Tension grips like a vine and I can hardly breathe.
I can’t take it if someone hurts Hope. I can’t. And knowing there is someone who can get to her and I can’t do anything about it makes me sick to my stomach.
How long will this continue?
What is going to happen next?
Is there going to be an end to it?
She isn’t safe in that house. It’snota home. It’s a cage that she can’t break free. Her mother is controlling and her dad is cruel. And together they cause her pain. I can’t fathom how she’s survived with such parents for this long.
“Hey!” Sebastian shoves me and I stumble a little as I lose my balance, but gain it quickly.
“What?” I glare at him.
“You looked like you were plotting someone’s murder,” he says. “It’s her dad, isn’t it?”
I scoff. “Of course, it’s him.”
Sebastian sighs. “You can’t do it and you know that. We have to be reasonable and smart to figure out a way out of this.”
“Shut up!”
He grabs my shoulder and squeezes hard, making me look at him. “I mean it, Heath. Youcan’tdo it.”
“You can’t tell me what to do or not to do.”
His green eyes soften a fraction. “I know. That’s why I’morderingyou.”
My eyes widen at his words.
Pain crosses his face. “I saw you get behind the bars. I don’t ever want to see it again.” He has to take a deep breath to continue, “There are other ways for us to help her. Not for you to run head first into it.”
Frustration bubbles like lava under my skin as I think that if roles were reversed—which they were a year ago—he would’ve done anything to save the girl he loves. My best friend had no right standing here andorderingme to not chase after the girlwho desperately needed help because she couldn’t be protected from that monster. Someone had to run headfirst to save her and it was me. Because Ilovedher.
I was starting to realize that where these pesky ignoring things called feelings were concerned, rationality didn’t exist.
The concept of safe and dangerous was fucking lost on me. The only thing I cared about was taking care of my girlfriend.
“You do know that I fucking love her, right?” I hiss.
He nods. “I know and I’m happy for you. But this is a huge problem. We are talking about domestic violence, emotional and physical abuse. And it’s not just her father, her mother is as much of a problem.”
He couldn’t be more right.
A weight so heavy and hard starts to settle on my shoulders and I can’t help but feel like I need to sit down. Rounding the couch, I take a seat and lean my head back and stare at the ceiling.
I feel lost, worried and terrified. It’s like a fucking cocktail of those emotions stirring inside of me and I’m getting drunk on it.
Sebastian joins me and stares at me with a troubled gaze.
Clasping his hand on my shoulder, he says, “I’m here for you.”
I smile. “I know, thanks.”
He chuckles. “She’s changed you.”
Turning my head, I shoot him a glare.
