Aria
Three Years Ago
“Don’t lie to me, you little bitch. That’s why you’re wearing a dress, isn’t it? Where did he touch you?” Jason’s hand pushed harder around my neck, forcing me to gasp for air.
Warm tears escaped my eyes, burning down my cold cheeks. My heart pounded like a wild drum, unable to find its rhythm as it frantically sent out a warning signal to every cell in my body. Throbbing hit the side of my head where he’d yanked me through the house by my hair.
“Nowhere.”
His forest-green eyes darkened, piercing into my soul as his nostrils flared. He roughly grabbed at the hem of my dress, forcefully pulling it up as I tried to stop him with my hands.
“No, please. I didn’t do anything,” I begged, my voice straining.
“You need to remember who you belong to,” he said through gritted teeth.
I froze, paralysed.
I knew what was coming.
It wasn’t the first time he’d done this to me.
I squeezed my eyes closed, my body praying it would be over quickly this time.
“What the fuck are you doing?” a familiar voice roared.
Callum.
The grip around my neck released, my hands finding their way there to try to remove the phantom feeling of it. I took as much oxygen in as I could. I opened my eyes as I slid down the wall, crouching, trying to protect myself as much as possible.
“She needs to be taught a lesson,” Jason hissed.
Callum squared up to him, pressing his index finger to his forehead. “Is there something broken in there? What the fuck is wrong with you? Look at her. She’s terrified.”
Jason pushed at Callum’s chest, causing him to take a step back.
“I don’t fucking care. She’s mine,” he snarled.
I gasped as Callum swung for him, his fist connecting with his nose, forcing Jason to stumble back. Jason smirked as he wiped at the blood on his face. He stalked towards Callum and tilted his head, his eyes burning into him.
“Someone’s got a soft spot for her,” he spat.
“Don’t make me do it again,” Callum warned.
“I’ll let that go because you’re my brother. I suggest you get this whore out of my sight. I don’t want to see her again until she’s learnt her lesson.”
Jason pushed at Callum’s chest one last time before storming out of the living room, the front door slamming not long after. Callum’s shoulders loosened, and he let out a heavy breath as he crept over and crouched in front of me.
“Are you hurt?”
I shook my head, but he knew the truth. He gently placed two fingers under my chin and tilted it up, for my eyes to meet his. Those bright spring eyes had so much sadness behind them.
Sometimes, I wished I’d met Callum first. Then, none of this would be happening.
“Shall we get you upstairs to clean you up?” He rose slowly, holding his hand out carefully.
I hesitated for a moment before taking it, and he helped me up. His touch was warm compared to Jason’s cold hands. I quickly pulled my dress back down, making sure I was covered. My heart was still racing, and I wasn’t sure if it was ever going to stop.
He placed his hand on the small of my back and guided me out of the room and up the stairs to my bedroom. I didn’t flinch; I never did with him. He was always so gentle. As we entered, he grabbed some joggers and a top from my drawer and handed them to me.
“Go get changed.”
My body was heavy as I dragged it into the en suite. I didn’t want to look at myself in the mirror. I couldn’t face what I would see. I changed my clothes and tied my hair in a messy bun, then took a deep breath before re-entering the bedroom.
I sat on the edge of the bed, and Callum crouched in front of me, first aid kit all ready to clean my lip. He took a wipe out.
“This is going to sting.”
It didn’t bother me anymore. I was so accustomed to being cleaned up that I had become numb to it. The pain seemed to fade into the background. Silence fell between us, the air full of unspoken words until he broke it.
“Aria, let me get you out of here,” he whispered.
I’d thought about running away all the time, but after what one of Jason’s men had done to me, I’d never tried to do it again. After that, I knew he’d find me no matter where I went.
I should have got out the first time he laid his hands on me, but he’d apologised and told me he’d never do it again. I’d believed him because I’d loved him.
But he did do it again.
Over and over.
Then the apologies eventually stopped, and he said it was my fault. There was no love there, just possession. He owned me. I was his, and he’d do everything to drag me back to where I belonged—with him.
I placed my hand on Callum’s cheek, and his eyes met mine. “You know what would happen. He’d just hunt me down and kill you for it. I can’t live like that, knowing he’d hurt you.”
“I’d give my life for yours, you know that.”
“I don’t want to lose you,” I whispered.
“You’ll never lose me.”
The day I moved to Leeds, Callum was there with his bright eyes and wide smile, ready to collect me from London because Jason was in the middle of a business deal. It was the first time I’d met him. We clicked instantly.
That day, I thought I was going to be happy in Leeds. Little did I know that Jason was about to completely change.
“Can you stay with me? He won’t be back for a few days, and I don’t want to be alone.”
“I couldn’t leave you even if you tried to get rid of me.”
I gave him a small smile and climbed into bed, sliding down under the blankets.
Callum sat, resting his back against the headboard as I laid my head on his chest, and he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close.
That smell of dark musk filled me with warmth and safety, as if it were protecting me from the outside world.
But it couldn’t protect me from the demons that had already burrowed their way into my soul.
I fell apart in his arms. My cries muffled against his chest, and I felt his body tense as he held me tighter. Each breath shook as I sucked in the oxygen to fill my lungs. Each release of air was me trying to let go of everything that had just happened.
Callum was my safe space, that person I could completely let my guard down with, and he’d always be there.