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“Did Victor ever…” she paused and took a deep breath. “Touch you?”
For a second, the room was completely silent.
Then a loud growl pierced the silence. I looked at Nick and he was shaking. He was going to shift. I was about to grab him when Aria placed her hand on his thigh.
“No,” she said calmly. “He didn’t touch me.”
I let out a breath I had been holding.
If that fucker had touched her like that, I didn’t know what I would have done. There were no words to describe it.
I leaned over and kissed the top of her head. Nick was still shaking, and Jacob was clenching his jaw.
“I am sorry, but I had to ask,” Patricia said with a small smile.
“It’s okay,” Aria smiled.
I reached out to her again, but Nick beat me to it. He pulled her on his lap and buried his nose in her hair. I frowned at him. I know she was his mate, but I wanted to be with her as well. I am her brother, and she needed me too.
I sighed unhappily and walked around the couch. I sat down next to them. I took Aria’s hand in mine, and she gave me a small smile.
“You are probably wondering why I am here,” Patricia said.
Aria turned back to look at her and nodded.
“Well, Victor is a horrible man,” Patricia sighed.
“He is,” Aria said quietly.
My heart clenched. I didn’t know exactly what he did to her, but I could guess. I squeezed her hand and she pulled me closer to her. I kissed her temple and looked at Patricia.
“Do you want to talk about what he did?” Patricia asked Aria.
Aria shook her head. “I am not ready for that.”
“That’s okay, baby,” I said and kissed her temple again.
Nick was fuming and squeezing Aria too tightly.
“Nick,” I warned him and grabbed his arm. “You are hurting her.”
His eyes snapped down to his arms, and he immediately let go of her.
“I am so sorry, love,” he said, guilt written all over his face.
“It’s okay, Nick,” she smiled at him. “I am fine.”
He wrapped his arms around her again. He was gentle this time. He placed his head on her shoulder and she turned back to look at Patricia.
“I am sorry,” Aria said. “Continue, please.”
Patricia smiled. “It’s okay. As I was saying, Victor is a horrible man. He hurt me, and I decided to run away and fake my own death. I waited all these years for a chance to defeat him, and now I finally have one.”
“Aren’t you his mate?” Aria asked, her eyebrows furrowing. “Wouldn’t he be able to feel if you really died?”
“I was his mate,” Patricia nodded. “I broke the bond.”
Aria gasped, and her eyes widened. She leaned back into Nick’s chest. It was an instinct. Nick kissed her cheek and nuzzled his nose into her neck.
