Chapter 17
SEVENTEEN
OWEN
“ N o. No. Stop it!”
I’m pulled from my sleep and fall straight into combat mode, like a light being flipped on. I’m alert and wide awake, but the girl beside me wrapped up in the bedsheets and tussling with them is far from awake. “Laya.” I nudge her gently. She’s so wrapped up in her nightmare that she doesn’t hear me trying to soothe her. “Baby girl.” Her skin is clammy, and with the illumination from the bathroom light, I can see her chest rising rapidly as she becomes more and more agitated.
“Laya!” I rock her harder this time, my voice deep enough to make her snap her eyes open. She whimpers, and I want to kick myself for the fear embedded in her eyes.
Just what the fuck did he do to her? I clench my teeth so hard they hurt, but I shake away the pain and lift her chin to face me.
“What the fuck did he do to you?” She stares at me with a furrowed brow. “Tell me.”
She shakes her head, and anger floods me. Worse than that, I want to reassure her but don’t know how.
“Shhh, baby girl. I got you. Let me take away your pain. Be a good girl and stop crying, baby.”
“I—” She hiccups. “Can’t.”
“I know, baby girl. Shhh, I’m here for you.” My heart skips a beat with her in my arms, soothing her. Nothing has ever felt as right as comforting her in this moment. “What do you need, baby girl?” My throat goes impossibly dry, not knowing how to make her feel better or make everything all right, other than promising to find those responsible for her pain and making them pay with every ounce of strength I have. I swear I’ll tear them apart.
“I don’t know,” she whispers, and I hate her admission, hate I can’t bring her the solace she desperately needs and deserves.
“Don’t worry, baby girl. I’ll figure it out,” I promise her, stroking over her silky hair and vowing to do just that.
She nods against me as I will myself to relax while I lie there listening to her whimpers of pain that adds another layer of my anger toward the fuckers responsible for her nightmares.
I’ll show them fucking torture.
Nobody messes with what’s mine and gets away with it.