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When I returned with rags, alcohol, gloves, and a proper needle, Ava and Dottie were sitting on the bunk. Gravy was smeared across Brad’s face.
Brad groaned as I cleaned up his gash. Ava tried to help, but her hands shook every time she went to touch him. She was still scared of him. No matter how strong she tried to be, it wasn’t working. Years of being with him ruined her. She was broken, and I hated how much I wanted to fix her.
CHAPTER34
Ava (Day 6)
Brad wason the verge of death. His breathing was labored. I shouldn’t have cared, letting him die would be a mercy. I couldn’t do it. I wanted him to suffer.
I turned to look at the cell bars. I also wanted him to want me, it made no sense. His approval meant nothing to me. Yet, it did. Being able to turn him down would be the closure I wanted. Not his fake ‘I love you’ crap. I wanted him to really want me. It was a terrible desire, and I couldn’t explain it. I really was fucked up.
Tristan and Dottie worked quickly to sew him up and disinfect the area. Brad reached out his hand to mine. I pulled back. He wanted me to feel bad so I would him and release him. If I touched him, I would break. He had a hold on me, which I had to work on.
“We can handle this,” Tristan whispered.
“It’s okay. I don’t mind staying.” I clenched my fists.
“Don’t you have a lot to do today?” Tristan wiped blood from his hands.
“Not really. Tasha has people doing everything.” I looked at Brad. In another lifetime, he and I would have been married. Maybe in that life, he would have loved me.
“Dottie, would you give us a minute?” Tristan turned to my sister, who was tying up the thread.
“Yeah, I’m done anyway.” Dottie wiped her hand on a towel and went to leave. “Ava, when you’re done, I need to talk to you.”
I nodded.
Brad grabbed my ankle. I flinched and tried to step back.
“Don’t touch her.” Tristan grabbed his throat.
“It’s okay.” I caressed Tristan’s shoulder.
Brad gurgled. “Ava, help me.”
Shit. Moths fluttered around my stomach. My veins iced over. What was I gonna do? This was wrong, no one deserved to be mistreated this way.
“Maybe we can send him away when he heals,” I whispered to Tristan.
It was the humane thing to do. My father raped and abused my mother for years, yet I gave him more mercy than Brad.
Tristan was on me so quickly I hadn’t seen him move. His hand was in my hair, forcing me to look at him. Usually, his features were strong, stern, and void of smiles. Now his face softened.
“He has no power over you,” Tristan whispered.
I blinked. What did he mean by that? Of course, Brad didn’t have power over me.
“He has no power over you,” he repeated.
I looked down. No one had power over me. Especially not someone who abused me for years.
“He has no power over you.” Tristan pulled my face to his. His thumb rubbed under my eyes, wiping away something wet.
Had I been crying? I didn’t think so, yet tears fell from my chin. How did Tristan know Brad still affected me? How did he know a small part of me wanted him to want me?
I had to stop the tears. Tristan was so close. I looked down at his lips. He ran his tongue across his bottom lip.
“He has no power over you. It’s okay to let him die. It’s even better to torture him.” Tristan wiped away more tears.
