Free Taber by Aliyah Burke and Taige Crenshaw Page B

eyes.
    “Okay, Lainey Mercer. You and I are going to talk about this a bit more.”
    “I’m tired, Taber.”
    “You’ll be more tired after. We’re not just going to keep going this way, ignoring what is between us. I owe you an explanation for what I did and you, I want you to tell me why everything I do makes you assume the worst of me. Who hurt you Lainey? So bad to keep you from being able to trust?”
    She narrowed her eyes at him and crossed her arms. “Tell me something first.”
    “Okay.” Anything to keep her talking and willing to stay with him. He had to get her to see and understand what he’d done was out of…wait, love? Out of love for her?
    “Candace told me that you didn’t like Sekhmet because of what she did to your brother. How all she thought about was herself.”
    He nodded. “True. But I fail to see how that matters at this moment.”
    “What you did, Taber, was all about you. We were supposed to be in a relationship and yet your actions were to benefit you. No concern for how I may take them. You were jealous that I would possibly go out with anyone else and followed, then thought about threatening his job. Never once considering that Sean and I were nothing more than friends. It was all about you. All about. So tell me this, Taber Ellis or Khonsu. How is that, any different than Sekhmet and what she did to your brother? Because from where I’m standing, selfishness is selfishness, no matter what your reasoning.”

Chapter Seven
     
     
     
    Taber stiffened at her words. Realisation dawned that what she said was absolutely true. He had been doing the same thing he had accused Sekhmet of doing for so long to Talios. Since the visit from Sekhmet and the others months ago, he’d come to accept that he’d never understand what Talios had experienced and had agreed to let his animosity for Sekhmet go. Taber stared at Lainey, regret that his actions had caused her so much pain filling him. They had made him come across as selfish when that was so far from his intentions. He opened his mouth to reply but her next statement stilled what he was about to say.
    “I’ve seen what men like you can do to others around them.” Lainey’s fists were clenched. “Justifying what you do to make yourself feel right.”
    She paced away to put some distance between them. The space he could not seem to bridge no matter what he did or said.
    “It’s always all about you and I won’t be part of that again.” Lainey raised her chin as if daring him to object to what she stated.
    Taber studied her and wondered what could cause such pain, such anger that it ruled her.
    “Who is this man who hurt you so?” He took a step towards her.
    “Why should I tell you?”
    “So I can kill him.”
    “You can’t kill my dad.” Lainey blinked then continued, “You talk of murder in such a calm tone. You can’t just kill someone.”
    “If it is necessary I can.” Taber imagined doing just that to her father, although he didn’t know what the man had done to cause her such pain, making her so distrustful.
    “He’s not in my life anymore.” Lainey was watching him with a leery expression on her face.
    “I wouldn’t touch him without your permission. Family is sacred. Even when you want to kill them.”
    “I don’t even know you.”
    “You know me, Lainey. I’m the same man who you’ve always known.” Taber took another step towards her. “All these weeks you’ve been trying to push me away but you couldn’t. Think on why that is.”
    “I trusted my dad and he got my mother killed. His recklessness took her from me. He’s in jail for the rest of his life because of his part in her murder.” Lainey shook her head. “For years before everything happened he lied to me and Mom. Made promises that were false. Kept secrets that he thought it was best we not know.” Lainey lifted her narrowed eyes. “Sounds really familiar, doesn’t it, Taber? Or do you prefer Khonsu?”
    The bitterness and taunt