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“Last chance, babe.”
I give her to the count of ten and step back. Sucking in a sharp breath, I raise my leg and bash the door in with one hard kick. Stepping inside, I watch her slide up the wall to a standing position while taking in her tear-streaked face and dishevelled hair.
“Leave me alone!”
Throwing an empty beer bottle at me, I duck just in time, hearing it hit the wall behind me.
“I told you not to bring me here… I can’t breathe… Oh God, we’re going to die.”
Her terror is tangible, blanketing every inch of the room. I take a step closer, only to watch her back up against the old couch.
Cradling her belly, she trembles in fear. It’s another stab to my heart. In her mind, bringing her here makes me her enemy. Knowing nothing I can say will change her mind, I switch tactics and soften my tone.
“Let’s go to bed. We both need sleep, and—”
“No, no, no!”
Her hands dart up to her head and she fists her hair. Last week, she nearly lost a clump because she couldn’t handle the shit racing through her head, leaving raw patches in three places. I rush forward and pry them away, placing them against my chest.
“I don’t want to be here… it’s not safe,” she sobs, slumping against me.
She flattens her hand over my beating heart. Sometimes, physically touching me seems to help calm her.
“I’m going to lock the door, then I’m going to hold you till the sun comes up, like last night and the night before. You remember? I kept you safe, didn’t I?”
It takes her a moment to look up at me and say, “But that was at home. We both know it’s not safe here. This place is shrouded in evil and darkness.”
“You think I can’t protect you here? Babe, I can protect you any-fucking-where. You have to trust me.”
“I can’t think straight,” she admits.
Wrapping my arms around her, I kiss the top of her head.
“I know, babe. Let me think for you, yeah?”
When she nods, I scoop her up into my arms and lay her on the bed. As I start to turn away, she reaches out and grabs my hand.
“Please, don’t leave me.”
The fear in her voice guts me like nothing I’ve experienced before, and I have to hide my own fear before looking down at her.
“I’m not going anywhere, babe. I just need to lock the door.”
Reluctantly, she releases me, and I make my way across the room, locking the door the best I can after kicking it in, then turn out the bathroom light before slipping off my cut and hanging it on the back of the couch. Kicking off my boots, I decide to remain dressed, wanting to be ready for anything.
The second I’m under the sheets, she curls her body around me, and I hold her tight in my arms.
“I love you so much, and I promise I’ll never leave you. I hate that you’re so afraid, and that even now, in my arms, you’re trembling. I would give anything to take it all away and see you smile again,” I whisper.
“I’m so tired, Jay.”
Stroking her hair, I repeat the motion over and over.
“Go to sleep. I’ll be right here when you wake up.”
“Don’t let me go.”
“Never.”
