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“I guess it does make me feel a little less guilty,” she breathed as she opened her eyes once more, glancing at the tray of food I still held. “There are bad people in this world, people who won’t stop unless someone stops them. I guess I’m starting to see that now. I was scared after what happened with him, of what you guys did, but now…” Her eyes drifted to the window, the curtains pulled but a thin strip of light still bounced off the end of the bed. “I think it was the right thing.”
“Here, eat, you need food, Vee,” I said, hating the defeated look on her face.
She accepted the tray, sipping on the juice before smiling softly at the omelet.
“Same as the first one, huh?”
“You liked it, figured I should stick with it, maybe it can become a comfort food.”
“Have they found them?”
My smile faltered at her question as she started eating slowly, and I rested a hand on her knee.
“We’ll find them, and they will pay,” I assured her.
She stopped chewing as those sweet green eyes met mine, something strange in their depths.
But then she focused on her food, continuing to eat as I sat with her quietly.
“They’re getting Thomas’ new identity sorted. They’ll be back by nightfall, so it’s just you and me for a while. We can watch a movie or something if you’d like? Distract you?”
“I was attacked, Kieran, let’s not beat around that bush. A movie isn’t going to make me feel better right now,” she stated, her words hitting hard as she frowned at her food.
She reached for the juice to wash it down before setting the tray onto the bedside table carefully.
“I know, Vee. I just don’t want you feeling…”
“Feeling what, exactly? Like I’m dirty? Tarnished? I feel disgusting, like I can’t get his goddamn fingerprints off me. He was inside me, Kieran, and I didn’t want him there. I couldn’t do anything, I was weak, useless, and he started having his way with me. If Thomas hadn’t come along…” Her lower lip was trembling now, her hands fisted in the blanket as tears glittered in her eyes. “I feel wrong, like he took a part of me. I know it sounds stupid—”
“It’s not stupid, Vee,” I growled, hating the way I was shaking right now. She was trembling just as badly, and I had to squash down the rage that had ignited in me. He’d been inside her. I didn’t hold that against her in any way, but knowing the depth of the attack now, I’d be shoving his dick so far down his throat it’d come out his ass. The things I’d do to him, the pain I’d make him endure, not granting him the blissful freedom of death.
Those broken eyes locked onto mine, and the tears broke forth silently as she stared at me.
“He held a knife to my throat… I thought…”
That man was dead, I’d make him know true fear and beg for mercy. The things I’d do to him, he’d never be able to comprehend in a million years.
I blinked, those eyes I cherished now so fragile and lost, and my own hatred was shoved aside as I pulled her into my arms. My rage was nothing compared to her pain. She came first. Always.
The sobs that broke free from her had my heart shattering. I held her tight in my arms, her pain and fear raking through her body as she shook, and I wanted to make all her pain go away.
“You’ll never be in that position again, Vee. I promise on my life,” I vowed, and her trembling only worsened as her sobs grew.
I didn’t know what else to say to comfort her, so I just held her, stroking her hair and running my fingers down her back soothingly. I just hoped my presence was enough right now, because I was just as lost as she was, desperately wanting to help her, to show her the way through this.
“You’re a survivor and a fighter, Vee. You will get through this like you have everything else. And I’ll be right here with you. I’m not going anywhere.”
Her arms tightened around me, like she was clinging onto me for dear life.
“He may have hurt you, but it changes nothing about you, you’re still the most perfect woman I’ve ever met, a beautiful light that has found us in the dark. That’s found me. This pain and hurt you feel, this disgust, it will pass. I see nothing but true beauty before me. A soul so pure and sweet.”
Her trembling eased up, her sobs now having morphed to sniffles as she buried her head in my chest.
“Can you fix it for me?” she murmured.
“Princess, I would if I could.” I tucked a few stray hairs behind her ear as she pulled back enough to look at me. Her eyes were red and puffy, tears having soaked her face.
“Please, I need you to fix it,” her voice was barely audible, and I just frowned at her, my heart breaking at the despair in her eyes.
