Chapter 34

Chapter Thirty-Four

Abby

Unknown Number #1: Watch your back, bitch.

Unknown Number #15: You’re a disgusting pedophile. You deserve to die.

Unknown Number #38: I’m going to find you and make sure you never hurt a child again.

Unknown Number #76: Fucking cunt, I’m going to shove a gun up your pussy and watch you die slowly.

Me (typed but deleted): I didn’t do anything! It’s a lie! Please leave me alone. You’re scaring me.

A s my phone vibrated in my pocket again, I willed myself to stay calm. The threatening texts had started during the drive to my family’s place and had only kept coming.

I suspected Travis had leaked my number. Maybe even my address. It was exactly the petty-ass type of thing he’d do, uncaring about how dangerous it could be for me or my family.

Sometimes, I still couldn’t believe I’d fallen for his act and thought myself in love with him.

I’d debated telling Rafe about the messages right away, but had decided to wait until after dinner with my family. So I’d done my best to appear happy and content in the car.

I’d nearly spilled everything when we arrived at my family’s house. However, once Emmy showed up and started talking, I hadn’t wanted to spoil things. Everyone was getting along so well for once.

I would tell Rafe. But later.

Since the texts kept arriving, I quickly took out my phone and turned it off as we reached the living room. Rafe frowned at me and asked with his eyes if anything was wrong. However, I shrugged and mouthed, “Later.”

He looked as if he wanted to push, but Nolan, Zach, West, and Emmy sat down, joining Zane, who was already in the room. So I tugged Rafe to sit next to me on a loveseat and did my best to focus on Nolan. “So, what did you learn about my ex?”

I was proud of how relaxed I sounded, despite worrying about how many more messages would be on my phone when I turned it back on.

My brother leaned forward and propped his elbows on his thighs before replying. “I won’t sugarcoat it—there was probably at least one other intern teacher that Doucey slept with, meaning his behavior could be a pattern.”

I blinked. “What?”

“There was an HR complaint to the school a few years ago concerning sexual harassment and abuse. The woman later retracted and said it was just a misunderstanding. But while my people were able to figure out who it was and are tracking her down right now, they started looking on the internet.”

“And they found things.”

Nolan looked grim as he nodded. “There were vile posts on various social media sites about the woman, mostly about how much of a slut she was, and that she stole from men she’d been with. There was at least one half-naked picture the woman asked him to take down, but he didn’t.”

That sounded like how Travis would lash out—paint the woman as the problem and play the victim. “But you think the posts are more of his bullshit.”

Nolan replied, “Yes. The accusations are from social media accounts created just before they started posting. They also went silent right after she retracted her complaint and have been inactive until recently.”

My stomach dropped. “Because then they started posting about me.”

“I’m so sorry, Abby. But yes.”

A buzzing started in my ears as I imagined what they’d said about me.

Rafe asked, “Is there any way to get that shit taken down?”

Zane answered, “I’ve been helping Nolan with that, and we’re trying. But sometimes when you report something, it can take a long time to get a response.”

That was something I’d learned recently, when Katie had been viciously attacked online by Nolan’s ex. Some of that stuff was still up. Which meant mine might be up forever. “What were the posts about?”

Nolan shared a glance with Zane before replying, “They’re a lot worse than before. Some are accusations of you sleeping with a seventeen-year-old boy. But there are also pictures of you I’d rather not have seen.”

My heart thundered as I imagined Travis using pictures he’d taken of me, ones he’d said would make him happy and only be for him, being shared with the world. Probably manipulated too, to make me look like the villain.

I stood and went to the window, braced my hands on either side of it, and stared out at the still-dormant grape vines in the distance.

It took everything I had not to scream at the world and ask what I’d done to deserve this. All I’d wanted was to fall in love with a kind, handsome man and get my own happily ever after.

Instead, I’d been tricked into loving a man who’d then manipulated me to get what he wanted. And probably because he enjoyed the control, too.

Not for the first time, I wished I could go back and change the past.

I was so lost in thought that when Rafe’s soft voice came from right behind me, I jumped.

“Abigail. We’ll get him. I promise you.”

My eyes heated. I couldn’t take any more of his kindness right now and something inside me snapped. And even though Rafe didn’t deserve it, I turned and shouted, “How the fuck will you do that?” I waved a hand to the side. “He’s already out there giving interviews, telling the world that I groomed boys to be my lovers, and soon he’ll probably start sharing more pics of me dressed in scanty lingerie, just to prove his point.” I shook my head. “And now that I know I’m not the first one? That he’s tried to smear another woman who didn’t do exactly as he wanted? It’s never going to end, Rafe.” The room blurred as I tried not to cry. “It’s never going to end.”

With a sob, I raced out of the room and through the front door. I needed air, space, to be alone and just cry and cry until I was too tired to do any more.

I had no idea what to do next. But for now, I rushed through the parking lot behind the house and dashed down the gravel road toward the place where I felt the closest to my parents—the apple orchard. Because right now, I needed to remember the happier times to face the coming shitstorm.

I could barely see as I ran, sobbing and stumbling, my heart thudding so loud I could barely hear anything else.

At least until a car revved loudly behind me, followed by Rafe screaming, “Abby!”

I turned around. A car sped right for me. Fast. Just as I expected to be hit, something crashed against my side and I went flying off the road.

The wind was knocked out of my lungs, and it took a few seconds for me to breathe and sit up, the car nowhere in sight.

Then it hit me—I was off the road. Something had pushed me.

Or someone.

I struggled to my feet and looked around. At the sight of Rafe lying still on the ground, my stomach dropped. I cried out and dashed toward him.

No, no, no. Don’t let him be dead because of me. Please, no.

When I reached his body, I knelt down. “Rafe! Rafe! Can you hear me?”

Silence.

My throat closed up, but I tamped down my panic. He was breathing. Just. And if I lost it right now, Rafe might die.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I took out my phone, turned it on and dialed 911. As the operator asked me a series of questions, I gently took Rafe’s hand in mine and willed for him to make it.

Not just so I could apologize for shouting at him. It was more than that.

He’d finally shown me the type of love I’d always wanted, the kind where I could trust him with my life, and there was no way in hell he could die on me now.

I would do whatever it took to save the man I loved.