I exhale through my nose. My mind flashes to her trembling hands this morning. The way her voice broke. The tears she tried to hide.
“I’ve got her,” I say quietly.
And I do.
But I swear to God—if I ever get my hands on the bastard who did this? He won’t even see me coming.
***
When I unlock the door, the place is still. Quiet in the way that says someone’s finally safe enough to sleep.
Gabriel is the first to meet my eyes. He’s leaning against the counter with a mug in hand, watching me like he’s already read the full report.
“She’s out,” he says softly, nodding toward the living room. “She talked, Elijah. Not just surface-level Ava banter—really talked.”
I glance past him. Ava’s curled up under the gray blanket, one hand resting on her bracelet, face relaxed in a way I rarely see. Like the weight’s eased just enough to let her breathe.
Gabriel steps closer and puts a hand on my shoulder. “She’s not used to being held like she matters. It’s not easy for her. But she let herself feel it tonight. I thought you’d want to know.”
“I do,” I murmur, eyes on her.
He squeezes my arm gently. “She’s not the same girl who built a life trying to survive. She’s starting to believe she’s allowed to live.”
I cross to her slowly, kneeling down. Just watching her for a moment.
“I already knew the hurt,” I whisper, brushing her hair back. “But hearing that you let it go, even a little? That’s the part that wrecks me.” I whisper even though she can’t hear me,
She stirs slightly but doesn’t wake.
“I’ve got you, baby girl. Always.”
AVA
I wake up wrapped in soft cotton sheets and the smell of Elijah. His warmth lingers in the space beside me, but he’s not in bed.
I find him in the kitchen, shirtless, tattoos dark against morning light as he flips something on the stove.
“You left me,” I tease sleepily.
He looks back, grinning. “Did not. You just slept through me moving five feet away.”
I cross to him, wrapping my arms around his waist from behind and pressing my cheek to his back.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay, I guess”
“Gabriel told me you talked to him.”
I nod against him. “Yeah.”
He sets the spatula down and turns in my arms.
“I already knew what you’ve been through, Ava. But I’m proud of you for saying it out loud and that you trust Gabe with your feelings.”
“I didn’t do it to be brave,” I whisper. “For some reason, I felt safe talking to him.”
His eyes soften like I just handed him something priceless.
