73. Delaney
CHAPTER 73
Delaney
M y eyes flicker open, blinking against the light streaming into the room. I wince, holding up a hand, as pain shoots through my forehead.
“Don’t move, baby.” Zayne’s face comes into focus as he wraps his hand around mine. “Doc Zimmerman had to stitch your forehead from the cut you sustained from the fireplace.”
Memories of last night swarm through my head. Some are fuzzier than others, but overall, the pieces are clicking into place inside my head.
I snatch my hand away from his, fire flaming inside me. “You deceived me. After fifteen fucking years of no contact, you put on a goddamn mask and stalk me.”
Tears stream down my face. I don’t know what emotion is stronger right now. Rage, betrayal, pain, and, though I hate to admit it, relief that I was having sex with him and not some stranger I’ve never met before.
“Delaney. I know you’re upset.”
“Upset?” A bitter laugh comes from me as I shoot to a sitting position, ignoring the pain flaring through my body. I’m sore from fighting with my asshole brother and being thrown against a damn stone fireplace, but adrenaline and rage fuel me, and I’m taking it out on Zayne. “I’m more than fucking upset.”
He runs a hand through his hair. Exhaustion lines his face as his dark brown eyes flash with annoyance and frustration.
He thinks he’s annoyed and frustrated. Well, I have fifteen fucking years of it stored up.
I jump out of bed. He grabs me to steady me when I wobble, but I manage to pull free of his grip. “Don’t touch me,” I snap. “You have a whole helluva lot of explaining to do.”
Running my fingers through my hair, I pace back and forth beside the bed, becoming more enraged with every step I take. “You never gave me a chance to explain what happened the night of the bonfire. You were so fucking hateful, and I took it because I believed I deserved it.”
He opens his mouth, but I give him a withering glare, and he shuts it. “I did what I did against my will. My fucking father beat my mother unconscious, dragged me into his office, and showed me pictures of you and me in compromising positions.”
Zayne looks stunned before becoming angry. “I had no idea he was abusing the two of you until recently.”
“I know,” I scream. “I kept it a secret to try and protect her.” Tears roll down my face like a river. I swipe at them angrily, sucking in a breath. But it doesn’t ease the ache in my heart or the lump in my throat.
“He refused to get her help until I agreed to go along with his plan. He wanted you out of my life so bad…” My gaze drops to my bare feet. For the first time, I realize I’m wearing one of Zayne’s tees. I don’t remember either of us removing my Halloween costume.
My voice is shaky and low. “It killed me to leave you lying broken on the ground. I had no idea Tim would hit you with that pipe.” My hand rubs my aching heart, lost in the horrific memories. “But I had no choice. My dad assaulted me and threatened to end my mom’s life if I didn’t go along with it.”
“I’m so sorry, minx. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Minx . My heart squeezes inside my chest, and my lungs are so fucking tight I can’t breathe. I never thought I’d hear him call me that again, other than in my dreams.
“Because I feared they’d ruin you, or worse…” I swipe at the tears on my cheeks again. “My mom made a surprise visit. She finally left my father…” I clear my throat, my voice shaky when I speak. “She told me what happened to your dad. I had no idea, yet I wasn’t surprised. I’ve seen my father ruin anyone who stood up to him or was in his way. I was trying to protect you.”
His arms wrap around me, and for a moment, I succumb to the warmth of his embrace. I allow myself to relish in the safety that only he can make me feel.
That’s why you were so comfortable with the masked man. How did you not know it was him?
I pull away, my back to him, feeling like a damn fool. His deception badly wounds my ego. It covers the layers of pain from the past.
Taking in a couple of deep breaths, when I’m semi-composed again, I whirl around. He stands there with blood on his face, arms, and clothing. Dark circles line his pale, drawn face. Yet, he’s still the most attractive man I’ve ever seen.
The years have certainly been kind to him.
Jealousy wells up inside me when I think of him with other women. The way he touched, licked, and fucked me is evidence he’s been with others. Probably more than I’d ever want to know.
“I understand why you were so hurt when I left you. But I risked everything, including my mom’s life and mine, when I went to your mobile home. You wouldn’t hear me out.” I blink back another wave of tears, refusing to cry.
“The bathroom at the lake threw me for a loop. I hoped it was going to lead to us reconciling. I planned to tell you everything I didn’t get to say when you refused to listen to me. But you ran out on me.”
He opens his mouth, but I hold up my hand. He promptly shuts it, crossing his arms over his chest, remaining silent.
But I don’t have time to marvel that I made Zayne speechless. The secrets between us need to come to light. No more hiding in the dark.
“You were the reason I stayed. I was disappointed by my mom’s behavior. My brother and Tim assaulted me the night of the bonfire. My father made them take me inside the house, where the four of them beat me unconscious.”
A muscle ticks in his jaw. His eyes darken, full of rage as he glowers. I know his anger isn’t directed at me.
“My dad took my cell phone. Callie was the one who bought me the burner phone I used to text you after I snuck out of the house and ran to hers. I wanted to visit you, but you were too far away, and we weren’t speaking. Anyway, she stood by me and convinced me I needed out of the situation. She told me of an opportunity to live and work in Cape May. I hesitated because of you, but after you left me in the bathroom at the lake, I had no reason to stay.”
His jaw ticks again, and he shifts his weight but doesn’t interrupt.
“While Callie said goodbye to Mark, I realized I needed closure. I drove to your dad’s bar…” A small smile curls my lips momentarily. “Probably not my best idea since I hadn’t driven in a while.”
My words coax a small smile from him, which gives me the courage to tell him the worst part of our story that’s haunted me for fifteen years.
“I parked Callie’s car near the pine trees and was walking across the parking lot. I was running through scenarios in my head of what I’d say if I saw you and what I’d do if you weren’t there. I didn’t even pay attention to whether or not your truck was there; that’s how distracted I was.” I exhale a shaky breath as the onslaught of memories crashes over me.
Be strong. You can do this.
“I was grabbed and dragged around to the side of the bar by my father. He beat the hell out of me, leaving me injured on the ground. Had someone not pulled up on a motorcycle and scared him off….” My lip quivers, and the tears break loose, unbidden.
“Jesus, Delaney.” Zayne’s so close to me that I feel the heat radiating from his larger body. He’s blurry through the tears that won’t stop falling. “I’m so fucking sorry.”
I collapse in his arms, sobs shaking my body. He squeezes me against him, rubbing my back and murmuring for me to let it out.
As I break, I cling tighter to him. He’s always been my life raft in the storm. And it hurt so fucking much to need him so badly and walk into the bar to find he’d moved on with someone else.
I thought we had something special. Something that would last forever.
But it turns out we weren’t destined to be together.
Secrets, abuse, and misunderstandings broke us apart like two people swept away in a sea during a massive storm.
But fate has brought us back together.
After all this time, I find it hard to trust it. Can we work through everything between us, or is this a cruel joke the universe is playing?
I turn my head, my nose running, mixing with my tears on his shirt. Now that his identity has been revealed, I can no longer deny I’ve always loved Zayne.
I hope this isn’t a cruel twist of fate. I’m not sure I’ll survive losing him again.