Page 30 of Always Right

“Are you hurt somewhere else?”

Her delicate throat moved, and she gave me a single nod, her trembling hand reaching behind to the zipper of her dress. Understanding, I moved her hair over her shoulder and found the zipper, sliding it down her back until it exposed her skin.

Fuck.

Don’t do this.

She didn’t move though, and I took it as a sign for me to slide the soft material down her arms, until it exposed her beautiful lace covered breasts, and further down, until I could see the black and blue forming underneath her ribs. The dress pooled at her feet and she stepped out of it, but despite her being nearly naked in front of me, I couldn’t tear my eyes from the bruise.

It shouldn’t be there.

Not on her.

Not on her perfect, delicate body.

And then I heard it, the quiet sob, the quiet tears that she had been holding in since I’d seen her. My anger disappeared as I saw her cover her face with her hands and her shoulders shaking as sob after sob left her body.

Fuck it.

I turned her around and pulled her into my arms. I didn’t give a flying fuck that this violated all the rules she’d set in place. I needed her in my arms. I needed to remind her she was safe…safe in my arms, safe with me. She cried, burying her face in my neck and her hands gripped my shirt, holding on to it as if afraid I would disappear.

“It’s over, Hannah,” I whispered into her ear. “It’s over. You’re safe. I’m here.”

I lost count of how many times I said.

All I knew was that every time I did, I meant it.

I ran my hand up and down her back, giving her the safety she needed, hoping she could feel it with me there. Her eyes peered up at me and I wiped the tears off her face.

“I was so scared.”

I let out a small laugh. “Me too.”

I fought the anger, fought the fucking pain as I recalled the second Nathan had answered the phone. I needed Hannah alive. It didn’t matter if she was with me or not…I just needed to know she was okay.

“I’m staying with you tonight, okay?” I didn’t miss the relief in her eyes when I said the words. She leaned into my hand and took a deep breath. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“I know,” she whispered.

Even in her brokenness, there was nothing in the world more perfect than her.

I put distance between us, opening a random drawer and to my luck, was able to find a t-shirt for her quickly. I helped her put it on despite wanting to have her naked in my arms once more, but it wasn’t the time for that. She turned around and crawled into bed, and it wasn’t until then that I changed into the extra clothes I’d taken from Evie’s house.

My head felt like it was about to explode, and my veins felt like they were on fire, but I couldn’t let her see it. I allowed it all to disappear when I saw her laying on the bed, her beautiful eyes set on me.

Waiting.

Don’t think.

I climbed into bed with her, and she didn’t hesitate to inch closer to me, seeking my warmth. And I held her. For the first time in over a year, I held her in my arms until her breathing evened out and exhaustion took over.

And I promised…no one would ever lay a hand on her again.

Chapter 11

Hannah

I wasn’t sure how long I slept. All I knew was that when I shifted on the bed, I would wince in pain. It felt like a train had run me over, and quickly, the memories of the night before came crashing in.

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