Free After the Storm: Midseason Episode 1 (Rising Storm) by Lexi Blake Page B

there. They were far too wrapped up in each other to notice someone like her. The urge to run was nearly overwhelming but instead she allowed Patrick to guide her into one of the back rooms. Not before she’d glimpsed Logan Murphy manning the bar. He’d definitely seen her and it looked like he’d picked a side. Logan’s eyes were practically glacial as he watched her.
    For the first time she had to really think about what she would do if she had to leave town. She doubted the Rush family could kick her out, but they could make it very difficult for her. They could ensure she had nowhere to go.
    “Ah, there it is. I knew it was in there somewhere,” Patrick said, pulling a chair out for her.
    “There’s what? And what is this room? I’ve never been back here before.” It was small but contained a table and chairs and a sideboard.
    “Private dining room. Pops told me when he built this place he wanted it to be very similar to some of the Irish pubs he knew. They often were hundreds of years old and had private dining rooms for the gentry. Pops never rents it out. It’s used for family and staff most of the time. It’s more intimate than sitting out in the public room. And as to what I was talking about, well, it was the look on your face. I knew you had the brain to really understand how badly you screwed up.”
    Tears welled. She’d hoped for some understanding from him. He seemed to like her well enough. Certainly more than his brothers. “I didn’t think I screwed up at all. I don’t understand why everyone’s so mad at me. I did nothing but tell people the truth. These people have been sending Sebastian Rush to represent them for years. Shouldn’t they know what he’s really like?”
    “People don’t always appreciate the truth,” Patrick said with a sad shake of his head. “Haven’t you ever heard of shooting the messenger?”
    “I’ve heard it’s something you’re not supposed to do. I’m the victim here.”
    “I know that, though I don’t know I’d call you a victim per se. You’re certainly less culpable than Rush. Unless you’re going to tell me you didn’t know he was married.”
    “I’m not married,” Dakota said sullenly. “I wasn’t cheating on anyone.”
    The only boy she’d ever really cared about was gone now.
    “I’m sure that excuse has been used to justify many an affair, but it’s wrong, Dakota. And I think deep down you know it. You knew he was married and you still said yes.” Patrick’s eyes narrowed. “Unless you didn’t. Is that what you’re telling me? Did he force you?”
    Wouldn’t that be a good way to fight back? She could tell everyone that Sebastian Rush had forced her and she’d fought, but he’d been too strong for her. It would be her word against his. It would serve him right to have to face a trial and maybe even go to jail. It might be a very good way to stop the bleeding she was doing and get some people back on her side.
    She shook her head. “No. He didn’t force me.” Somehow, she couldn’t even play at it when she was around Patrick. It was like he saw through her. Or maybe he was the only one who was nice enough to her that she didn’t feel like she had to be a bitch. “He manipulated me and got me a little drunk that first night, but it wasn’t rape. I was really stupid. I thought he was interested in me. I thought he saw something special in me.”
    She’d been so lost that night. How could it have been mere months before? It felt like a lifetime since she’d walked into that dive and found Sebastian sitting there, willing to listen to her, willing to make her feel like she mattered.
    Patrick reached over and patted her hand. “You’re not the first woman that ever happened to and you won’t be the last. You made a mistake by falling for his line of bull. There’s nothing to do but forgive yourself and move on from that. But what you did yesterday was different. You made a bad choice that hurt a lot of people and now