home?”

Home. Hearing her refer to leaving with me as going home was music to my ears.

Chapter 55

Blake

Ithanked everyone again as we said our goodbyes. Their support and generosity was in stark contrast to the blame and anger from Priscilla. She blamed me for the police kicking her out of the house, for their joint accounts being frozen, and for my father going to jail.

How is any of this my fault?

AJ seemed to understand I wasn’t in the mood to talk. After asking if I needed to stop for anything, he turned on the radio to fill the silence.

My jaw dropped when he pulled in front of a small yellow house.I would have guessed a small studio man cave. The light over the door was enough for me to see landscaped flowerbeds on either side of the door.

AJ raced around the car to open my door and help me out. Usually I’d think it was too much, but I was so damned tired I could barely stand, let alone argue.

“Let’s get you inside,” he said, grabbing my bags.

“Your house is cute. So not what I was expecting.”

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