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Her brother instantly recognized Collin, and the look on his face was pure murder. He didn’t hesitate to make his way toward them.
“I think it's time for you to leave,” Aidan said.
“And how are you going to make me without causing a scene?”
“Collin.” Leo’s voice was low and made Collin visibly cringe. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Collin pivoted so he could see both Aidan and Leo and smiled wide. “This is a party, isn’t it?”
“Not for you,” Leo said. “Remember what happened the last time you showed up at a party you weren’t invited to?”
Collin’s gaze flicked to Viv, and he dragged his tongue across his teeth. “I fucked your sister in a bathroom?”
Leo’s hands balled into fists at his sides, and Aidan felt Viv press against him.
“And then I broke your nose. I would be happy to do it again.”
Collin flinched when Leo reached up to grip his arm but quickly recovered, trying and failing to wrench his arm away.
“Let go of me.”
“If I do, you’ll find my fist in your face. And I’m sure his won’t be far behind.” Leo nodded at Aidan.
“Count on it.”
Leo signaled to Gavin, who appeared on Collin’s other side in an instant, and resigned, Collin shot an ugly smile at Viv, laughing when she cringed away from him.
“You never did know what was good for you,” Collin said as they led him across the room and out the doors.
As soon as he was gone, Aidan felt Viv start to shake, her breath coming in shallow gasps. Ignoring the confused stares, he tightened his grip on her hand, leading her away from the crowd and around the corner opposite the bathrooms.
When they were out of sight of the party, he eased her back against the wall and released her. She pressed her palm to her chest, and he watched tears form at the corners of her eyes.
“Viv.” She jerked at her name on his lips, and he softened his voice. “Viv. He’s gone, and you’re okay.”
“He’s…he’s…” Her breath sawed in and out of her lungs and her fingers trembled.
“Listen to me. He’s gone, and he’s not going to hurt you. What do you need?”
“Just…I just…”
She reached out and gripped his hips, pulling him closer and wrapping her arms around his waist. Bracing his forearm against the wall, he reached up to cradle the back of her neck when she dropped her forehead against his shoulder.
When she pressed closer, he slipped his free hand around her waist and drew her body tight against his. The minute he did, she relaxed ever so slightly, her fingers tangling in the fabric of his sweater as she sucked in deep, shuddering breaths.
“You’re okay,” he murmured against her ear. “You’re safe.”
He could tell the minute she eased all the way out of her panic attack when her body froze. Her head snapped up, and she dropped her arms from his waist. Reluctantly, he slid his hand from around her and stepped back to put the space between them she hadn’t wanted moments earlier.
“I’m sorry. That was…embarrassing.” She puffed out her cheeks and then blew out a slow breath. “Collin and I…we were…”
“You don’t have to explain it to me.”
She dropped her gaze to her hands and fidgeted with her engagement ring. She didn’t look at him when she continued.
“We used to date. For a few years. He asked me to marry him this spring, and I said no. We did fuck…” She flinched even though he said nothing.
“We did have sex in a bathroom. Then he asked me to marry him, and I said no. When I did, he hit me.”
