Page 74 of Daddy's Laws

“She saved my life.” The words were quiet, but firm with conviction. “And there is no evidence she really knew what was going on until he took me.”

Frustration and anger in equal measure raced through her veins. Shannon shoved off the couch, pacing back and forth in front of her friend who was watching her with the wariness with which one might regard a prowling lion. “That’sbullshit,Liv, and you know it.”

“I don’t know anything of the sort. I know that MaryAnn was dating a man who wooed her, flattered her, told her she needed to stand up for herself. Who painted me as some kind of archvillain and convinced a sweet, naive woman that she should confront me on neutral ground. That isallI know.”

“The fact that you believe that makes you as stupid and naive as her.”

Shocked by her own words, Shannon stopped pacing and slammed a hand over her mouth. From the couch, Liv simply stared back at her, silent tears streaming down her cheeks.

“I suppose I deserved that.”

Lowering her hand, Shannon shook her head. “No. You didn’t. I’m sorry, that was a horrible thing for me to say.”

“I don’t believe her just because of what she told me,” Liv continued stiffly, ignoring the apology. “The police have scoured her communications with him, studied her movements during the times of the other attacks. Literally nothing points to her having anything to do with the other women or with you. And I’m sorry, I know you want her to be guilty for some reason, but she’s not.”

Dropping back down to the couch, Shannon pulled her knees up to her chest. “I don’t even know why. I think I’m just soangryabout what happened to me. It haunts me, Liv, all the time. I try to pretend like it doesn’t but it’s getting harder.”

“Do you think maybe it’s getting harder because Bryant finally knocked down some of those walls around your heart?”

“I don’t want to talk about Bryant.”

“Well, too damn bad. Look, I know he fu—messed up. James and I both told him he needed to tell you sooner rather than later.”

“Then why didn’t he? Why would he hide this from me?”

The struggle was clear on Liv’s face as she sat in silence, twirling one long brown curl around her finger over and over again. “I don’t really know. He just said it was complicated.”

“That’s a bullshit excuse.”

“I know.” Liv smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I felt it was more his secret to tell.”

“Sorry you didn’t tell me, but not sorry you asked him to represent her?”

“No. I won’t apologize for helping a wounded woman defend herself. You think you feel betrayed right now? Imagine how MaryAnn must feel. And then imagine that you have no one willing to stand for you.”

Guilt began to trickle through the anger and the hurt, but she ignored it. “I don’t know if I can ever be okay with this, Liv.”

“I know. And I accept that. But I hope we can still be friends anyway.”

The thought of losing her best friend was like a knife to her chest. “I just… need some time.”

“All right.” Pushing to her feet, Liv hesitated, obviously struggling with what she wanted to say. “I love you, Shay. And I am so sorry you’re hurting. I’ll be here when you’re ready.”

With that, Liv turned and walked away. When the front door shut quietly behind her, Shannon lowered her head to her knees and wept.

* * *

She didn’t come back.

For three hours he waited, prowling through the house, practically vibrating with nervous energy. He just wanted to see her, to hold her, to tell her how fucking sorry he was.

But she didn’t come back.

Olivia

She’s here.

The text from Olivia was a knife in the gut. So, she’d gone home. She’d run away instead of staying and working things out with him.

---