Zorro (Reapers MC #16) - Elizabeth Knox Page 0,15

take a moment for that to sink in. He’s the first person I told when Grim got in the motorcycle accident. I didn’t want people worrying and I was in such a state of shock that I didn’t even think to tell Portia. Hell, it was like being hit with one thing after the next.

Deciding not to walk any further down the path, I stop just after we’ve reached the house that Rosa told Portia there was room in. Rosa isn’t a boss lady around here or anything, but I notice Octavia and Ashley rely on her a lot. She’s kind of the mother hen to the Vixens when I think about it. “Look, I don’t give a damn about the past, but tell me you’re coming back at the end of the month to start our last semester. It’s been you and me since the beginning, Ruby. I don’t want to do this without you.”

I stare into her caramel colored eyes, not wanting to give her any sort of false hope. “I’m . . . I’m not coming back.” I keep my tone serious as ever, so she doesn’t think for a split second that I’m lying to her.

She blinks rapidly, like she’s not really processing what I’ve just said. “What do you mean you’re not coming back? You do plan on graduating, right?”

I give her a curt nod. “Yeah, I spoke to all of my professors and they said I could finish off my courses remotely. I explained the situation with my brother and—”

“Don’t make this about your fucking brother, Ruby! I’ve done my fair share of digging. Grim is active as hell on social media, talking about a baby on the way, shares photos of his girlfriend and her three little girls. So please, don’t make this about your damn brother. Stop bullshitting me and tell me what’s going on!”

My hands shake at her sudden outburst. Though I know it’s warranted, I’m dreading telling her what happened. In all honesty, I never wanted to tell her. I wanted to avoid it because I don’t want people to look at me like some charity case, like some victim. It’s bad enough that I needed to tell my brothers and Zorro, but I know I can’t keep lying to those I care about the most.

“Fine, I’ll tell you, but you have to promise me something. Promise me you won’t bring it up again. Promise me this will be all I say one time and then we’re done, and promise me, on your life, that you won’t ever look at me differently.”

Concern washes over Portia’s face as sincerity leaves her lips. “I promise.”

“The night of the party, I . . . I’m sure Ian told you I ran off after that guy smacked my ass. I needed some air, so I ran out of the frat house and decided to cut through the park. Only when I did, I quickly found out I wasn’t alone. I was . . . I was attacked, Portia.” I shut my eyes for a moment, but as flashbacks come flooding to my mind, I quickly open them again. “I was sexually assaulted and beaten on our college campus, so no, I don’t want to come back. What I want is to finish off my school online and put that day behind me.”

Portia brings her hand up to her mouth in shock as she gasps and I don’t miss the way tears begin to well in her eyes. “W-why wouldn’t you t-tell me something like that?!”

“I didn’t want you to look at me differently.”

“Bullshit, Ruby! That’s such fucking bullshit! You know I’m always going to be here for you. We’ve been through some of the worst shit together.”

Shaking my head, I wrap my arms around myself. “Look, I don’t expect you to understand it . . . but I . . . I was having a really hard time with it all and I didn’t know how to cope with it. I just—” my words are cut off by the sounds of gunshots breaking out and I don’t think. I only react, grab Portia’s hand, and rush behind Zane’s house. I don’t know what’s going on, but I know better than to run toward the gunfire.

Chapter Six

If I told you about the darkness inside of me would you still look at me like I’m the sun?

~ Unknown

Zorro

Mid-January . . .

It happens quicker than I can keep up with, but the next thing I know I’m