Read Online The Unbreakable Trio by Sam Crescent - Free Book Online Page B

gasped.
    “No matter whether it was hot or cold. Without fail, that man put me there. Sometimes he’d leave me for hours at a time. I hated it. Since then, I haven’t been able to go into small spaces.”
    Shane stopped.
    “Oh, my God. I didn’t know, Shane. I swear I wouldn’t have left you like that, I promise.”
    She wrapped her arms around him, and he accepted the comfort, feeling even worse. The sins of his past weren’t her fault, and he’d judged her as if they were.
    “Forgive me,” he whispered.
    “Yes.”
    They hugged, and he saw Liam nod his head from his position at her door. He hadn’t entered the room or made his presence known. The rest of her suitcases were in his hands.
    For the time being, it would be enough. Shane knew it was only a matter of time before they all broke. The unbreakable trio was growing stronger.

Chapter Twelve
     
    The days passed, and tensions grew to unbearable proportions. Liam saw what was happening to his two friends and couldn’t figure out how to stop it. In one simple act from Claire and Shane, it was as if they’d opened Pandora’s box and couldn’t close it. Even though they’d forgiven each other, the argument was still there between them. Liam ended up caught in the middle. One conversation could have them arguing about anything.
    Liam watched as the two people he loved grew uncomfortable around each other. Liam was at the breaking point. The love between all of them was what was keeping them from blowing apart.
    Liam saw the last of the ranch hands off for the night and walked back to the house. Sleep would be a long time coming. The seduction they’d planned was being fucked up by Shane and Claire’s arguing.
    Opening and closing the door was the only peace he heard. The arguing from the front room invaded his ears.
    “I don’t want to talk about it,” Shane yelled.
    “When are we going to talk about it? That’s the only thing between us. Are you really going to keep on living as if there isn’t a problem with us?” Claire argued.
    Liam rounded the corner until they saw him.
    Silence met his presence.
    They weren’t going to work out the problem. The time for waiting had passed. The anger rose up inside him. Liam wanted the truth out once and for all.
    “I’m sick of this shit. What the fuck is going on with you two? Don’t give me the nothing crap. What happened? I’m supposed to be your best fucking friend. Prove it. What happened?” Liam shouted at the other two occupants of the room. “And I’m not talking about the other day with being left in a prison cell. I’m talking all those years ago when something changed between you two.”
    Claire stood near the fire, tears spilling down her cheeks. Shane sat on the sofa, his fist clenched.
    “Well.” Liam folded his arms. The tension in the room could be slashed with a knife.
    She shook her head and refused to talk.
    “On the night of my eighteenth birthday, my dad came home drunk and started beating on my mom. I attacked him, and when he was unconscious on the floor, I went to Claire. She let me into her bedroom window and…and I raped her.”
    Liam heard her gasp, and he couldn’t believe what Shane just said. Before he had chance to argue or ask questions, Claire reacted.
    She stormed over to where Shane was sitting and slapped him on the face. Shocked by her anger, Liam stood frozen.
    “How dare you?” she yelled and lifted her hand to strike again. Shane must have woken from his shock, because he stood and caught her hand in his grip.
    “I hurt you, and I have to deal with that every fucking day,” he shouted back.
    Liam knew he wasn’t part of this argument. This was between his two best friends.
    “Hurt me? You never fucking touched me properly. You looked down at me and then fucking left. You didn’t rape me, Shane. Instead, you came to my bed seeking comfort, and when I responded a little too aggressively, you skipped. I’m sorry I wasn’t perfect like the blondes