“I have a concussion. They kept me overnight for observation. They took my phone and said I’m not allowed tolook at screens yet. I don’t have your number memorized, so I couldn’t call you. I tried calling Camilla, but she didn’t answer.”
My heart splits open. He was here all night. Alone. Scared. In pain, without me to protect him.
I kiss his chin. It is wet from his tears, and I taste salt.
“I need you to promise me something,” he whispers.
I close my eyes and breathe out slowly. Nod.
“I don’t want you to kill anyone for me. And if you do, I don’t want to know about it.”
I nod again and kiss his forehead.
Whoever hurt him is already dead. Has been since the moment I suspected someone was harming him. Physically. He just does not want to carry the weight of knowing.
He breathes out shakily. “Okay, I …” He clears his throat. “My ex. He used to beat me.”
Then he tells me everything.
All the things that piece of shit did to him. Bottles thrown at him. Hitting him. Controlling who he could see, isolating him from friends. Breaking his arm. The harassment that followed when Kelly finally left. The restraining order that got dropped because his ex knew the judge.
Because his ex is a cop.
His partner helped him. Targeted Kelly together. Gave him so many parking tickets Kelly had to sell his car. Filed false reports. Harassment claims. Made his life hell for months.
I clench my fists. Feel my rage building in my chest like fire. Every word Kelly says makes it worse.
I am going to tear those motherfuckers apart.
“They ran me off the road. Drove their squad car at me when I was biking home. Then yesterday, he showed up at Camilla’s building.” His chin shakes. “I’m sorry, Alexei. I didn’t want to tell you. I was ashamed. I thought you’d think less of me. I lied abouteverything. I didn’t want you to see me like this. I didn’t want to be weak. But I am.”
I grab his shoulders. Just firm enough that he has to look directly at me.
“Kelly, you are not weak. Every mark he left on you is proof you survived him. Every scar is evidence of your strength, not his power. You think you’re broken? You’re not. You chose to keep going when it would have been easier to give up. That’s not weakness—that’s fucking heroic.”
His eyes stay locked on mine, wet and exhausted and completely wrecked.
“The one who did this to you? He is the weak one. Not you. Never you.”
A broken sob rips from his chest, then another. He can’t stop. Months of holding himself together, months of pretending he’s fine, and it all comes pouring out.
“I am so fucking sorry I missed this.”
“It’s not your fault,” he mumbles against my chest between sobs. “I kept it from you.”
“Please don’t think you are weak. You are not,zaychik. I would never think less of you. I hope you know that.” I pause, feeling my throat tighten. “In my eyes, you are the strongest person I know. And I hope you know I would never lay my hands on you. Ever.”
He nods against me, small and quiet. We sit like that for a while. I hold him tight and try not to fall apart.
I can’t believe I missed this.
And he is a cop. Which makes everything infinitely worse.
My father works with the police. We have a deal with the commissioner. No touching cops unless we get permission from him. And even then, it is a process that takes time.
I can’t bring this to him. He will kill Kelly for being the problem that started it.
And I can’t live with that.
