She breaks. A sob shakes through her, and her hand drifts down, covering her stomach—then lower, over herself. The second her palm rests there, her whole body crumples. Her shoulders fold in on themselves, and a raw, broken sob rips from her chest.
The fury hits me like a freight train.
I launch off the bed, pacing the room like a caged animal. My fists clench at my sides, and I want to break something. “Goddamn it,” I growl through my teeth. “Is that all they—”
But she’s not even hearing me.
She’s curled into herself, shaking, her hands clutching at the sheets like she’s trying to disappear. Her head hangs low, hair hiding her face, and I swear I can feel her pain in my own chest.
I’m back at her side in an instant. I sit down, wrap my arms around her, pull her in tight and hold her like I can shield her from every memory, every nightmare.
“You’re safe now,” I murmur against her hair. “I’ve got you. It’s okay.”
Her voice is so small, I almost miss it. “Are you mad at me?”
I go still.
“What?” My heart stutters. I pull back just enough to see her face and gently tilt her chin up with my finger.
“Mad atyou?” My voice cracks. “God, no. Never.”
Her lip trembles. “But… if I hadn’t run… maybe it wouldn’t have happened.” She wipes at her cheek, smearing tears. “Hewas touching me… and I didn’t stop him,” she whispers, like the shame is swallowing her whole.
I stare at her, completely wrecked. And I want to find that motherfucker who made her feel this way andendhim.
“No,” I say, voice fierce but low. “You didn’t do anything wrong.Hedid. Don’t you dare carry that weight.” I pull her back into me, tighter this time, like maybe I can hold all her broken pieces together if I just don’t let go.
“Lay… maybe you shouldn’t have run, but I should’ve told you more. That’s on me too.”
I exhale hard and pull her against my chest, holding her like she might disappear if I let go. “And what he did? That’s not your fault. None of it is. You werehanging on a fucking meat hook—what the hell could you have done?” The words burn in my throat as they come out, my jaw clenched so tight it aches.
I swallow the fire rising in me, but one question claws its way to the surface. “Did he…” My voice breaks. “Did he go inside you? In any way?” I can’t say it out loud. Ican’t. If he touched her like that—
I don’t even know what I’d do.
But Layne needs mehere, not lost in rage. I breathe in, force myself to focus.
“No,” she whispers. “The other guy told him not to mess with the merchandise. Then someone came in whispering about you guys. Jen started screaming and then he shot…”
She swallows hard.
Ericssen.
That bastard. That sick fuck also touched them—Norah, Jen, Isobel. Layne. I shut my eyes and breathe through the storm threatening to break loose inside me.
Not now. This isn’t about vengeance. This is about her.
“Jesus, Layne,” I whisper, voice raw. “If it’s up to me, no one willevertouch you like that again. Do you hear me?”
Before she can answer, I lift her wrist and press a kiss to the inside of it. Slowly, reverently, I trail kisses down her arm, giving her every second to pull away if she wants to.
When I reach her breasts, I take her nipple into my mouth, licking and sucking gently, letting her set the pace, giving her space to stop me at any time. I move to the other, giving it the same attention, and her moan cuts straight through me.
“I won’t hurt you, baby,” I murmur against her skin. “If you want me to stop—just say the word.” I suck a little harder, and she gasps, her hips lifting.
Releasing her with a soft pop, I meet her gaze. “But I know you like this,” I say, my voice low and steady. “And I’d never do a damn thing you don’t want.” I brush my tongue over her other nipple and gently nip it, feeling her body respond.
Then her hands frame my face, firm and sure. She forces me to look at her. “Let me forget,” she says again, and before I can speak, she kisses me—deep and full of need.
