Page 95 (1/1)
“I don’t understand, Raine Why did you hide the truth? I was listening You had to knoouldn’t punish you for being honest” Confusion furrowed his brow “If I’d known the truth, wethis bloody inquisition Tell me why you kept it in”
His words drowned her in guilt She see pool of it today, as they pointed out all the ways she’d screwed up and she had to take responsibility But she couldn’t let the shaed around like an anvil for years take her under for good
She could give Lias like she hadn’t known him that well at the time or she hadn’t realized that he’d been so serious about helping her But they were laet in the way
Instead, Raine fought for a ragged breath and returned his stare as regret poured from her “I was afraid to be that vulnerable to you My father tookhe knew I liked or wanted, he ot Then he would crawl into h for those things He manipulated me and he crushed me” Tears fell, and she had to force herself to whisper, “I wasn’t strong enough to stop him”
God, she was so afraid to hear either of theree with that
“Stop I need a minute I can’t…” She turned her head away “You know my most hurtful secret and…”
“Stay with us, precious Are you worried you’re still not strong enough?” Ha the shit out of hie that?”
Raine choked back a sob She even hated the tears running silently down her face More weakness But if they were going to spend this ly truth
“In theI’d let what he said roll off e Then…” She sagged on the cross as a sob took her “Beck drove me to the beach, and I realized his insults were coiled up in ht I’d taken the head off the snake, but I could still hear hih to block him out”
No onemoment, then Liam and Hammer rushed to unfasten her cuffs froh Macen peeled away the pads of the TENS unit Was this it? Had her ugliest truth finally broken their will?
She risked a peek at Liaathered her in his arently to the bed Hammer followed close behind, sorrow etched into his expression Almost as one, they melted to the mattress on their knees
Liaers shook as he cupped her face and kissed every tear away “We’ve got you, love I’h, but he can’t hurt you now—or ever again Even if you don’t believe it, you’re too strong to let hiht you to expect the worst in others, but ill always be here I’ll always protect you And if I get the chance, I’ll fucking slice the bastard I’ll make him bleed”
“You can’t He’s dangerous I don’t want him near either of you Somehow, he knohere I’ve been all these years He told me—”
“It doesn’t matter if he knohere to find you” Ha her with such uncharacteristic tenderness “If he ever coain, he’s a dead man That’s a promise”
“That it is, ht her head to his chest “Don’t worry about us Just let it out and know that I love you I’”
“I haven’t That’s e’re here” She sobbed
“Give yourself a bit of credit You’ve been through more than most, Raine,” Liam whispered “I sahat you endured The brutality of it blindsidedflattened by a truck would have been easier, I think I can only iine how you felt I truly wish I’d known sooner so I could have helped you”
On the one hand, Raine co earlier, she could have started healing and saved them all so much pain But the htened she’d been to be vulnerable with him On the other hand, how could he know the extent of her father’s cruelty?
She froze “What do you mean, you saw it?”