Getting the Edge: Betrayed Book 1 Read Online Free

reaction he’d had to seeing her had surprised him. The fact that the fear on her face could cause any reaction other than satisfaction was irritating. Don’t fall for it, Brandon. She’s a good actress. Yeah, she was a very good actress. His mind went back to the trial.
     
    “Ms. Wilson, can you tell us in your own words what happened on the night of your attack?” the prosecutor had asked.
    There had been tears in Amanda’s eyes as she’d looked at Brandon; tears and fear. “He attacked me. I’m not sure why,” she’d whispered.
    The jury had bought that, and the rest of the lies, hook, line and sinker.
     
    “Brandon, just take me back to my dorm, and we can forget that you ever came here,” Amanda said quietly, her voice breaking. “Please, just take me back.”
    Brandon looked over at her, his anger mounting. “Why would I do that, Amanda? I just spent two years in prison for attacking you, remember? Shouldn’t I at least get a little satisfaction?”
    He saw her pale and refused to feel guilty. She deserved to be afraid. Of course, he wouldn’t hurt her. He wasn’t the type to abuse women—even ones that deserved it as she did. But, maybe, just maybe, he’d be able to get enough answers from her to clear his name.
    “Is that what you need? Revenge?”
    Brandon’s hands tightened on the steering wheel until his knuckles hurt. “What do you think? Why, Amanda? Don’t I at least deserve to know why?”
    “It’s not safe for you to be here! You need to go,” she said urgently. “Please, Brandon, just go.”
    Brandon pulled away from the university campus and onto the highway. He’d rented a cabin a few miles from town where he figured he could at the very least make her talk to him.
    It was a weekend at a university. He didn’t figure her being gone over a weekend would send out any flags if her friends were watching her. Party girl having a weekend away. “The girl you came with. Call and tell her you’ve hooked up for the night.”
    Amanda’s eyes widened. “What?”
    “Your friend. Text her and tell her you won’t be back tonight,” he said through gritted teeth.
    He reached for the small bag she still clutched in her hand and pulled out her cell phone and tossed it onto her lap. “Do it,” he snapped.
    “I don’t know her number.”
    Brandon’s jaw tightened. “Am I supposed to believe that?”
    “I don’t care if you believe me or not! It’s the truth. She’s a new roommate. I just met her.”
    Brandon sighed and turned the car around and headed back to the campus. “Fine. You can leave her a note. Pack a bag, too.”
    “I’m not leaving school with you,” she said dully.
    “Oh, you are, Amanda. You are going to do exactly what I say if you don’t want your roommate hurt.”
    She slumped into the seat. “Fine.”
     
    Amanda didn’t speak as they rode back to the campus. She was so tired. Tired of being afraid. Tired of it all. Maybe it was better this way.
    If he’d found her, others could have as well. She wasn’t safe here anymore, anyway. If nothing else, she had to believe Brandon would keep her safe long enough to get the answers he wanted.
    But, as she studied the man sitting next to her in the small confines of the old Mustang—she wasn’t sure she knew him at all.
    He looked so different from the man she’d remembered. The man she’d fallen in love with so long ago now.
    Harder. He was harder, she realized. For some reason, she hadn’t expected that.
    Somehow, she’d get away from him and she’d run again. She’d run as fast and as far as she could. It had been stupid to think he wouldn’t have tracked her down. She hadn’t done a good enough job of hiding if he’d found her in only a week.
    When he stopped the car in front of her dorm, she reached for the handle.
    “Wait, I’m coming in with you. Don’t do anything stupid, Amanda. Don’t try to alert anyone. Don’t try to send any messages of any kind, got it?” he warned.
    “Yes,”