Red, White and Beautiful by Bec Botefuhr Page B

predicted.”
    Ifrown.“Hecouldn’thavegottenanythingtooserious.”
    “Hedidn’t…it’s…Sierrasit.”
    “Whatisit?”Isay,feelingmystomachclenchwithnerves.
    “Please.”
    Isitdownonthecouchandhegripsapaperinhishand,Ididn’teven noticeitsittingonthetablebesidehim.Hewalksoverandsitsinfrontof meontheoppositecouch,meetingmygaze.God,Marcusislookingat measifI’mnotgoingtolikewhathe’sabouttoshowme.Whatdidthe reporterpossiblycatchtocausethisreaction?Afewpunches?Imean honestly,howbadcoulditbe?
    “RememberwhenItoldyouChaynewouldgotoanylengthstobring medown?”
    “Yes,”Iwhisper,myvoicefartooshakytobeusedrightnow.
    “Well,IthoughtmaybeshewouldtrytocatchusoutandtrytosayI wascheating.Clearlyshehasn’tbeenabletodothat,soshe’sgonetothe nextbestthing.”
    “Andthatis?”
    “You,Sierra.Shethreatenedtouseyou,andItoldhertostayaway but…”
    “Whatdidshedo?”Isay,myvoiceahigh,shriek.
    “Sierra…IneedyoutounderstandI’mgoingtodealwiththisand…”
    “Showme!”Iscream.
    Hecloseshiseyesandhandsmethepaperwithamurmuredsorry.I flipitoverandmyworldstops.Itjustendsrightthere.Ittakesmea momenttofocusmyeyesenoughtoevenreadwhat’swrittenunderthe pictures.There’sthreeofthem.ThefirsttwoarewhatIexpected,thelast oneisnot.Ihearmyownragged,painedcrycomefrommylipsasmy eyesscanoverthepictureIneverwantedanyonetohavetosee,ever again.Istartwiththetoplineofthepaper,andread.
    MARCUSHARRISONCAUGHTUPINASEXSCANDAL.
    Thetoplineisbold,outthereandcoveringtheentiretopofthepage.
    Icontinuereading.
    SierraWalters,formerassistanttoSpeakeroftheHouse,Marcus Harrison,wascaughtyesterdayinalovetrianglebetweentwomen.Our reporterscaughtthemomentasBenjaminFord,theownerofalarge company,showedupoutsidetheWhiteHousewhereSierrawassaidtobe waitingforMarcus.Asyoucanseefromtheexchange,BenandSierra weregettingquitecloseuntilMarcuscaughtthem.MarcusHarrisonwas saidtohavepunchedBenjaminFord,usingwordslike‘she’smine’and
    ‘stayawayfromher.’OnlookersclaimthatBenjaminfoughtback, fightingforSierraalso.ItseemsSierraWaltershasherselfcaughtin quiteatriangle.Havinganaffairwithatakenman,whileleadinganother on.ItseemsSierrahasquiteapast,twoyearsagoshewascaughtupina relationshipwhereshepracticedBDSM.Sierrareportedherformerlover afterhetookthingstoofarandlefthertiedfortwodays,afterhe whippedhersomuchitscarredherbody.ItseemsSierrahasn’tlearned herlesson,becauseshe’sbackformore,puttingherselfbetweentwo dominantmenandtakingtheriskoncemore.
    Istareatthefirstpictureonthepage.It’sBentouchingmyface.The reportercaughtitjustasIclosedmyeyessoitlookslikeI’menjoyingit.
    ThesecondpictureiswhenMarcusgrippedmearoundthewaist,itlooks likehe’sholdingmetight.MyhandsaregrippinghisandI’mlookingup athimwithwhatlookslikedeepconcernandlove.It’sthethirdpicture thoughthathasmystomachheaving.It’sapictureofmethatthepolice tookwhenIreportedtheassault.Obviouslythereporterdoesn’tknow Benwastheonewhodidit,ortheywouldn’thavepostedsuchcrap.I stareatthepicture.Iamskinny,mywristsarebleedingandthereisa smallglimpseofmyscarredbottom.It’snotenoughtobeconsidered exposure,it’smorethesideofmyhipwherethescarstravelupto.The policetooknumerouspictures,andIdon’thonestlyknowhowthis reportergotholdofthem.Howdotheygetholdofanything?
    Istand,mylegstrembleasIstandanddropthepaper.Marcusstands quickly,reachingouttotouchme,butIslaphishandawaysoangrilyhe winces.
    “Don’tfuckingtouchme.”
    “Sierra…”
    Iturnaround,havinglostanyrationalthought.Ishoveathischest, hard.Ipushandpushuntilhe’stakingstepsbackwards.
    “Youknewshewasgoingtouseme!Shethreatenedyouandyou knewshewasgoingtohurtme!”
    “Ididn’tknowshewouldtakeitthatfar,Sierra.”
    “Imadeamistaketrustinganyofthis.Nowtheentireworldknows aboutmypast,somethingIhavemanagedtokeepsecretforsolong.Over you!You,Marcus!You,whoisfarmoreconcernedabouthiscareerthan hisgirlfriend.Ishouldhaveknown,thisisn’tevenyourfault,becauseI shouldhaveknownIwouldneverfitintoyourworld.Yourjob.Your