“I’m not lying!” She cries, “Felix, I’m not. We can be together now! It’s not like before, you don’t have to do this. I won’t leave you!”
This is him. This is the one who hurt her. Almost killed her. And she’s giving herself to him.
Lily lets out a scream beyond the wall, the sound echoing because the monitor is still active.
“I’ll leave them for you. I promise,” Sloane says, “I will.”
“Sloane,” I try. She needs to stop; she can’t leave with him.
Get the fuck up! Stop being weak!
“You’ll leave them?” Felix says.
“Yes, I promise. It’s just you and me.”
I wince at the words.
“Sloane, no.” Her eyes flutter at the sound of my voice, but she doesn’t give them to me, she keeps her focus on the man in front of her.
She’s giving herself to him to save me.
“We can leave right now,” Sloane tells him, softening her tone, placating him. “Should we go now?”
Felix reaches for her, stroking her blood soaked hair. “Forever?” He asks.
“Of course, Felix.” She nods.
I push up, forcing myself to my hands and knees. My head swims, blacking out my vision for a few seconds, but noise remains. I hear the bed squeak, the sound of their footsteps. Shaking my head, I clear my vision, still, it remains spotty, but she’s right there. I reach for her, but she steps away from my hand, following Felix out of the room.
“Sloane!”
But the door opens and closes, and she leaves.
Blood drips off my face, onto the carpet beneath me as my head continues to throb, stealing away my function. I recognize the concussion for what it is, but it makes me feel fucking weak.
And terrified.
He’s taken her. She let him and I could donothing.
Darkness wants to pull me under, to consume me, but the rage of him taking her, of himhurtingher, keeps it from sinking its claws into me.
I promised I’d keep her safe. I promised he’d never get to her.
And I didn’t keep it.
I was too fucking weak to stop it.
This isnothow we end.
Forcing myself to my knees, I sit back on my heels and pause, waiting for the dizziness to pass, and then slowly, surely, I get to my feet, keeping myself steady by using the furniture and walls to move. As I go, I pull my cell from my pocket and dial my brother.
“The fuck do you want?” He grumbles.
“I need you.” There’s gravel in my tone, pain in my voice.
“On my way. The guys?”
“Yes.” I head through to Lily and pick her up, rocking her to try to settle her, but she continues to cry.
