A Protector's Second Chance (Unit Matched #2) by Mary Smith, Rebecca Cartee Read Free Book Online Page B

covers. I was thankful that he hadn’t betrayed me.
    “Would you at least enlighten me on something?”
    I nodded.
    “Why do you think you’re worthless?”
    My stomach dropped. Of course, he would ask that question first.
    “You can trust me,” he pleaded. “Please, Amaya.”
    “I don’t think I can even cry anymore.” I started. “I’ve cried so much these past forty days.”
    “Forty-one,” he corrected.
    I rolled my eyes. “Forty-one.”
    He smirked.
    “Do you know why our parents Matched us?”
    Oliver shook his head. “I don’t know. I never asked.”
    “I never did, either. Of course, your parents might be more forthcoming than mine.”
    “Why would you say that?”
    “My parents are more private, I guess.” That wasn’t a total lie. My parents were that way until they started drinking.
    “You can tell me. I want you to trust me.”
    I give him a small smile. “I actually do trust you, Oliver, especially after yesterday.”
    “My rebellious streak?”
    I laughed softly. “I don’t think one day counts as a streak.”
    “Good point.” He came over and sat in the chair across from me.
    My heart raced, and my hands became sweaty. His green eyes studied me and I knew there were going to be a lot more questions. I couldn’t tell Oliver the truth. Those were secrets of mine and only on the pages of my books would hold them. I picked at one of the edges of the journals trying to get my emotions in order.
    But I did trust him.
    “I wasn’t good at writing when I started this.” I grabbed one of the older ones from the bottom of the pile.
    I flipped through several pages as memories came to life in my mind. I stopped at one particular scene I had drawn, and my hands began to shake.
    “Every family has secrets, right?”
    Oliver looked at me, unsure where I was heading.
    “I guess so.”
    My bottom lip quivered. “Yeah.” I didn’t know what else to say.
    “Does your family have secrets?” his voice was low.
    I nodded.
    I studied the page I had drawn so many years ago. It depicted me on the ground, red around me, and a vodka bottle.
    I was nine, and Mom had cracked me in the head with the clear bottle. I wasn’t fast enough for her. She thought it would teach me better reflexes. I had to have ten stitches right behind my ear.
    “Amaya.” Oliver reached for my hand, but I pulled away.
    “I’ll tell you something, but you can’t tell anyone.”
    Why?
    Why would I tell him?
    Every part of my soul screamed for me to tell him, that I could trust him.
    He nodded slightly, still staring at me.
    “My parents drink.” I rushed the words out.
    “That’s not uncommon.” Oliver seemed confused. “A lot of citizens have a glass of wine, or a drink, every now and again.”
    I smirked. Poor Oliver, he had no clue what I was talking about. “I mean really drink. All the time.”
    “Oh,” he seemed to understand what I was saying now.
    I couldn’t look at him for a while. I kept my eyes trained on my drawing.
    “Are there other secrets?”
    My mouth was dry. I closed my eyes. My eyelashes held back the forming tears.
    “I’m going to bed.” I left the table and ran upstairs, letting the tears fall.

Chapter 19
    Day 42 of 90
     
    My father’s hands were growing tighter around my neck. I couldn’t breathe. I clawed at his hands and forearms to release me.
    I tried to scream, to get someone to help me, for my dad not to kill me, and I tried not to panic. There was no one to help me.
    I heard the laughter from the corner, and there was my mother. She was sitting in a chair, drinking from her favorite clear bottle of vodka, and pointing at me.
    “You’re so worthless. You ruin everything. Look what you did to the Royal bloodline. The biggest scandal in Unit history, and now the second in line to the throne will be fatherless. It’s all because of you.”
    “I’m sorry,” I tried to say, but his hands were tighter around my neck.
     
    “Amaya.” I heard Oliver’s voice from