I nod in agreement. Nor would I want to put Grace in that situation. I feel bad enough that Quinton came here, and all night, I’ve waited for her to ask if it’s safe to stay here. Grace doesn’t like being alone; she checks that the alarm is set numerous times before going to bed at night. There’s a history there that I haven’t felt comfortable enough to ask about yet.

“Trust me, no one in my family will leave me alone right now. Even though I wish they would for a moment.” My shoulders slump. “Quinton hasn’t returned in days. He came over, we fought, and it happened. He freaked out as soon as he realized what he’d done.”

“If no one can stay with you, you call me, okay?”

As much as I want to tell him I’d prefer it was him staying at my side, I don’t.

I don’t because I’m still so angry with him.

“Okay,” I whisper.

“Promise not to ignore me.”

“I’m not making that promise,” I say. “I’m angry with you, Lincoln. Pissed off beyond belief that you went behind my back.”

“Hate me if you want, but at least I’ll know you’re safe.” He takes my hand in his, careful at first, waiting to see if I’ll pull away, and when I don’t, he uses it to pull me into his hold. “If it takes you hating me to keep you safe, then I guess the heartache and pain I’m experiencing is worth it because your safety is the most important thing to me. Not my heart, not my feelings. You.”

I shake in his arms and choke back a sob.

What do I do?

I can’t forgive him. I trusted him, and he broke my heart.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Lincoln

“What did you do to make Georgia not hate you anymore?” I ask Archer, sipping on my coffee and narrowing my eyes at him. “I still can’t believe you said something to Cohen.”

Sleep was like a blocked-off street to me last night. All I thought about was Cassidy.

Is she safe?

Will Quinton hurt her again?

Will she ever forgive me?

With our talk after I returned to her house, mentioning Quinton, I don’t think she hates me. I’m scared that she won’t trust me any longer, and if you can’t trust someone fully, can you be with them? I don’t want to have a half-assed relationship with someone who is on the fence on whether they can share their deepest secrets with me.

I’d been tested, and I failed.

I failed and told my brother what I’d said I wouldn’t.

Somehow, someway, I need to earn her trust back while also fighting for her to go against Quinton.

In the end, do I regret telling my brother? No.