Page 7 of Possessed By Knox
“Jack?” I rake my mind, trying to think of anyone in my past with that name. “Jack Midfield? I guess it makes sense they would approve of his family. I don’t know him personally, but I can’t imagine that anyone Mom and Dad approve of would be a good fit for you.”
Abby snorts. “Definitely not. But I didn’t realize how much of a jerk he was when they first introduced me to him, and when we started dating—”
Her voice falters, and I don’t like where this is headed. “Oh God!” I jump to my feet and start pacing. I blocked out my past the second I went to college, and I dropped all the friends my parents had shoved at me. I should have known they would try to do the same with Abby, try to control her relationships. Christ, I should have expected it.“Abby, did he—?”[KB12]
“Yes, he hurt me,” she admits in a whisper, rubbing her arms. “Mom and Dad didn’t want to believe me when the abuse started, and even with the bruises, they still refused to believe that Jack was abusing me, so I ran to the women’s shelter and that’s where I met Ransom. That’s how I met the Rebels.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? You should have called me!”
“Then what?” she murmurs, looking down at her fingers. “Have you come back to a city you hate, face the parents you’ve avoided for years, and put your life at risk with an ex that wouldn’t leave me alone?”
“I’m here now,” I say, walking back to the couch. This time, I’m the one who takes her hands. “Mom called me last night and told me that you were kidnapped and brainwashed, so I came running to see you. I would have come sooner if you’d talked to me.”
“Doesn’t seem fair to drag you back here.”
“Well, I’m back, and I’m taking you away from this goddamn city. I have a job, and I’ll move out of the college dorms, get an apartment. You can stay with me for as long—”
“No,” she says, pulling her hands away. “I’m not leaving Chicago.”
“Abby—”
“I have a job that I love, and school, friends…I have Ransom.”
“Abby, listen—”
“I’m sorry that I don’t share your dislike for the city or its people. I can’t leave.” She shakes her head for good measure. “I won’t.”
A frustrated growl climbs up my throat and I fight the urge to kick something. My mother didn’t spend eighteen years of my life drilling into me the importance of controlling my emotions for nothing. Some parts of my past, I’ll never be able to shed.
“What about Jack Midfield? He doesn’t sound like the type to let someone go without a fight. He’ll come after you, Abby. You’ll be safer somewhere else.”
“I’m safe here,” she pushes. “Besides, Jack already tried to take me back but the Rebels stepped in and took care of him.”
“Took care of him? How?”
She looks away. “I don’t know.”
But she does. I can see the truth in her eyes, read it all over her face. She always was an open book, even when we were children. Christ, how could so much happen in just four years? How the hell am I going to untangle my sister from the mess she’s in with the Rebels?
“I’ll stay for a week,” I say, keeping my expression clear despite my racing heart. The thought of staying here in the city and possibly running into my parents or ghosts from my past terrifies me like nothing ever has before. But for Abby, I’ll stay. Long enough to convince her to leave with me. “Think about it, and then we’ll talk.”
“Ruthie—”
“Just think about it, okay?” I say, even as my heart swells at the nickname I haven’t heard for months. “You don’t have to do this alone anymore, Abby.”
“Okay.” She nods, climbing to her feet, and I get up as well. “I’m sorry, but I have to head out. I have a test this afternoon and I’ll be late if I don’t leave now.”
“So they let you go out after all.”
She smiles. “The Rebels didn’t kidnap me, Ruthie. And I’m not brainwashed either. I promise.”
I nod, choosing to trust her. For now. “Okay,” I say, stepping in but then hesitating. It’s been so long since I last saw Abby. So it makes sense that things between us are a little awkward.
Fuck it.
I wrap my arms around her shoulders and yank her into a tight embrace. She laughs, leaning into the hug and rubbing a hand down my back the way she used to when we were younger. “I missed you so much, Ruthie. I’m sorry I stopped calling or taking your calls. I just didn’t want to worry you.”
“I’m not exactly faultless. I should have come back sooner.”
