Page 103 of Savage Promises
I love how he cares about me, but it stings if it’s at my sister’s expense.
“I just need to make sure she’s okay,” I say, already slipping on my coat. “No one will miss me.”
“I’llmiss you,” he says in a voice I haven’t heard before.
Startled, I whisper, “Shane, please.”
He studies me again for a long moment before shaking his head. “All right. But don’t be long.”
I kiss him on the cheek. “Twenty minutes, tops. I promise.”
I slip out quietly, Shane closing the door behind me. When his face disappears, a strange feeling washes over me. Like some premonition of Shane closing the door on our marriage if something goes wrong.
Would he fight for me?
I cross the street, the balmy night chilling my skin as I tug my coat over my shoulders. Dad’s house feels even darker up close. I could say it’s a shadow of what it used to be. But our house was never like Quinlan Manor.
Using my key, I step inside.
The house is eerily silent. I didn’t see Dad’s car parked in the driveway, so I know he’s not home. Garrett should be at Club Echelon, hopefully not getting his dick sucked.
I climb the stairs, saying hello out loud, so Neve doesn’t jump out and pepper spray me. The hallway stays quiet and empty, despite my voice floating up to the second floor.
I find Neve in her bedroom, curled up on her bed, her face buried in a pillow.
“Neve?” I say softly, stepping inside. “What’s the matter?”
She rolls over, her face blotchy from crying. “What doyouwant?”
“That’s no way to greet me.” I fold my arms. “It’s almost ten p.m. and you’re all alone here. I was worried about you.”
“My team lost three matches in a row,” she groans, burying her face again. “The coach was fired, and everyone blames me.”
“It is not your fault he was fired,” I say, sitting on the edge of her bed. “You’re young and you were seduced by an older man who should have known better.”
“At this rate, I won’t get into USC,” she whines.
Southern California has the best volleyball program, but it’s competitive as hell. Shane has the money and the connections to get her in. And I’m sure he wouldn’t mind her being three-thousand miles away. But I could never ask him to help her after the way she treated him.
“If you don’t get in there, you can go somewhere else. I’ll even pay your tuition.”
She sits up, glaring at me. “I don’t want your money. I want people to stop hating me.”
Her bitterness stings, considering all I did for her. Shane was so right. Neve could have had it all, but she threw it away.
“It’s up to you to fix your reputation with the team. You had to know sleeping with youroldercoach when you were engaged to another man was wrong.”
She rolls her eyes. “Leave me alone. Go to your handsome husband who’ll give you whatever you want.”
Hearing her call Shane handsome zings me with a bite of jealousy. She’d never given any indication that she felt something for him, let alone that she found him handsome. I can remind her again that he was supposed to beherhusband. She could have been across the street shining like a diamond on Shane’s arm.
Not that I think he’d show her anywhere near the warmth he’s shown me. But the Quinlan men are honorable. Shane would have made a good show of it.
“It’s late.” I pat Neve on the shoulder and stand to leave. “Get some sleep. Do you want to meet for brunch tomorrow? I’ll send a car for you.”
“No,” she shoots me down.
“Suit yourself.” Exhaling, I close the door and leave her alone.
