Underneath It All (Sexual Misconduct Volume II) Read Online Free PDF Page A

full of remorse and guilt. “I looked her in the eye and said, ‘ Before you leave me for Ian, I’d rather we both die.’”
    Oh my God … My heart clenched at what I knew was coming. “You didn’t mean it.” I shook my head vigorously.
    “ How do you know what I meant? Every single time I flashback to that moment and remember everything that came before it, I know I meant it.”
    “ What did you do?” My tone was ominous.
    “ Nothing. I watched her face turn from angry to downright terrified. She screamed at me to watch out, but by the time I looked back to the road, it was too late. I’d swerved into oncoming traffic. One moment I was looking into Jessica’s face; the next, the car crumpled and flipped over.”
    “ Jesus.”
    H is demeanor deteriorated. His shoulders slumped, head hung, and breathing escalated.
    “ You okay?” I asked after several silent minutes. I reached out to touch his arm, and he flinched, then pulled away.
    “ I passed out.” He continued. “When I came to, there were flames shooting out the dashboard and by the pedals. Jessica hadn’t woken up, so I tried to wake her, but she didn’t respond. I clawed at the door, shoved it, but it wouldn’t budge. I tried to get her seatbelt off, but it was stuck. I remember chanting I’m sorry, I’m sorry, over and over. She finally managed to open her eyes, and I knew we’d be fine. As long as she was alive, I’d get her out.”
    He sighed and shook his head.
    “It’s amazing how quickly you sober up after something tragic happens.” He snorted. “Someone yanked open my door and was trying to pull me out. I begged them to take her first, but they said they had to get me out first. The car had flipped and landed on the passenger side. Her only way out was through the driver’s door.” He ran a hand through his hair and looked at me with red-rimmed eyes brimming with unshed tears.
    “ They never got her out,” I stated because I just knew.
    “ I barely got out. The car exploded, throwing me and the man who tried to help me a few feet back.”
    Oh my God. The burns on his legs… I’d never questioned him about the scars on his calves, but I somehow knew it had been related to the nightmares.
    “ So when I say I killed my wife, I mean it, literally. I killed my wife, Avery. I can’t consider it an accident.”

Brotherly ‘Love’
    Avery
     
    Xander and I ended our session there. He’d opened up tremendously, and I didn’t want to push him any further. I went to his place, and we agreed to avoid talking about it again until our next session the following week.
    In the three days since Xander’s confession, I still didn’t know how to feel about it all. It was as though I were completely focused on helping him move on, and I didn’t allow myself to consider how severe a mistake he’d made.
    “ Dr. Shaw?”
    “ Yes, Angela.” I filed away a folder and picked another up off my desk.
    “There’s an Ian Pierce here to see you.” My hand stilled as I was placing the folder into my briefcase.
    “ Should I send him in?”
    I was already running late after my last patient and Xander would be calling me nonstop in a few minutes if I didn’t pick up.
    “ Uhh… yeah, send him in.” I shut the case and watched as Angela ushered Ian into the room. He looked nervous. I felt anxious. After hearing everything that went down between the brothers, I didn’t know what to expect.
    “ Dr. Shaw.” He closed the distance between us, standing on the other side of my desk.
    “ What are you doing here?” I was actually waiting with bated breath to see where this was going.
    “ I hoped we could talk about Xander.” He met my apprehensive gaze.
    “ What is there to talk about?” I tried not to give away my nervousness.
    “ I don’t know how much you know—”
    “ Everything.” If his purpose was to out his brother, then he was too late.
    “ In his words. His side.” He placed his palm on my desk and leaned in.
    “ There