CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

HEDDA

"You'll never get rid of me," Richard said as he took a step towards her.

Hedda's eyes went wide as she stared at him. Gun raised, she felt herself pull the trigger and shoot him.

But he didn't go down.

Why didn't he die? Why was he still walking towards her?

"Die!" she cried out. "Just die."

"I'm coming for you and Storm," he said.

Hedda fired the gun again, hitting him right in the head but that did nothing.

"Hedda!"

She sat up in bed, her heart racing as she took in a deep breath. Shit. Another nightmare.

"You're okay," Leo whispered.

His arms wrapped around her body and pulled her out of the bed and onto his lap. Tears formed in her eyes as the vivid nightmare plagued her memory.

"It's going to be okay," Leo said as he started to rock her back and forth.

Oliver walked into the room and looked at both of them.

"Nightmare?" Oliver asked.

"Yeah," Leo responded.

She hated that she still got nightmares. That they were becoming more vivid and real as time went on. Hedda sniffled and blinked several times, trying to get rid of the tears in her eyes.

She didn't want to cry, especially not in front of them.

"It's okay to cry," Leo said as he ran his hand through her hair.

He sounded concerned and like he really cared. Everything was getting to her. Their smooth talk, concern, and their love. She didn't know if she could handle any more.

Leo looked at her in the eyes and gave her a small smile. "It's okay to cry. We're here for you."

More tears welled up in her eyes. This shouldn't be affecting her and yet it was. They were affecting her.

Hedda screwed her eyes shut and a single tear slid down her face.

Hedda clenched her jaw and took a slow breath in. She wasn't going to cry.

She went to wipe away the tear, but someone beat her to it. Opening her eyes, she saw Oliver's hand near her face.

"It's okay," he whispered. "You're going to be okay. You're safe here. You're safe to cry and be yourself."

"I'm not weak," she softly said.

She wanted it to come out stronger, but it didn't. She was exhausted from her nightmares and life.

Leo sighed and kissed the side of her head. It was a sweet gesture, something she found herself loving more and more.