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Angel appears from the kitchen. “I made drinks and put them in the bedroom. Finn called; a doctor is on his way. Should I move Harper?”
“No,” I snap. Too harshly. “I’m sorry. I want them both together.”
Sympathy fills Angel’s eyes, and she nods. “Of course.”
“Do you need anything? I put some bath salts in the tub. I figure Tia will probably want to clean up.”
Cole steps forward. “Thanks, Angel. We got it.” His tone is softer than mine, and I appreciate that he’s taking control.
Tia lifts her head from resting on my chest, and a mewl escapes her lips. She glances toward Angel, and when Angel registers Tia’s face, her mouth falls open and her eyes widen,making it acutely obvious how much our girl must resemble her sister.
Angel’s mouth moves as if to speak before she clamps it shut, then looks toward me for guidance, so I give my head a swift shake.
“None of this is our choice,” Cole spits out, and I want to kick him in the balls, but all I can do is throw him a death glare that makes his shoulders shrink back.
Angel’s jaw sharpens, and there’s no hiding the pissed-off expression on her face. “I’ll leave you to it.” She sashays away, tugging her phone from her pocket as she does.
Something tells me Angel is on the warpath, and as much as I’d like to see the O’Connell men be handed their asses, right now, I couldn’t give a shit less.
“Come on, baby. Let’s get you sorted.” I kiss her head, ignoring the grime marring her, and follow Cole into the bedroom.
COLE
We bypassed Harper’s sleeping form and went straight into the bathroom where Angel had the bathtub filled with salts.
The room is as big as the bedroom, with white marble floors and gold fixtures. Jace sits on a chair in the corner of the room, it resembles a throne, and it’s not lost on me how he looks like a king with his subject in his arms.
He exudes power and possession, but the way he stares at the top of Tia’s head tells me all anyone would need to know.
She’s the one with all the power.
In his arms, she may seem vulnerable and at his mercy, but he would fall to his knees for her, she’s the one who possesses him.
Possesses us.
She’s the one with the power. Over all of us.
Lowering myself to the floor, I kneel beside them, fully aware that Tia has avoided our eyes. Although, I’m not sure Jace has realized it; he’s just grateful to have her in his arms again.
“We need to check her over, Jace,” I try to coax while stroking Tia’s back.
“You don’t think I fucking know that?” he spits out, glaring at me.
I ignore the bite in his tone. “Jace, brother, whatever has happened to her, we’ll deal with it together.”
Tia moves in Jace’s arms. “It’s okay,” she whispers. Her voice is scratchy, and it makes me realize she needs fluids.
Leaping to my feet, I grab the bottle of Gatorade Angel had the foresight to leave and hold it out to her, along with the Tylenol.
She sits up with a wince, and when I see her face, fury like no other shrouds me. Her lip is split and swollen to twice the size, bruises mar her normally unblemished skin, and her right cheek has finger marks embedded in it, as if she’s been hit at such force her skin is scarred from it.
Her left eye is so swollen it’s almost closed, and her cheek has received the same cruel treatment.
Jace stares ahead, glaring at her reflection in the mirror, his heavy breaths and flared nostrils the only giveaway at his budding anger. When he pumps his fists beside him and his eyes snap to mine, I reel back on my knees. The anguish, anger, and turmoil swimming in his eyes and pleading with me for vengeance, for help, for answers, has a knot tightening in my stomach.
Jace looks as vulnerable as Tia, but I know it will be short-lived. Once she’s settled, the rage will take over, and the thought has my mouth drying and anxiety rippling through me. He’s going to need to be restrained, that’s for sure.
Tia’s hand shakes as she takes the pills and drink from me. Avoiding my eyes, she swallows them down and guzzles the drink, as if desperate to hydrate, and I grind my teeth at the thought. Sensing Jace’s growing anger, I move things along a little.
