Her throat bobs, and she takes a deep breath, her chest filling. “After Aaron threw acid on me, he went to his brother’shouse. By the time the police got around to questioning him, he had hired lawyers. His brother gave him an alibi.”
I’m careful to hide the emotion surging inside me, pushing it down until a cold resolve fills my chest.
I need her to tell me the whole story. I need the names of every single person who needs to pay to give her justice.
“There was nothing the police could do. Aaron wore a mask and covered his tracks well. The only reason they even went to question him was because of my restraining order.”
My heart thuds in angry beats. “Why did you have a restraining order?”
“Let’s just say Aaron didn’t take getting dumped well.”
“No.” My tone is sharper than I mean, and her eyes fly to mine. “We’re not going tojust say. Tell me what he did.”
Hazel eyes search mine. “Why? What does it matter now?”
“He hurt you. That hurt still affects you. I don’t want to inadvertently do something that hurts you again.”
“You wouldn’t.” She shakes her head.
“No,” I agree. “Not on purpose. But if I don’t know what he did, then I don’t know what to avoid.”
“Trust me.” She gives me a wry smile. “Unless you are actively trying, you won’t do what he did.”
Black rage overtakes my brain. “Did he hit you?”
She shakes her head again. “No, I almost wish he had.”
My brow furrows, and she hurries to explain. “It would have made it easier, clearer. I would have broken up with him right away. He was a lot sneakier than that. His method was more psychological and verbal. Looking back, I realize it started a lot earlier than I realized, but I didn’t recognize it. He wasn’t physically aggressive until the night I broke up with him.” Her mouth flattens, eyes clouding at the memory. “The restraining order was because he was calling and texting all day, every day. Calling me names… that kind of thing.”
“That’s all?”
Her jaw sets. “That’s all.”
I don’t believe her, but there’s no need to push. She would have had to submit her reasons with her application for the restraining order. I’ll get them from my source at the courthouse.
“Why didn’t your brother do something about this asshole harassing you? Before it went so far?”
Sera’s eyes flicker around the room, color rising in her cheeks. “I didn’t tell him. I wanted to handle it on my own.” She holds up her palm. “Yeah, I know. In hindsight, not the smartest decision.”
She rubs at her shoulder. I’m not sure she’s aware she’s doing it. “Our mom died not long before the break-up, and I was living on my own for the first time. Probably what made me such a good mark for Aaron.”
“You weren’t a mark,” I growl.
She ignores me. “I was working for Brady doing mostly admin stuff… It was the first time in his life he wasn’t having to look after someone. Our mom had depended on him—a lot. I didn’t want to be another burden.”
I frown. “I don’t know your brother well, but you’re not a burden to him. It’s obvious how much he cares about you.”
“You don’t get it. He’s had to look after me since I was a baby. Our dad wasn’t around, and our mom was always working. I wanted to show him I could handle it on my own, like an adult. I thought I could…” Her voice breaks.
I’m on my knees in front of her before my mind catches up, and I cup her face in my palms. “It wasn’t your fault. None of it.”
Her chin drops, and her hair falls forward, hiding her face from me. She’s been telling herself that she’s responsible for too long to easily believe me now.
I slide one hand to tuck her hair behind her ear and mirror the action on the other side. My forefinger lifts her chin, and when she meets my eyes, one palm finds her cheek again.
With a shaky exhale, she lets a little more weight rest on me, and my ribs tighten. The pain in her eyes takes my breath. If there were a way I could take it from her, I would. Whatever the cost, I’ll gladly pay it if it means making her feel whole again.
Sera’s gaze searches my face, and I feel the second the pull between us scares her. She leans back, and I let my hand drop to my side, even though every cell wants to pull her into my arms. With a casualness I don’t feel, I return to my seat on the bed, my knees still touching hers.
