When Sinners Fear (House of Skin Book 4) by Charlotte E Hart & Rachel De Lune

When Sinners Fear (House of Skin Book 4) by Charlotte E Hart & Rachel De Lune

Author:Charlotte E Hart & Rachel De Lune [Hart, Charlotte E & De Lune, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-10-22T16:00:00+00:00


CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

PEYTON

I

glance at the entrance to our road in the wing mirror as Knox drives away. It doesn’t make sense, but I couldn’t move – like I was frozen. Frozen in fear and unable to wrap my mind around articulating what’s happened to me. Nobody would understand — nobody except Knox.

He continues to drive, and I don’t say anything, appreciating his silence. What would I say? There’s no real explanation for my actions. I should want to rush to the safety and comfort of my family and never want to see or have anything to do with Knox Cortez again in my life. But that’s not how I feel, not deep down.

He’s surrounded by people who all intimidate me like everything he deals with is life or death, but at the same time, I’ve never felt safer.

The drive back gives me time to run over the multiple ways to start the conversation I want to have with my mom. Or how I might explain what happened that day I didn’t come home. The need to explain to them that it wasn’t my decision eats at me, and I know why. A part of me resents putting my life on hold for the family, and so it’s my guilt wanting to set the record straight.

I don’t want them to think I’ve run away or abandoned them, and I don't want them to think the worst has happened, either. But as I choreograph conversations, my guilt and shame continue to bleed out into the words, and no matter how I phrase it, I can’t escape sharing some element of truth to the ordeal. There are reasons why I have a cut on my forehead, why my cheek is bruised, with a possible fracture, and why there are hand marks and finger bruises covering my body. They can’t be ignored, and I’m not strong enough to tell the truth. Mother isn’t strong enough to hear it, either.

I can’t hide forever, though, and keeping them in the dark is cruel. So I’ll have to figure out how to tell them I’m not their girl anymore. I’m not the same Peyton as before. Father will be disappointed in me. Telling him the truth will quieten him, but I can’t do that because recounting the words in my head is enough to turn my stomach. It was horrific, the likes of a horror story, and I don’t want to make them suffer a second of that.

I’ll call them when I’m back and safe to stop them from worrying. That’s enough. It will have to be.

“You’re quiet.”

“I’m thinking.” It’s the truth.

We pull up to the big gates that shield Knox’s house away. I’d have thought the place was over the top if I’d visited before. Now, they provide a sense of reassurance I never thought I’d need.

He parks on the drive and heads up to the house without looking back. As soon as the door’s shut and locked behind us, I let out a breath. He glances towards me and holds my stare before stalking off to the living room.



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