Page 119 of Savage Vicious Heir: Part Two

His words make my heart beat harder in my chest, and as much as I like hearing his sentiment, it doesn’t exactly help right now.

“She’s strong enough to fight for you,” Oak says, just like he did at the weekend at the Chapel when we first learned of his threats.

“That’s not the point. She shouldn’t have to.”

“You know, it might help if you told us what he’s going to expose,” Theo suggests.

And there it is. They all heard what she said the night my father paid her a visit. The threat he made. But we haven’t talked about it, not yet.

I know Abigail wouldn’t mind me sharing the truth with my best friends, but even still, the words refuse to fall from my lips.

Her issues are hers. Ours. No one else has the right to know what happens in our darkest hours.

“Elliot, you know we’re not going to judge” Oak assures me.

“I know,” I say, dragging my hand down my face. “It’s just?—”

“Not your secret to tell?” Reese answers, being unusually perceptive. Liv has definitely been a good influence on that motherfucker over these past few months.

They all study me as the rest of the team who turned up for a morning training session file out of the changing rooms.

“Shit has been hard for Abigail. She’s been alone for a lot of what she’s gone through, and?—”

“She self-harms, doesn’t she?” Oak asks quietly.

My brows pinch as my pulse begins to race.

I fucking hate that anyone knows my girl’s weakness.

She’d hate it too, and all I want to do is protect her in any way possible.

I startle when his hand lands on my shoulder, squeezing tightly in support.

Silence surrounds us, his words echoing in the light breeze from the open door.

Sucking in a deep breath, I force my eyes to rise from the floor to find his. Compassion, understanding and empathy stare back at me.

He knowsa little voice says in my head.He knows you do it too.

My hands tremble at my sides.

So much time and stress has gone into keeping my own secret from my three best friends over the years, it’s been exhausting.

I never wanted them to know that I wasn’t as strong as them. I was meant to be their leader, and yet I was crumbling under the pressure.

I should have been leading from the front. Standing tall and strong like my father requires of me. But while it might have looked like I was doing that, inside, I was dying and the second I got alone… Well…

“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Oak continues.

“He’s right. She should be proud of everything she’s overcome,” Theo adds.

“I’m scared,” I confess. “Scared of what the world knowing will do to her.”

“She’s fighting for you, Elliot,” Reese states. “That is far more important to her than what a bunch of posh wankers think of her.”

“Careful,” Theo teases, “You’re one of those posh wankers.”

“Fuck off, I love Abi like a sister. Family, remember?” Reese says, reminding us of what Theo said only minutes ago.

---