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She lets out a weighty sigh. “I’m just not ready to hear that.” She quickly wipes her tears away and puts on a fake smile. “Anyway, does anyone want to eat? I can make some eggs or pancakes.”
“Maybe later, Mom. I don’t think I can eat yet.”
“Okay honey, I’ll just go to the supermarket and make us some chicken Parmesan for an early lunch.”
“That sounds really good Miss—I mean, Karen.” She narrows her gaze, the sides of her eyes crinkling as he smirks. That must’ve been another thing I missed. They’ve clearly become friends and that makes me happy.
“That sounds good, Mom. Thank you,” I smile, still feeling awful for what I said.
She blows me a kiss. “I’ll see you kids in a bit.” Damian stands up and locks the door behind her.
As he comes back, I notice one of his hands is injured. “What happened?” I ask, pointing to it.
He looks down, as if he forgot all about it, even though it looks like a fresh wound. “Oh that? It’s nothing. Just hit my counter a little too hard.”
“Let me see it.” He sits beside me, placing it on my lap. I lift it up to my lips and kiss his knuckles, knowing he hurt it because of me.
“Baby, I’m fine, stop worrying about me. I should be taking care of you.” He gets up walking toward the kitchen. “How about I make you a snack while we wait for your mom. You have to be starving.”
“I’m okay, really. I’ll just eat later.” I get up, making my way to the bathroom, and as I walk inside, I see something I hadn’t been ready to see. I see myself and I’m barely recognizable. My legs fold as my blood runs cold. Holding on to the doorframe, I try to remember how to breathe, but every ounce of air has been knocked out from my lungs. Clinging to the wall, I steer toward Damian. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask, tears aching behind my eyes.
Cup in hand, he turns, the smile he was wearing now replaced by concern. “What’s the matter?” He places the cup on the counter and crosses the room toward me. “Tell you what, babe?”
“Why didn’t you tell me that I’m hideous?!” I reply, part crying, part screaming. “How—how could you even stand to look at me?” I turn away from him in disgust, my shoulders rising and falling with my sobs.
“Don’t you do that.” He turns me around and lifts my face with the back of his hand, but I can’t look into his eyes. “Don’t you ever call yourself hideous again. You hear me?” I pry myself away from his touch.
“No, baby. Don’t hide. Not from me. If you think I want you any less because of this then I obviously haven’t done a good job of showing you what you mean to me. If it wasn’t for your doctor warning me not to fuck you for a week, I’d be doing just that.”
His words warm my heart, and as he cups my face, my lips curve up into a small smile. But when he kisses me, that’s when I feel the self-loathing melting away. If a kiss were a word his would be a pledge. One of unchanging love even in an ever-changing time.
* * *
DAMIAN
I watch her sleeping in my arms, her slow breaths even and finally calm. Knowing she feels unwanted because of her injuries, kills me. I fucking hate it and I know who’s to blame. She’s so beautiful and she doesn’t even know it because he never made her feel like she’s everything. I know the type; I know them well. Maybe he’ll end up at the same prison my father is in. They’d become fast friends.
My biggest regret in life is that I didn’t kill the motherfucker when I had the chance. Maybe I was too young to help my mom, but I’m no longer a kid. I could’ve ended him that day and she’d be fine right now.
Every time I see her face, a dark rage wraps around my body, engulfing my sense of humanity. The swelling, the deep red and purple bruising on her face is so painful to look at. I do my best not to react around her, to let her forget the pain even for a second, but fuck it’s hard. Just thinking about what she went through, what she was feeling...my need for vengeance ripples through me in violent waves. It’d be so good to hurt him, really hurt him, until all he knows is suffering.
I keep texting the guys every few hours asking for updates, but there are none yet. The bastard is still in hiding. There’s a warrant out for his arrest so he can't travel, but we’ll find him. I just hope it’s sooner rather than later.
There’s a light knock on the door. I gently pull Lilah off me and lay her down on the sofa. I head for the door and look through the peephole before opening it, part of me wishing he was the one on the other side.
“She’s asleep,” I whisper, taking the three white bags from Karen.
“Oh, good.” She speaks low, moving into the kitchen with me. “I guess I’ll wait on making lunch or maybe make it for dinner. I don’t want to wake her.”
I empty out the bags and quietly place everything in the refrigerator. “That sounds good. I can order takeout once she’s awake.”
She sits on one of the stools and sighs. “You have to promise me you’ll watch over her. Please, Damian, she’s all I have. I can't lose my baby. I just can’t.” She weeps soundlessly into her hands. I flex my jaw, wishing I could take her pain away.
Sitting next to her, I offer the only thing I can, my promise. “I’ll do everything in my power to keep her safe. I swear to you. That bastard will not hurt her again. He’ll have to go through me first.”
I grip the back of my neck. “She means everything to me. I love her.” The words come so easily; I feel them in my bones. It’s still hard to believe that the boy who once thought he would never take the plunge, fell so hard.
Chapter 24
