Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36070 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36070 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
“Tango is dealing with something else,” I told him evasively, leaving it at that. That boy was Tango’s problem, and while I wasn’t sure what had formed between Tango and that kid in the short time Tango had been interrogating him, all of us had felt the protectiveness Tango had for him. I wouldn’t be the one to open my mouth about anything Tango was doing. What Tango wanted us to know was up to him and only him.
Gidget scowled at me, but I ignored him. It was rare Gidget wasn’t in a foul mood, and I was used to it by now. The only time he wasn’t in a pissy mood was when he was getting his dick wet, honestly. But he’d chilled out over the years, so that was good, at least.
I quietly opened my door, not wanting to disturb Sophia if she was asleep. She was curled under my blankets, hugging my pillow to her chest, her blonde hair fanned out behind her. Unable to help myself, I stood over my bed, staring down at her. If I wasn’t worried about waking her up and freaking her out with all the blood on me, I would have run my fingers through her hair—maybe even leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek or her forehead.
I missed her like crazy. It was beyond time for us to talk, but I was also afraid the damage between us was too much to repair. And I didn’t want to face that if it was. I didn’t want to lose her.
It was selfish of me to keep her waiting, but I was a selfish mother fucker. I would never deny that. I wasn’t ready to face the fact that I might have to let go of her. That shit hurt. Almost to the point it brought me to my damn knees.
Quietly, I made my way to the bathroom and shut the door behind me before toeing off my boots and stripping out of my clothes. Wanting to hurry so I spent less time potentially waking Sophia up, I quickly wet my hair and began to lather it, scrubbing at my scalp as I watched the red water slowly turn clear as the dried blood slowly washed off of me.
What I’d done still didn’t feel like enough because nothing I did would ever repair what had been done to Sophia, but it would have to be. I’d done what I could to maybe bring her peace. To help her move on.
But just like she would always live with those painful memories, the nightmares and flashbacks, I knew I would always live with the guilt of not getting to her in time. Of not doing more to keep her safe.
I opened my eyes when I was done rinsing my hair and looked over toward the door, feeling eyes on me. And sure enough, Sophia was standing in the doorway, her wide, horrified eyes staring at my pile of bloody clothes.
Fuck.
I should have locked the goddamn door.
I quickly flung the glass door back and stepped out, dripping water all over the floor as I did so. “Cupcake, it’s not as bad as it looks,” I tried soothing her.
She swallowed thickly and looked up at me, her eyes slowly tracking over my naked, glistening body before she forced herself to meet my eyes. “Is that blood?” she whispered, her voice a little shaky.
I nodded, not wanting to lie to her. “It’s the blood of one of the men who raped you, Sophia.”
Tears immediately welled in her eyes. Her sweet lips trembled, and just like that, she crumbled in front of me, sinking to her knees, sobbing into her hands. I quickly sank to the ground in front of her, dragging her into my arms. She clung to my damp skin, sobbing into my neck as she wrapped her body around mine, not even caring that I was getting her clothes wet or that I was naked.
I held her so tightly, I was surprised I didn’t crush her. That she didn’t voice I was hurting her. I held her like she could slip through my arms at any moment. I needed her as close as possible. I’d pull her inside of me if I could so I never had to be without her again.
We’d been apart for way too fucking long.
“They’re dead?” she sobbed.
I cradled the back of her head and gently rocked her as her tears soaked my skin. “Just one, cupcake, but I know who the other one is. I swear to God, I’ll gladly rip his soul from his body,” I swore. And I fucking meant that. I didn’t say that kind of shit lightly.
He’d pay for touching her. Without a fucking doubt.
Her nails dug into the back of my neck, her sobs wracking her body. “I love you,” she sobbed. My heart stopped in my chest at her confession. Shakily, I tightened my fingers on her. “I’m so fucking sorry it took me so long to believe you were always real with me. I’m so fucking sorry I wasted so much time. Please, Chase, I need—I can’t—I—”