Page 80 of Sweet Oblivion

“You two.”Liv motions between us, stepping closer. “You stay visible. You stay together. The rehearsal dinner and wedding are only days away. You get through that and let me do my thing on my end.”

Delaney nods, then brings her eyes to mine. “You okay?”

“I don’t regret it. Not sure what that says about me.” I push her hair away from her face and skim my thumb along her fading stitches. “I’d do it again if it meant you were safe.”

“This isn’t about protecting you anymore, Ryker. This is about survival,”Liv tells us.“For both of you.”

“If you want to back out, now’s your chance,” I offer softly, needing to give Delaney this chance one more time. “You don’t have to do this.”

A tear leaks from the corner of her eye.“Too late for that, husband.”

“Good. Because this hits the press in less than an hour.”Olivia grabs her purse from the table and spins around.“And I’ve got work to do. Call me if you hear from the Kroydon Hills PD. And for the love of God. Do not answer any questions from anyone. Got it?”

“Got it,”we agree.

And just like that, everything changes.

Olivia leaves, and I throw the deadbolt and arm the alarm before turning back to Delaney. Tears stream down her cheeks, breaking my heart. “I’m so sorry, Ryker.”

Grabbing the backs of her thighs, I lift her up and sit her on the counter, bringing us eye to eye. “You have nothing to be sorry for, Lane. Nothing. This isn’t your fault. And we knew this was a possibility.”

She shakes her head, her tears coming harder. “Maybe if I hadn’t been such a bitch to him. Or if I’d gone home with Ashton and Jamie. Or if?—”

“Delaney.” I wrap a hand around her head and lean myforehead against hers. “None of this is your fault. None. Of. It.”

“I spent half my life hiding from the men my father would bring back to the house. It was like the minute I hit puberty, I was aware just how much they started looking at me differently. They’d come back after whatever they’d been doing. Always some kind of hustle. Always something illegal. They’d drink and smoke or snort or shoot up whatever they were selling that week. Their eyes were always predatory. Their hands were too. I spent more nights hiding than I ever spent feeling safe. But it worked. More than a decade of being vigilant. Of sleeping somewhere else. Of blocking my bedroom door. Of learning to become invisible. And it was only after I was finally free... finally let my guard down that this happened.” Her voice breaks on a sob that vibrates around the room like it was ripped from her soul.

“Baby...” I’m gutted even hearing her words. The idea that this is how she had to live makes me grateful her piece of shit father is already in prison. I hope the motherfucker rots there.

She tilts her chin up and balls her fist in the front of my shirt. “And now you’re going to pay the price, Ryker. Over ten years and it all changed in a heartbeat. And now he’s dead.”

“But you’re not, Delaney.” I gently drag my thumbs under her cheeks. “You’re here. And you’re whole. And your life is worth ten of his. I’m so sorry that you lived through that hell. You are the strongest woman I’ve ever known. And you’re going to get through this. We’re going to get through this. Together.”

Her chest shakes as she tries to calm down. “Do you hate me?”

“No.” I don’t bother trying to explain to her how I feel when I’m not even sure how to make sense of it myself. “You’re marrying me, Lane. You’re going to be my wife.Going to be mine. And I swear to God I’ll protect you with my dying breath if I have to.”

All the color drains from her face. “No. Don’t do that. I don’t want that. You can’t die for me.”

I don’t argue with her. Not now. Not when I’m never going to agree. “You and me, Lane. We’re in this together, okay?”

“Together,” she murmurs, her chest shaking with the weight of her breath. “You need to talk to your parents. Tell them what happened. Don’t let them find out about this the way they found out about that night.”

She leans her head against my chest, and I hold her to me.

“Give me a minute. I just want to stay like this.”

“Ryker,” she murmurs, just above a whisper. Barely loud enough for me to hear. “I’m glad he’s dead.”

Me too, Lane.

Me too.

RYKER

My house. Poker. Seven tonight.

It’s been a shit day. Not sure I’m in the mood for a bachelor party.