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“Do you need anything else?”
“I think Mark has it covered,” I whisper, glancing towards the kitchen. He’s been distant, barely even looking at me. “He’s so mad at me.”
Gently, Levi takes one of my hands. “He’s mad at himself, Em. Not you.”
“Huh?”
He forces a small smile. “He’s mad he couldn’t protect you,” he reveals, before briefly turning his head towards the kitchen, where Mark is banging around. “He spent years not being able to protect you. He not only hates his parents, but yours too. When we first got together he would tell me about them, about how he wanted you to live with him. But you were finishing school, and then everything happened. He would spend hours on the phone to your grandparents, trying to get them to talk you into moving here.”
I wipe a lone tear. “They did. They gave me the option of either moving in with them, or here, with Mark.” I give a sad smile, remembering that low time in my life. “I chose Mark. He was always there for me as a kid. We were both the black sheep of the family.”
“It was hard for him. He was kicked out, not forced to stay—like you. He hasn’t said anything, but he feels guilty about tonight. He was hoping with you here to watch over, he would be able to prevent anything bad from happening to you.”
“That’s stupid. He couldn’t have known what was going to happen any more than I could have. He shouldn’t feel responsible for me.”
“He loves you,” he tells me softly, something I already know.
“I love him too. I feel terrible for putting you all through this.”
“Don’t,” Mark croaks from the doorway, holding a bowl with steam coming from it. “I should have been there for you.”
I don’t take my eyes off him as he walks into the room, dropping the bowl on the table before leaning down next to Levi, placing his hand over my cast.
“I’m sorry.”
I don’t know what else to say. I feel awful for what they are all feeling. If I had been honest from the start, maybe we could have prevented this from happening, made a different plan to get the proof we needed to report Mr. Flint.
“Don’t be. I’m the one who’s sorry. I’ve been a wanker all night.” Tears gather in his eyes. “Just let me look after you. I don’t want to hear any moaning, either.”
I strain out a chuckle, glad the tension has eased some. “I won’t; I promise.”
“Good. I’m going to get you some clean clothes to put on.”
My eyes widen in horror. “Um, I can do that,” I tell him, not wanting my cousin going through my drawers.
Levi stands, chuckling. “I’ll go do it. When you’re up tomorrow, I’ll help you shower.”
“No, you won’t,” Banner blurts out.
Levi raises his eyebrow. “I’m gay.”
“I don’t fucking care. I’ll help her,” Banner tells him.
“Banner, it’s fine,” I tell him, blushing. There is no way I’m letting Banner wash me.
He doesn’t look happy, but he nods. “Okay. But wear a bikini.”
I try to force myself not to smile, but it’s useless. I end up beaming, wincing when my cut lip cracks.
“Eat your soup and I’ll be back,” Levi says, smirking at Banner.
Mark hands me the bowl, and although I’m not hungry, I know I won’t be able to handle being sick if I take the tablets on an empty stomach.
“I’m gonna go ring the police station to see if they have any updates. I don’t trust the fuckers to call back. They’ve got a shit ton of stuff going on with the murders. I want to make sure they’re doing their job,” Banner says grimly.
“I’m sure they are,” I assure him.
“We’ll see,” he murmurs absently. “I’m also going to let the lads know I won’t be coming in this week, and I’ll tell my teachers too.”
