Page 78 of Unraveled

“It was Ryder. Not Micah.” I tried to clarify as Tucker scooped me up. The room spun as I laid my head on his chest.

“Like I said, I’m gonna kill him.”

“No.”

“Izzy.” I could feel his growl through his chest just before I felt the slight jostle of Tucker climbing the stairs.

“Just let me lie down a minute before we fight.”

He at least granted me that, laying me down on his bed a few minutes later when we made it down the upstairs hall. I pulled an arm up to rest over my eyes, trying to get my body to regulate. It had been so long since I’d had an attack that extreme. I’d thought my PTSD had been improving. Turns out, I had the wrong trigger.

When I lowered my arm, Tucker was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. Every muscle in his body tense. “Tell me what he did.”

“Nothing.”

Those whiskey eyes flashed.

“Nothing,” I insisted. “Nothing physical, at least. Not like in the past. He just cornered me, and I went into a PTSD attack.”

Tucker cursed. “And he wanted me to forgive him.”

“Yeah, apparently he’s pissed because I got you to forgive Micah and not him.”

“And he wonders why?!”

“I don’t know, Tucker! I’m just telling you what happened.”

“I swear, Izzy. If you don’t go to the cops this time…”

“And fileanotherrestraining order?” I half-laughed. “Bet your uncle wouldloveto represent me on that one.”

“I’m not laughing.”

“Neither am I. I stand by what I said. I willnotmess up your family. But I will make a bargain with you.”

“You promised thelasttime he pulled something you’d come forward if he did it again.”

I pressed my hands to my face. “Justlisten.”

“What?” Tucker grated, apparently as fed up with me as I was getting with him.

I huffed, frustrated, then shifted into a sitting position with my legs crossed on his bed. “Something went down with your cousins. Micah mentioned it when he was telling Ryder off. He’s done something, Tucker. Something that your uncle had to fix to save him and Micah. So, while I’m not willing to run to our parents and screw everything up, Iamwilling to go to your uncle, who’s already well aware of the shit his son pulls.”

Tucker closed his eyes, clearly warring with himself before he walked over and ran his hand through my hair, tucking a lock behind my ear. “Izzy. He’s helping Ryder getoutof the shit he does if this is true. You really think my uncle will take your side over his son’s?”

Realization washed over me, and I dropped my head. I just didn’t want to do it. I didn’t want to ruin his family. “What if you resent me one day for breaking your family apart?”

“What? Tell me that’s not why you’ve been holding back on this because I swear to you that won’t happen. Izzy, look at me.” He tilted my chin up with his fingers, and I nearly burst into tears at the love and ferocity I saw looking back at me. “You are my family. You’re going to be my wife, and I will gladly send my cousin’s ass to jail and wave while doing it if it means you’re safe.”

Tears poured down my cheeks then, and I scrambled into his arms. Tucker stepped back at the surprise but quickly adjusted, his hands gripping below my thighs as I wrapped my legs around his waist. I pressed my mouth to his. Overwhelmed. Loved. Relieved.

My hands reached between us to undo his belt buckle, and Tucker paused.

“Stay with me, whiskey,” I said against his lips before giving the lower one a swift bite. Tucker growled, and I sucked it into my mouth, running my tongue over it to ease the sting, my hands still working on his belt. The buckle finally freed, and I flicked open the button and dragged down his zipper, immediately reaching my hand inside to grab his cock. We both groaned.

“Izzy, are you sure?”

With a growl, I used my free hand to grip his hair, pulling his head back to look into his eyes. Showing him the answer in mine. I wanted him. Every piece of me wanted him. It wasn’t about distractions or triggers or anything else but the fierce way that I loved every piece of this man and how he loved me. That he was willing to do whatever I needed to make me feel safe.

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