Don’t leave me, I silently beg.
But I already know she’s gone.
Through the agony, I feel my dad’s gaze boring into me.
He turns, the blade glistening in the sunlight streaming through the window.
It’s wrong.
Everything is wrong.
I glance at my mom’s prone figure on the floor.
Rage like I’ve never felt before bubbles up, blocking the pain.
When the knife comes down, I roll. The tip hits my throbbing rib, but my hand is closed around his, stopping it from going deeper.
I yank, fighting to get control ofthe knife.
My father jerks from the movement, his body pitching forward.
Wide eyes lock with mine as he falls, a groan leaving him as his heavy weight lands on me.
Jesus.
I can’t fucking breathe.
With one desperate heave, I push, managing to roll his body off mine.
And that’s when I see the knife sticking from his chest.
The world around me spins, images of the horror mixing with the agony flowing through my ribs.
I close my eyes, letting the darkness take me.
The last thing I hear is the sound of sirens in the distance.
“Oh my God, Daltyn.”Her sweet voice yanks me back to the present.
I blink, staring at the horror on Peyton’s face.
“I’m so damn sorry.” Warm hands caress my icy skin, bringing feeling back into it.
“When I turned eighteen, I had those words tattooed on my ribs. A reminder that I survived...”
“That you’re still here,” she says, her voice soft. “And thank God you are.”
She presses herself against me, holding me tight.
For a moment, I sink into her, breathing her in. Letting the pain and memories wash over me, knowing she has me.
Finally, I pull back.
“It’s not just about the tattoo. Though that’s one of the main reasons I told you about my past.” I cup her face, my thumbs wiping away her tears.
“After I lost control withLandon, I was horrified. Violence lives inside me, and I’ve seen what happens when it gets loose.” My eyes stay locked with hers. “Even with Ethan and the way I reacted... it concerned me.”
She shakes her head. “I understand why you feel that way.”
