Page 150 of The Good Girl

“Whatever it is, you can tell me. It changes nothing.”

I reach up and cup his jaw, feeling tears prick my eyes. “No, Havoc, it changes everything.”

I kiss him, pouring everything I am, everything I feel into it, anchoring him to me before I pull back.

“Driller raped Lola,” I blurt out.

His eyes close, his shoulders drop as he presses in closer. “I want to say I’m shocked, but I’m not. How can I be? I just don’t understand what she saw in him in the first place. They were never friends. She acted as though she hated him when we were together.”

I swallow, realizing he’s not getting it. “She did hate him. She does. She never chose him over you, Havoc. He took her.” My words settle around us, freezing the air as if the universe is holding its breath.

His eyes fly to mine as understanding dawns. He shoves away from me. “No. I would have known. Someone would have told me.”

I don’t say anything; I just watch and wait as everything falls into place.

He roars, pulling back his fist and punching the trunk of the tree, splitting his knuckles open. I reach for his hand and hold on tight, feeling him shake with rage beneath my touch.

“She should have told me. Why didn’t she tell me?” He whispers, looking lost.

“I don’t know Havoc.”

His hands move to my hips, yanking me to him as I wrap my arms around him.

“I need to talk to her.”

“Yeah, I think you do.”

“Driller could have been messing with you.”

“He could have. He wanted to scare me.” But I don’t think he was lying, not about this.

“Oh fuck, Nevaeh, what did I do?”

I close my eyes and try to absorb some of his pain.

“Nothing is ever black and white, Havoc. You didn’t know.”

He sighs and lifts his head, kissing me urgently before whispering against my lips.

“I’ll call Hannibal and arrange for a visit. You’ll come with me?”

“Of course. We’ll deal with this together like we do everything.”

“Fuck, I love you.”

I feel that knot of worry unfurl inside me. We’ll be okay as long as we have each other.

“Good, because I love you too.”