Shane's Fall (The Escort Series Book 2) by Sloane Kennedy Read Free Book Online Page A

used his hand to force her chin to move so that she was looking at him. “You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for – nothing!” She didn’t look like she believed him, but she didn’t say anything. “Can you tell me what happened tonight?” She was quiet for so long that he thought she wasn’t going to answer, but then she finally shifted, relaxing the arm he was still holding.
    “His name is Robert. His son is in my class.”
    Shane remembered now that she had started her first teaching job this week.
    “His wife died last year…He was really nice and I thought I could handle dinner. I even drove myself here so I wouldn’t have to deal with any of the end of the date stuff,” she said awkwardly. She used the sleeve of her other arm to wipe at the lines of tears on her face that had blessedly stopped.
    “I didn’t know this restaurant had dancing. When he asked if I wanted to dance, I didn’t really know what to say so he just grabbed my hand and led me to the dance floor. It was okay at first, but when he pulled me a little closer I just kind of froze.”
    “Did he hurt you?”
    She shook her head violently. “That’s what’s so messed up about this – he was barely touching me, but when I felt his hand tighten on my hip just a little bit everything just went dark and I was back there. No warning or anything – I was just back there ,” she repeated, her head shaking in confusion.
    “What happened then?”
    “Robert just looked at me – he was so confused and then everyone was looking at me. And my skin, it felt like there were a thousand ants crawling under it and the noise in my head…I could see people talking to me – a waiter, another guy in a suit – but I couldn’t hear what they were saying because of the noise. I just had to get away.”
    “Do you remember picking up the knife?” he asked quietly.
    She nodded. “I don’t lose time until after the first couple…” her voice dropped off.
    “Cuts?” he finished for her. She nodded again. “What do you mean by lose time?”
    “I always remember the first couple, but at some point I lose track and I just start to float away and everything gets quiet and warm. I don’t ever remember stopping – I just kind of wake up and I just feel…”
    “Relieved?” he supplied.
    Another nod. She dropped her head back against the tile and pulled her arm free of his hold, the towel dropping to the floor unnoticed. She wrapped both arms around herself protectively and turned her head away from him.
    “He’s going to put me in a hospital. He won’t want to, but he won’t know what else to do.”
    “Who?” Shane asked even though he suspected he knew who she was talking about.
    “Logan. He’s going to be so hurt that I did this and he’s not going to understand and I won’t be able to explain it because I don’t get it either.” She sounded done, broken.
    Shane knew he should have already called Logan; he should have done that after that day in the hotel and told him everything, but something had held him back. He knew what Savannah was going through, knew the darkness she fought. He’d done it himself for years, continued to do it. And there were times where he’d lost the battle and given in to the relief like she had. He hadn’t used a blade but was snorting shit up your nose any different? Was fucking a woman senseless just for the rush of walking away with a pocket full of cash any different?
    “I get it Savannah.” When she turned to look at him, he gave her a slow nod. “I get it,” he said again softly. “I’m gonna take you home now, okay?”
    She nodded shakily and he helped her to her feet. He picked up the towel off the floor and went to get a clean one from the bathroom counter top – he was glad it was a classy place that offered actual hand towels instead of paper ones. He dampened the towel and then used it to clean off some of the blood that had dripped down her arm. He snagged a third towel, folded it