I can hear my mother trying to comfort Rory in the background but my sole focus is on Ro.
She tries to pull out of my arms but I don't let her go. If I give her an inch, she'll leave and I cannot let that happen.
She breaks down into hysterical sobs and I pull her head into my chest.
All the guys apart from Maverick crowd around us. I give him Alec’s phone to talk to my parents. I faintly hear him explain to them how Rory found us.
Instead of pushing me away, Rory’s now gripping my shirt tightly, like she’s afraid I’ll leave. Hearing her crying is heartbreaking.
I look to Alec. I don’t know how to help her. I don’t know if Icanhelp her.
He must see the desperation in my eyes because he comes closer. Mase and Dom part to let him through, never taking their eyes off our girl.
Alec puts his hand on the middle of Rory’s back. He shifts so that he’s almost blocking the rest of the guys view of her.
“Sunshine,” he says quietly, “you have nothing to be sorry for.”
Guilt hits me. I shouldn’t have told her what I did.
No. I mentally shake my head. I told her the truth, so she understood. I won’t regret my honesty with her.
I feel Rory shake her head through her tears.
“Rory,” Alec says sternly. Rory tenses and I almost push him away but then she lifts her head. Her eyes are red and puffy. The tears are still falling. She bites her bottom lip to try and control her rising emotions.
Luc growls in the background when he sees her tears.
“Sunshine,” Alec’s tone softens. “Would you have left if you could?”
Rory doesn’t respond but Alec’s not done.
“Something was bothering me when you so easily agreed to come stay with us. You're smart, Rory. You could have left, made your way back to Jace. You couldn't guarantee you wouldn't be taken back, butyou're a fighter." Alec continues rambling.
Where is he going with this?
I don't wait long for an answer.
Alec takes a deep breath. "When people are in abusive situations, there's two main reasons victims don't try and leave. They fear being followed—fear their abuser will come after them…or they're threatened."
What he says next is so quiet, I almost miss it. “Rory, would you have left if he didn’t threaten Jace? If he didn’t threaten Helen and Devon?”
My heart stops.
Rory’s eyes widen til they’re the size of the moon. Her gaze moves from Alec to me.
Fresh tears fall down her cheeks and breaks me out of my frozen state. I lift a shaky hand and brush away her tears. She leans into my hand, her eyes closing.
“Yes,” Rory says, her voice hoarse as she answers Alec's question.
“Ro,” I breathe. Her eyelids flutter open when I pull her back into my arms.
She whispers her apologies again to me and I shake my head. Alec watches Rory sadly, his own pain breaking through.
"Your father's to blame, Rory. Not you," he tells her, gently. She nods into my chest.
It takes a few minutes but she lifts her head and wipes away the tears.
The guys get impatient and start pulling Rory in for hugs. Luc holds her the longest. Rory's breakdown probably hit Luc and Alec, it seems, the hardest. Luc never told us but we know Hades, his father threatened our lives many times in order to bend Luc to his will.
