Chapter 220

“He was furious. I have never seen him so angry. Honestly, that puzzled me because he barely noticed her. She was a possession to him, a thing mostly beneath his notice. He was neither kind nor faithful. He did not care about my sister. I assumed he would be happy to be rid of her. I hoped he would release me, too. After all, I would be one less bother. Instead, he gave Hector and Victor more tools to make certain I did not slip through their fingers. Then he took his anger out on me.”

“He raped you more.”

Laila hesitated, then nodded, her gaze skittering away.

He tipped her chin up until she met his stare again. “Listen to me. That isn’t your fault. And that isn’t your shame.”

“I know you are right, but logic does not stop the feelings.”

Her answer broke his heart, but when Trees made to gather her in his arms, she backed away. Because she was focused on helping Kimber? Or because she still thought he was the mole?

“Later, I realized that Valeria