“Are you OK?” I asked Bryce, my words low.
He blinked rapidly at me. “Sirena?”
“Are you OK?” I repeated louder.
“I-I’m OK. I’m hurting,” he answered, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat. “I meant to meet you in the woods. I-I got hurt.”
“Did he hurt you?” I demanded, my anger slowly rising to the surface.
“I, who?” he asked.
Mirage slid closer.
“You know who. The one who hurt me.”
“I-I, no. No. Church found me out there. He got angry with me. We-we fought.” He winced. “I fought with the watchers. I’m OK, though. At least now. I saw you meeting with the rabbit. With Mirage. It was the only way I could get you to speak to me again after. . . after I told you how I felt.” He licked his lips. “I’m sorry about that. I am. I understand we can’t happen, but I don’t want to not be in your life. I care about you and want to be with you however I can be. Even if it’s only as your friend.”
“You want me?”
“I-I do, but I already know—”
“Did you see him? In the woods?”
“Sirena, I only saw the guys. I didn’t see anyone else. I know you were hurt,” his voice cracked. “I blame myself. I-I should have gotten there sooner. Then you wouldn’t have been hurt. Hell—”
“He’d have hurt you too,” I said. “He’s a monster. A fucking monster!” The words came out in a scream. I saw red. Images of that night flashed through my mind.
“I’ll kill him. I’m going to kill him!” I tugged at my hair, snarling and screaming. My body went fuzzy again, and I couldn’t stop the loud sob that tore from my lungs as those ugly images kept flooding my mind.
I couldn’t take it. I couldn’t.
God, help me.
I was hot. So hot.
I couldn’t escape. I can’t escape. He’s going to hurt me. He’s out there. Waiting.
I tore my top off, and Bryce got to his feet.
“Do something,” he shouted at Mirage, who was on his feet, trying to hold me while I screamed.
I heard the patio door bang open. Footsteps thundered toward me. The sound of Cady calling out to me in a frantic confusion.
Ashes. Stitches. Mirage. Bryce. Cady. Even Sin.
“Sirena. Sirena. Hey. Hey, stop. Stop.” Stitches pulled me away from Mirage and wrapped his arms around me as I continued my meltdown.
“What the fuck happened?” Ashes demanded.
I didn’t hear what Bryce and Mirage recounted.
I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t breathe.
“Sirena. Angel, baby. Look at me.” Stitches forced my face upward. “You can do this. Focus. Focus.”
I couldn’t do this.
In my mind, Adam cackled and teased me. Hurt me. Forced his way inside me.