CHAPTER 28 - Bryan Trevor #2
I hold her, stroke her hair, and try to show her through my touch that I'm here with her.
“I love you, Butterfly. I love you so much that I feel your pain piercing my soul, and I wish I could do something to rip away everything you're feeling,” I stammer, my voice breaking. “Forgive me for not getting there sooner. Forgive me for not saving you.”
She doesn't respond.
She just cries for hours on end.
When the crying stops, I realize she's fallen asleep, but I still don't let her go.
I rock her, begging whoever's up there to show me a way to help her.
To ease this unbearable burden.
Noah wakes up again an hour later.
Her eyes are swollen.
Her face screams exhaustion.
“Get me out of here, take me far away,” she pleads, already starting to cry again.
I clench my jaw when I notice her discomfort as she moves her legs.
“I was just waiting for you to wake up.” My thumb tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I'm so sorry, Butterfly. So sorry.”
“It's not your fault.” She closes her eyes, and my fingers caress her cheek. “We couldn't have imagined this.”
“I wish so badly I'd gotten there in time. I can't stop thinking I could have prevented it.”
“When I sent the message, he was already inside the room, and I was gradually losing consciousness.” She looks at me again, and silent tears return.
“I didn't feel all of it, but I still felt it, Bryan, and it was the most terrifying and painful thing I've ever experienced in my entire life. No beating or punishment came close to what he did to me.”
“I know. I know.” I press our temples together.
“I'll take care of you. I'll help you heal the open wounds.
I'll be your safe harbor when you need to fall apart. Your shoulder to cry on.” I can't hold back anymore, and my tears fall in time with hers.
“I'll be here, always, forever, every moment you need me.”
“How did you get me out of there? How did you manage?”
“I got into the room through the tree, and when I reached the window…” I close my eyes, trying to banish the image from my head. “You were unconscious, and he was on top of you.”
“You saw…” She lowers her head, and I quickly lift her chin.
“Never, ever, under any circumstances, feel shame or guilt for what just happened,” I say firmly, trying to wipe away the tears, but it's useless—they won't stop. “He's a worm, a sick bastard, a wretch who deserves to burn in the flames of hell.”
“He's my uncle. He's my uncle…” she reveals, and I open my mouth in disbelief. “I always noticed he looked at me differently, but this? Never—I never considered it because it's too much. It was too much for me.”
“He won’t touch you again. If I didn’t kill him, you can bet I’ll be back to finish what I started,” I practically growl, feeling the hatred surge through my veins again.
“What do you mean?”
“I pulled him off you and tore him apart. I don’t think he survived all those punches and kicks. Actually, I’m almost certain I heard his skull crack.”
She gasps, and only then do I realize I said too much.
Fuck!!!
“Sorry, love, you didn’t need to know those details. I’m an idiot—you’ve already been through too much.” I pull away, wanting to punch myself.
“No…” she says, shaking her head, and her hands take mine, examining them. “Thank you. Thank you for making him feel some kind of pain. It doesn’t heal what’s hurting inside me, but it eases the burning a little.”
“I’ll do anything for you, Butterfly. A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G! And I won’t hesitate to kill anyone who dares hurt you.”
“Then let’s get out of here before Gavin kills us,” she says, and I nod. “We have a way out, don’t we?”
“Yes, but I need to go to the trailer to grab some clothes, supplies, and the money I’ve been stashing away.”
“I think it’s better if I stay here,” she says, and I nod, even though I hate the idea. “If I’m wandering the streets, it’ll be easier for them to find us.”
“You’re safe here. This warehouse has been abandoned for years, and it’s far enough from the streets that no one will see you.” I press our foreheads together again. “I’ll be back in half an hour, tops.”
“Please, be careful,” she pleads, and I nod.
Our breaths mingle.
A strange feeling begins to squeeze my heart.
It’s not a good feeling.
It’s anguish!
“I love you, Butterfly,” I whisper, letting my words find her lips.
“I love you so much more,” she replies, pressing her lips to mine. “Thank you for saving me.”
It’s not a normal kiss.
It’s a quick brush of lips.
Still, it’s tender, full of meaning, pain, and hope.
When our lips part, she gives me a small smile, but I see the sadness in it.
Noah is shattered, and I’ll do everything to put her back together, piece by piece.
I press a kiss to her temple and stand up.
I walk toward the door, my legs heavy, but before leaving, I spin on my heels and look at her.
“Come back to me, please,” she begs, pulling her knees up and resting her chin on them.
“Always. I’ll always come back to you,” I answer, having no idea this would be the last time I’d see her.
That Gavin would be waiting for me inside the trailer.
That Lilian would call me a murderer and stand by silently while the thugs knocked me out and threw me in a car.
That I would be beaten until there wasn’t a single part of my body without bruises.
That they would shoot me, intending to kill me, but by some twist of fate or divine intervention, I wouldn’t die.
Still, I would spend years apart from the only woman I ever loved.