Page 54 of Wes

I knit my eyebrows. “There’s more you aren’t saying, isn’t there?”

She nods and sighs. “It’s about Ken’s murder and what I found out later.”

“You don’t need to tell me. I understand.”

Her eyes tear up. “I have to because it affects us. Ken managed to free himself and lunged at the men. They fought but he was outnumbered. Two of them pinned Ken down and stabbed him to death. I kicked and screamed at the other two holding me. I managed to knee one in the cock, but the other punched me in the face and I lost consciousness. When I came to, I was covered in blood from the waist down and they had vanished. I crawled to where my phone was and called the police. In the investigation, they confessed that I was bleeding so badly, they thought I was going to die.” She laces our fingers together, squeezing them tight. “At the hospital, the doctors told me I lost a baby I didn’t know was growing inside me. And that I wouldn’t be able to carry another pregnancy to term due to the injuries I’d suffered. My uterus ruptured because of the violent attack and my anus had lacerations that took forever to heal.”

I crush her to my chest, hang my head, and murmur in the most soothing tone, “I’m so, so very sorry, love.”

As I try to give her the support she needs, I’m thankful she can’t see me. My contorted face would tell her how much it pains me to hear her sobs against my chest. Or how my heart breaks into a million pieces when her body quivers with each heaving breath she takes.

“You want a big family, and I can’t give you that,” she mumbles, her voice shakes and her words sound muffled by my t-shirt.

“Don’t even think about that. It’s not an issue at all.” I stroke her back and wait. So many things make sense now. Yet I still feel powerless. “I don’t know how to help you.”

“You already do. I’ve told you. Our love, our bond is healing those wounds.”

“But yesterday I triggered your nightmares, didn’t I? You didn’t have any since we’ve been together.” I slap my forehead. “I’m so dense. I was too rough in the shower.”

“That wasn’t it. Yesterday was the tenth anniversary of Ken’s death. And for the first time, I forgot about it. My subconscious reminded me when I fell asleep.” She pauses and a raging blush crawls up her neck to her cheeks. “When you woke me up from the nightmare, and the memories came barreling down at me, I froze. I couldn’t deal with anything. Remorse, shame, anger pushed me to go off the rails.”

“You’re better today.” I raise my voice at the end, and it sounds like a question.

She shrugs. “I am now that you’re here.”

I puff out my chest with a deep-seated sense of male pride. I smooth her hair, propping my chin on the top of her head. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

That was true in the general sense because in a few hours I must go to the stadium for the soundcheck before tonight’s concert. But I’m not telling her that because that’s not what she needs to hear now.

“Can we just stay like this on this couch, holding on to each other?” She whispers into my T-shirt.

“Absolutely.”

I slide her off my lap and we lie on our sides. I stretch my left arm to support her head and drape the right one around her waist, and we spoon together. I sprinkle soft kisses on her hair, neck, and ear until her breathing becomes even. I allow myself to fall asleep, keeping an iron hold on the most precious person in my life.

A couple of hours later, I wake up with a start.

Ally is shaking me and tapping her watch with an index finger. I glance at it and swallow a curse word for the sake of Maria, who lies sound asleep beside me.

Careful not to disturb her, I get off the couch and tiptoe to the other side of the room, gesturing for Ally to follow me.

“I’ve got to go to the stadium,” I whisper.

“That’s why Logan asked me to use your key and come check on you,” she explains in a low voice.

“Will you keep an eye on Maria for me, please? We should be back soon.”

“Goes without saying. Now, shoo.”

“I desperately need a shower.”

“No time for that. The vans are parked in front of the hotel.”

I shrug. “Thanks for doing this.”

She waves her hand indicating the door.

I rush out of it and down the hall to the elevators. On the way down, I want to beat my thick head on something. Maria is so vulnerable, her psychological wounds, still raw. I fear my kinks will drive her away.

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