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“Tell her the truth. All of it. She deserves to know.”
“And if she still wants nothing to do with you?” Greg asks softly.
“Then we’ll do what we should have done from the beginning. We’ll fight for her. Beg on our fucking knees for forgiveness if we have to. But we won’t give up without a fight.”
And something tells me it’s going to be a battle beyond anything we’ve seen before.
Chapter Seventeen
Avery
Evander kept hold of my hand the whole way back to the car. He walked slightly in front of me, moving branches aside so I didn’t get scratched, quietly guiding me around roots and rocks that might trip me.
His words were soft and few, like he could sense that I might fall apart at any minute, and my hand in his was the only thing keeping me grounded. When we made it to his truck, he helped me into the front seat before doing up my seatbelt for me.
I rest my head against the cool glass of the window and gave in to the exhaustion. I miss the whole car ride back, only stirring when I could feel arms sliding underneath me and lifting me up.
I crack my eyes open and tip my head up. “Ev?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“Thank you,” I mumble before burrowing my head under his chin, not caring when the stubble on his jaw scratches my forehead.
I feel myself being lowered onto a bed before my sneakers are slid off my feet and a soft blanket is tucked around me.
“Sleep now. I’ve got you.” Lips press against my forehead for a moment before sleep claims me once more.
Banging wakes me with a jolt after what feels like minutes later. I bolt upright, my heart beating out of my chest as I shake off the remnants of a dream in which I was running through the woods, branches grabbing me like hands.
I spot Evander waking in a chair at the end of the bed before more banging sounds through the room. The noise snaps Ev out of his sleepy haze. He looks at me for a second before standing and stretching.
“Stay here, Avery. I’ve got this.”
I nod, tugging the blanket up to my chin. Evander walks out of the room, determination in every inch of his stride.
I swallow as I take in the room from my spot in the center of the large bed. The chair E just vacated is at the foot of the bed, and the wall behind it is lined with bookcases filled with books. A lamp sits near the window with a small table beside it. A book rests on top with a glass beside it, making me think that’s where the chair must have been dragged from. I could easily picture myself curled up in that very spot, reading.
On either side of the bed is a nightstand with antique bronze lamps matching the floor lamp near the window. On the wall to my left is a long dresser with doors on either side where the closet and bathroom must be, but I ignore those for now when I hear yelling coming from the other room.
Concerned about what I might be walking in on but more worried about leaving Ev to face the firing squad alone, I climb from the bed and walk on shaky legs out of the room. There’s a short hallway with two doors on my left and a large glass door on my right, which leads outside. The warm sun bathes my face as I walk slowly toward the closed door at the end of the hallway.
Blowing out a steadying breath, I turn the knob and walk into the brightly lit living area. My legs shake when I see the familiar faces of Oz and Zig. Just behind them, I spot Wilder and Slade.
My feet feel glued to the floor as I consider my next move. But as I stand here, Zig looks up and spots me.
“Avery.”
Everyone stops to look at me.
Ev turns and hurries my way, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and turning me into him. “You okay? I told you I could handle these guys. You don’t need this crap already,” he murmurs into my hair.
“I’m not leaving you to deal with it alone. You did nothing wrong.”
“Neither did you. Remember that. And don’t let any of these assholes push you around, okay?”
I grin against his shoulder. “Okay.”
He tugs me toward the others, who have fanned out now. I wish I was wearing more than shorts and a T-shirt, but over the last few days, I’ve learned to be grateful for what I do have. It would have been a lot fucking worse to be standing here in just a T-shirt and my panties.
