Chapter 40 Sloane tenses against me, and I half expect her to push me away. Or to at least turn away because she can't stand looking at me. God knows, some days I can barely stand to look at myself. Every time I think about Grant, about how fucking wrong I was and how it nearly cost Lucia her life, I hate myself more. For not knowing. For not noticing. For not stepping in. For setting them up in the first place. "How the fuck did I not see it? We were on the same team," I plead. "We shared a dorm room freshman year and an apartment with Marquis every year after that until graduation. How the fuck did I not know he was a monster? And that Lucia was paying for my ignorance every single day?" Sloane doesn't say anything, but she doesn't turn away from me, either. Instead, she listens, softly stroking my hair as I release years of poison and self-loathing. "I took everyone out to dinner after the game, laughed when our younger sisters ribbed him about not getting the job done. The fact that they'd made the Super Bowl the year before instead of us was something he lorded over me for a year, so I didn't mind doing the same to him, and neither did anyone else in the family. Except for Lucia, of course. "But the fact that she was on his side didn't matter to that son of a bitch. He beat her within an inch of her life and then left her on the fucking floor"-I struggle to take in a breath-"while he went out drinking with his teammates. "She laid there for an hour before she could crawl to the phone and call me. I tried to get an ambulance, but she told me if he came back and found out she'd called anyone, he'd kill her. And she believed it, too. After everything that had happened, after everything this bastard that I had introduced her to had done to her, she still asked me to keep her safe." "Of course she did," Sloane tells me as she cups my face in her hands, smoothing her thumb over my scar. "She knew you'd take care of it. And you did." "I would have taken care of it years earlier if I'd known. One call, that's all it would have taken, and I would have had my ass on a plane to Seattle to get her. But she didn't call until it was too late. Until she had no other choice." The guilt builds, a violent, bitter pressure that has nowhere to go. "She didn't think I could protect her." "That's bullshit," Sloane tells me in a voice so harsh that I can't help but pay attention. "I don't know your sister, but I know you. And I am one hundred percent positive that she knew you would come get her if she called you. It's why she called you and no one else in that hotel room, and it's why she didn't call you when she was in Seattle. It's why she didn't tell you what was going on. Because she understood that once you knew, everything would change." "So why didn't she call me? Why didn't she let me-" I break off, unable to say the words. "I don't know. I'm sure she had her reasons. But I'm almost positive that not trusting you wasn't one of them." I shake my head, start to say more, but Sloane holds me in place with her hands and those bittersweet brown eyes that refuse to relinquish my gaze. "You need to hear what I'm saying. I've never lied to you, Mateo, and I don't plan on starting now, so listen up. "Men like that twist your mind, make you hate yourself and believe you love them, too. Your sister was probably scared he'd hurt you or terrified you'd kill him and end up in prison. If she's anything like me, maybe she was ashamed, too..." I want to interrupt-to tell Sloane that neither of them did anything wrong-but I don't. Because she, like Lucia, already knows. That's just how abusers make their victims feel. She leans forward, pressing her forehead to mine. "You're her big brother. When she needed you-when she really needed you-she called. And you came." "I was supposed to protect her-" "You did," she tells me, unwavering. "When she called for you, you came." Her words cut through the fog of rage and regret, slicing straight to the center of everything I've been trying to bury. It doesn't erase the guilt, doesn't make it vanish. But it does something else. It fills me with awe. How can Sloane trust me like that when I can't even trust myself? This woman who's survived so much damage at the hands of the men who claimed to love her. This woman who's had to invent herself over and over again because of what the men in her life have taken from her. This woman who's held her head high through all the lies and rumors and bullshit that have been slung at her. I don't have a fucking clue how she can be so strong, not after everything she's been through. And I sure as hell don't know why she's willing to trust me after I confessed my biggest failure. But she is, and I'm damn sure never going to give her a reason to change her mind or doubt me the way I doubt myself. I failed to protect Lucia. There's no way in hell I'm going to fail to protect Sloane. "Hey," Sloane whispers, and now she's pressing soft butterfly kisses to my jaw and neck. "You still with me?" "I'm still with you," I tell her, right before I thread my hands in her hair and pull her down for a kiss. This kiss isn't like the others tonight. Not wild or fiery or out of control. It's soft and sweet and profound. Like at the observatory. And like that kiss, it warns me that things are never going to be the same. As Sloane's lips move gently against mine, I swear I can feel her soul reaching for my own. Pure, beautiful, powerful. Instead of fighting it, I reach right back. I can tell by the way she jolts, the way she gasps, that she feels me, too. Her hands creep from my cheeks to the back of my head, her fingers tangling in my hair and tugging me close. I go because I can't not go, not when every cell, every atom of my being yearns for every atom of hers. I don't know how long the kiss goes on. It could be seconds. It could be a lifetime. I just know that when she lifts her head, both of us have damp eyes. Her lips are swollen, her cheeks flushed, and she's never looked more beautiful to me than she does in this moment. I love you. The words tremble on my lips, but I bite them back at the last minute. Partly because we had our first date fifteen hours ago and partly because-no matter what we just shared-I know there's no way Sloane is ready to hear them. Instead, I ask, "Are you ready for the rest of the story?" Title: A Tangle of Love (English-dubbed) In "A Tangle of Love," a captivating romance unfolds within a unique observation show where participants navigate intricate relationships, love triangles, and power dynamics. Set against the backdrop of modern-day complexities, this ongoing series delves into themes of reincarnation, revenge, and personal transformation. Follow the journey of diverse characters as they grapple with misunderstandings and emotional conflicts while vying for love and success. As the drama unfolds, one couple emerges from the chaos, showcasing a remarkable glow-up that defies expectations. What sets "A Tangle of Love" apart is its blend of billionaire lifestyles, contemporary romance dynamics, and the allure of second chances. Dive into this enthralling narrative available to read online at CrushReel for a compelling exploration of love's complexities in a world where power and passion collide.