Safe at Last (Slow Burn #3)

There was a pause. Silence filled the interior of the SUV and then Eliza finally spoke.

“Zack is getting pretty damn tired of the jabs about some mysterious event that transpired twelve years ago. Hell, I’m tired of it and I’m sure he’s hit his head against the brick wall more often than I have.”

That was the fucking truth. And then he realized what Eliza was doing. He’d been so focused on getting into and out of his complex that Sterling’s reference to what had happened twelve years ago had bounced off him and hadn’t been followed up on. Damn it.

His fingers curled around the steering wheel, the skin over his knuckles stretching thin. He was careful to make no sound. His respirations even shallowed as he strained to hear whatever it was Sterling had to say.

“You’re kidding, right?” Sterling asked in disbelief.

“Does it look like I’m joking?” Eliza ground out. “Start talking, Sterling. Either that or I’m going to start shooting, and in these close quarters, I can’t guarantee I won’t hit anything vital, although I’d really prefer not to have to clean up your blood from all over the inside of the vehicle. Blood makes me sick.”

“Unbelievable,” Sterling murmured. “I wonder, has he got all of you believing this innocent-victim act? Are you supposed to feel sorry for the asshole? Has he been telling you that Anna-Grace walked out on him without explanation, without a word, and he never saw her again?”

“I want to hear your story,” Eliza persisted. “We know Zack’s story. Now we want yours. Or what you say really happened. Cough it up.”

Zack went completely silent. Hopefully Sterling would get over his issues with Zack long enough to give them the information he so badly wanted—needed. But at the same time, he braced himself, holding his breath, because it had to be bad.

Instinctively, he knew it wasn’t something minor. It had to have been huge to send Gracie running. Away from him. And twelve years of silence? Of thinking he had betrayed her? Zack had always made it clear that Gracie could come to him for anything. He’d thought she always did. But it seemed when she needed him the absolutely most, she’d turned away from him and left without a word.

“Christ,” Sterling muttered.

“Just say it, for fuck’s sake,” Eliza pressed.

Zack knew that tone. Knew she was fast running out of patience, and if Sterling didn’t start talking soon, she would likely lose her temper and start doing bodily injury to the man.

“He had her raped,” Sterling said in disgust.

Zack slammed on the brakes so hard the SUV fishtailed, swerved left and right before he wrestled the steering wheel enough to screech to a halt on the shoulder of the highway. He whirled around in his seat, the seat belt flying as he disengaged it.

Rage smoldered through his veins and he fixed Sterling with the full force of his wrath.

“What the fuck are you talking about? You better not leave a goddamn word out and you better have a solid goddamn reason for even suggesting such a thing. I loved her. I fucking adored her. She was my entire life! I worshipped the ground she walked on. I would have killed the bastard who laid hands on her. Tell me it isn’t true. Tell me she wasn’t raped.”

Sterling’s brows drew together and he looked at Zack in confusion. His gaze flickered as he continued to study the seething man. The air in the SUV crackled with electric tension. Zack had never wanted to take someone apart with his hands more than right now.

Was Sterling telling the truth? Had Gracie been raped? And what the fuck was he saying he’d had her raped? He was near to exploding and Eliza must have sensed it because she hurriedly intervened, putting her hand up to squeeze Zack’s hand that gripped the back of his seat.

“Don’t you leave a fucking word out,” Zack said around his clenched jaw. “So help me God, if you fuck me around on this I will make your life a living hell.”

Sterling continued to stare at him and Zack could see the wheels turning in the other man’s head. And Zack was beginning to grow antsy under the other man’s scrutiny. Almost as if Sterling was passing judgment over Zack. Fuck that. He didn’t need this goddamn pansy-ass bastard’s approval or his belief. He didn’t give a fuck what Sterling thought. The only person Zack needed to get through to was Gracie.

“Jesus Christ,” Sterling breathed, finally responding after his intense analyzation. “You didn’t do it, did you?”

“Didn’t do what?” Zack yelled. “No one will tell me what the fuck happened! I’m tired of everyone speaking in riddles. Just tell me what supposedly happened twelve years ago.”

Sterling rubbed a hand over his face, sagging back against the seat.

“Jesus,” Sterling muttered. “Anna-Grace is convinced you betrayed her. It’s not something she merely suspects. She knows without doubt that you orchestrated the entire sordid mess.”