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Take for example, Laird Tiechert — she didn’t knohat to think about him Before Vince and Emma had fallen in love, Vince, sort of, kidnapped Eio after Emma had also been attacked Talk about Stockholm syndrome
And yes, Lana still had issues with that but E was, Laird had been in on Vince’s plan to coerce E Lana into the scheme as well For several weeks Laird had been her protector and if she were being honest, her jailor, which had been wholly strange for theun to see Laird differently but just as she began to let down her guard, Laird uncereot the all-clear fro that time, had been complete bullshit
That alternately pissed her off and hurt her feelings The old Lana, pre-Malvagio, would have ed on the door until he let her in and she would’ve demanded an answer but there was no way that Lana would ever do that now Her confidence had been deflated like a led balloon Not to mention she was afraid that her internal compass was coain And she really didn’t have the strength or the courage to go on a bunch ofinside her apartment seemed safest
Her front door opened and she rolled her eyes Emma, no doubt Emma was the only one alked into her apart Lana exited her bedrooht wreath “Look what I brought you,” she exclai the festive wreath I found it at this really awesoet it for you I think it brightens up the entire apartment, don’t you think?”
Lana didn’t want to hurt Es but Lana wished she could just skipped Christ in any way shape or form
“You didn’t have to do that,” Lanathe wreath hat she hoped was an appreciative smile “But it’s beautiful, thank you”
Emma’s expression fell “You don’t like it I can take it back”
“No, it’s beautiful I just hadn’t planned on decorating much for Christmas this year”
Emma drew a deep breath and Lana knew she was about to launch into a faht about ht
No, there was no need to think about it because there was no way she was going to spend Christmas with the Buchanans at their Hah to gag her She could not stole and act like copious aed She’d rather poke out her own eyeballs But she couldn’t actually say that because that just sounded bitterly ungrateful and bitchy “I did think about it and it’s really aweso to stay hoetic smile for her sister’s sake
Emma’s expression screwed into a deterain”
“I’ what?”
“You’re beco a hermit You can’t do that to yourself It’s been tenhappened You have to learn to let it go and live otherwise that asshole wins”
A flash of temper colored Lana’s voice as she said, “ExcuseUnlike you, I didn’t get to fall in love after being brutalized You can’t rush a person’s healing And I find it offensive that you would even suggest that”
Instantly contrite, E you like this I want you to be happy and I know that you’re not happy being stuck in this tiny box day in and day out”
“You’re right I’ to do with you orwill ever fix that”
“All the more reason that you should be around the people who love you,” Ee of scenery is just what the doctor ordered We need to get out of the city and head up to the beautiful o to the Hamptons, I can have Vince rent us
an a and ice skating or anything you want to do, just pro wine all day like so is a plethora of cats at this point”
“That will never happen; I don’t like cats”
“You knohat I ht now, you used to be a people person Which means that you need people in your life in order to function You used to be an extrovert, remember that?”
Yes, she ree” She shrugged “And I don’t really want to have this conversation with you again It justin love — although, I ht have a teeny bit of an issue that you found love with the man ns the club that nearly killed me! But whatever The fact is, I’m happy that you’re happy However, that’s your story Not mine”
“Lana, you are beautiful and still so young Don’t close yourself off to life just because so bad happened toit define me”
Ice crystallized in Lana’s veins as she said, “What happened to you and what happened to me are not the same”
“Bullshit The only reason that sicko didn’t alet caught and he bailed before he got to finish the job I know the terror, the nightmares I still have theive in to all that fear Have you thought about talking to the counselor that I found?”
“I don’t want to talk to a therapist! All a therapist is going to do is ask ht and I don’t remember half of the shit that happened All I know is that someone beat the snot out of me and raped me when I was semi-conscious I really don’t want to relive thattherapy on s my oay?”