Page 140 of Dark Endures

What?

“There are no witnesses and no evidence. People around here have known me and my family for generations. If you say a word, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

What?

"Copy your friend and keep your mouth shut. Don’t be stupid. That’s all. You can go.”

Automatically, I stand up and walk to the door.

As soon as it’s open, Adonis says loudly, “We’re all so glad you’re feeling better. Take all the time you need to get up to speed.”

Hypocrite.

That two-faced hypocrite abuser.

I can’t believe he just said that…did that.

The nerve of that man.

Before I know it, I’m sliding into Maddox’s car.

“What’s wrong?” He twists his body until he’s facing me.

“Nothing. Can we just go home, please?”

“I’ll let you get away with that lie until we’re home, but then you’re telling me. No more games.”

“Games. You think I’m playing a game? This is my life. Mine. No one else’s. I need to do what’s right for me. So you don’t get to tell me what to do, nor does anyone else. Nobody gets to tell me to shut up and keep quiet.” I burst into tears.

One second, I’m in my seat. The next, I’m in Maddox’s lap with his arms wrapped around me.

“He told me to shut up. He told me not to be stupid and shut up. The thing was, I wasn’t going to say anything. But he told me to shut up.” I cry into Maddox’s henley. “I was going to let him get away with hurting me and sexually assaulting one of my friends because I didn’t want to make waves. I thought it would just all go away.”

“It will.” He strokes my back. “This will all go away. You won’t ever have to see that man again.”

“But it won’t. When I go to HR and the police, it’ll just get bigger and bigger until it takes over my life. People will take sides. People will whisper behind my back. I’ll have to quit.”

A finger touches my chin, gently pushing it up until I’m staring into Maddox’s eyes.

His rough thumb brushes away my tears. “Nothing is going to happen to you. There will be no talk. No whispers. No taking sides. Because you aren’t going to HR or the police.”

“I’m not?”

“No. You’re going to tell me his name and then trust me to take care of you.”

“I am?”

“Yes, you are.”

“You can do that?” Maddox promised to protect Everett, and I believed him wholeheartedly. That sounded pretty scary.

“I can make it all go away. Do you trust me?”

With my life…Wow! How did that happen?

“Tell me his name.”

“Adonis.”

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