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Woods

I turned on the shower, then reached for Della Streaks of blood were still visible on her face She'd tried to clean it but she'd left so on her face and blades of grass in her hair clung to the tangled mess

She wouldn't let oing to kill Angelinain my life and she would pay for it I'd ht now I had to keep Della lucid and out of her head

I reached for her shirt and had started to lift it over her head when she cried out in pain I froze "What's wrong, baby?"

"My ribs," she said in a tight whisper

Fuck I forcedworse I was going to snap The tank top she earing was ruined Blood and grass stains had rabbed the neckline, then ripped it in one swift round behind her andthe dark bruise covering her side broke me I had let this happen to her I had left her alone and let this woave out and I fell before her Knowing that she was hurting was too much The sob that filled the bathroom was ed Della's hands caressed my head in her attempt to comfort me Me I wasn't the one who had been attacked She was the one with bruises and covered in blood but I was the one on his knees, crying "It's okay, I'm okay," she tried to reassureover me I was a man, dammit I couldn't break apart on her It was my place to take care of her, not the other way around

I forcedher I needed to clean her I had to fix her Make the pain go away

"Woods?" Her voice was soft and unsure I knew the tears were still rolling down my face silently I couldn't see away

"I need to clean you Letmy eyes to look into hers She wasn't about to leave lazed look that I'd seen in her eyes earlier was gone I had her back with me

"Okay," she said simply, and stepped into the shower

I undressed and followed her inside She wasn't standing under the ater

"I need to wash your hair," I told her,entle with my head," she said

Her head? What the fuck did Angelina do to her head? "What's wrong with your head, baby?"

She dropped her eyes from mine as she stared down at the marble floor "She pulled a lot of my hair out It burns," she said so softly I almost missed it

My body treentle But we need to clean it Do you trust me?" I asked as she stared warily back at the water Then she nodded

I moved her under the water and pressed kisses to her lips while whispering co words to her as she winced

Gently, I washed her hair, then moved to clean her body She flinched as I touched the tender spots Each flinch from her body caused my chest to constrict Once she was clean I wrapped a towel around her and carried her to bed I needed to hold her but first I wanted her checked out

"I' to call a friend of mine He'll come here and check you out I need to know you're okay Your ribs could be broken"

She started to shake her head but I couldn't give her this I had to know she was okay "Della, I have to I can't not make sure you're okay Please, baby He's a sports doctor We use hi tennis tournaments He's a friend It's okay"

She finally nodded "Okay," she agreed