Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 95906 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95906 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
“He did, my girl.” I looked at Con who had his arm around Christopher. At some point the men who’d been with both me and Con and those who’d been watching the kids had disappeared and it was just the four of us.
Our family.
“He absolutely did,” I said softly as I hugged Rory but kept my eyes on Con. His gentle smile had me stepping into his embrace.
I couldn’t say how long we stood there for, the four of us just holding on to one another, but at some point Con murmured, “Do you want to lie down for a while?”
I did and I didn’t. I was reluctant to leave the kids but I also just needed some time to process everything that had happened. I’d managed to hold it together for the most part from the time the asshole had stuck that gun in my side but admittedly, I was close to my breaking point and I didn’t want my niece and nephew to witness it.
“Yeah,” I said.
Con must have realized what was causing my hesitation because he said, “Christopher, do you think you and your sister are good to hang out with my brothers for a while longer?”
Christopher nodded. Rory did too but she went on to say, “Uncle King brought his dragon. Her name is Stella. She likes me.”
I chuckled as I remembered Con telling me King had a bearded dragon that he’d promised to introduce Rory to.
“Say hi to her for me, okay?” I said.
Another nod from Rory. I set her on her feet and she immediately reached for Christopher’s hand. My nephew leaned in to wrap an arm around me.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked him softly so only he’d hear.
Christopher nodded. “We’re good. Just glad you’re back.”
With that, my nephew turned and led Rory in the direction of the kitchen where I assumed Con’s family was assembled. As Con’s fingers wrapped around mine and he pressed the button for the elevator, I realized two things.
First off, that I had absolutely no hesitation about sending the kids off to hang out with Con’s family.
And second, that they hadn’t had any hesitation either.
Several of Con’s brothers were large and intimidating and yet Christopher was apparently okay with them. He trusted them. It was further proof that despite everything that had happened to Christopher, he was going to be okay.
We all were.
Thanks to Con.
It was in that moment that I broke.
Completely.
Terribly.
As everything just came crashing down on me—the terror, the pain, the joy, the relief—I gave up trying to keep it all in. I automatically turned into Con’s embrace as the first sob hit me. By the second, Con had me completely enfolded and was murmuring the same phrase over and over to me.
Let go.
So that was what I did. I let go. Every fist that had ever met my flesh, every cruel word flung my way, every sleepless night of waiting for those dreaded footsteps outside my door, every hard, sweaty body that had held me down…
It seemed to go on forever.
That purge.
But Con was with me through it all. Even when I tried to stop crying long enough to escape into the elevator so the kids wouldn’t hear me, Con was there to tell me it was okay.
That I was okay.
I felt boneless by the time the tears finally stopped and I was more than aware of a few footsteps here and there as Con held me, proof that at least one member of his family had been witness to my breakdown.
“Let’s go lie down for a bit,” Con suggested. His hold on me was still tight, which I was glad for because I wasn’t sure I could stay standing on my own. He kept both arms around me as we stepped into the elevator.
I lost track of time after that. I was dimly aware of Con undressing me and easing me into his bed and then his big body sliding in behind mine, but I couldn’t do more than stare out the window at the twinkling lights of the city that was still alive with activity below us.
Con’s mouth was at the back of my neck, occasionally pressing soft kisses against it, and his arms were wrapped around me, cocooning me in warmth.
“Sleep, my love,” Con whispered.
I shook my head. “Can’t,” I responded. It was true that I was physically and emotionally exhausted, but I was afraid to close my eyes.
“You’re safe, sweetheart.”
I nodded because I knew that, but that wasn’t the problem. That wasn’t why I was still afraid. “I can’t lose you,” I croaked as a new round of tears threatened to fall.
“You won’t,” Con returned. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“I’m going to fuck it up again, Con. I’m going to push you away without meaning to. I’m going to say something that hurts you. I don’t know how not to.”