Chapter 16 – Xavier
“No!”
The agonizing cry had me snapping upright, my disorientated brain trying to fathom if I was dreaming.
“Not yours!”
That second cry lifted my legs off the bed and had me bolting to the girl’s room. I’d seen plenty fucked up shit in my life, nothing prepared me for that sight.
“Christ.”
She stood in the bathroom, naked. Blood rolled down her hands, dripping over shattered pieces of mirror scattered around her feet, tiny fragments sticking to her skin. Incoherent words roared from her mouth. Then her hands flew into her hair, pulling, tugging, ripping strands out.
I had to get to her. Giving no thought to my bare feet, I crossed the floor, bits of glass sinking into my skin, my eyes focused on the girl. I reached her just as she drew back, ready to slam her head into the remaining shards of glass, and locked my arms around her from behind.
“No!” she screamed, fighting my hold.
Her legs kicked backward, nicking my shins. Struggling against my hold, she elbowed my chest, her fists punching the air, flying wild, trying to hit something.
“It’s all right, love.” I soothed.
“No!” she cried, her swinging hand latched onto my arms, her nails ripping into my skin.
God, for a tiny girl, she was strong. Or maybe it was her anger giving her strength. Then she twisted and jerked her body. Not wanting to hurt her, I loosened my grip a little. She spun sharply, bringing her face to face with me and forcing me to lock my arms around her again.
“Not yours!” She shouted. I had no idea what she referred to. Her hands rained hellfire on my body. Slapping my face, punching my chest. “Not yours!”
She kicked, punched, slapped, scratched, drawing blood. I let her. My heart broke, not knowing how to help her. I gave her freedom, and it cost her her sanity.
“God Almighty.” John rushed into the bathroom, his eyes wide. “What can I do to help, sir,” he shouted over the girl’s screaming.
“Open it.” I tipped my chin toward the shower. “Cold.” He looked surprised but did as I asked.
“It’s okay, love,” I tried one more time to calm her down. But she went ballistic, her efforts to fight me doubled.
In one quick lift, I scooped her in my arms, hurried into the shower, and moved directly under the spray. The cold deluge caught her by surprise, cutting off her scream and forcing her to gasp for air as her chest heaved from the shock. I stared at the river of red rushing from her body until it swirled down the drain.
Keeping her in my lap, I dropped to the floor. “It’s okay,” I soothed, taking her hand and placing it over my chest. “I got you, love.”
Her loud moans became soft whimpers, and she finally settled down until her breathing evened out and her face sought the crook of my neck.
“Didn’t think that was going to work.” John stood at the shower entrance, shaking his head, his face draped in sadness.
“Honestly, I didn’t either,” I breathed through the cold water. As a man who fathered three sons and helped a lot of nephews and nieces through some trauma or the other, this was something I’d never witnessed before. “Truth be told, John, I’m out of my element here.”
“I beg to differ, sir.” His jaw set, he looked at the girl. “If anything, you’re what she needs, and I stand corrected, she’s what you need too.”
I lifted surprised eyes to him, not replying, only because this man knew me exceptionally well.
Beth walked in, wrapped in a pink dressing gown, her face a mixture of concern and relief. “I called Dr. Juliette as soon as I heard the shouts. She should be here any minute now.”
“Thank you, Beth. I couldn’t have asked for two better people to share this sad moment.
“How is she?”
