Page 3 of Descent

Ronan slips away for a moment, rustling around in the bathroom before coming back out with a first aid kit. He begins tending to my burnt and bleeding palms. I almost tell him not to worry about it, that my hand isn’t the body part that hurts the most right now. Unfortunately, I don’t think there is anything in that kit for a shattered heart.

Eventually we make our way onto the bed, my body on top of Liam’s, with Ronan and Vincent on either side of me. I feel several pairs of hands running through my hair, rubbing up and down my back, drawing mindless patterns on my hip. The silence is heavy, it’s deafening, and I can’t take it anymore.

“Why would he do that?” I whisper brokenly, not needing to elaborate.

They are all silent for several moments before Ronan speaks.

“I don’t know, baby. But I’m going to find out.”

I feel him begin to shift and I cling to him desperately, looking to him with panicked eyes as I shake my head.

“Please don’t go. Stay. P-please,” I whimper.

Ronan’s blue eyes soften on me instantly, and he leans in pressing his lips to mine as he nods.

“Of course. Whatever you need, baby.”

Chapter Three

Ronan

It took less than ten minutes for Skyla to fall asleep. When she did, Vincent, Liam and I all exchanged a look. In the next second, we were all moving. I slipped out of bed first, followed by Vincent. Liam carefully pulled her off him, laying her on her side, before pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Liam bent down, picked up the shirt he covered Skyla with and buttoned the bottom four buttons before leaving the rest open.

“Let’s go,” he said lowly, a look of pure anger on his face as he marched out the door.

Now, here we are, practically rushing our way through the dorm until we stop at Asher’s door. I wave my card over the reader, and when it opens, Liam is the first through. We see Asher immediately, peeling off his white robe when he turns to see us.

Liam doesn’t hesitate for a second though, practically flying across the room, his fist sucker punching Asher against his temple. We all surround Asher, and when he stumbles from Liam’s second blow, I catch him easily. I shove him to theground before Vincent pulls out his gun, pressing it to the back of Asher’s head.

Goddamnit. That kid and his gun, I swear to fuck.

“Siren said that I get to be the one to kill you if you hurt her. Any last words?” he asks coldly, a slight thrill to his voice like he’s looked forward to this day for a long time.

Unfortunately for Vincent, Liam rests a hand on the gun, shaking his head as he pulls back his leg and delivers a kick straight to Asher’s stomach. He coughs from the impact before Liam does it again and again. For a guy that is normally extremely averse to violence, he seems to be having no problem right now. That’s good news for his future in the Brethren, I suppose.

Liam reaches down, grabbing Asher by the throat, as he hauls him up several inches until they are face-to-face.

“You will never speak to her again. You won’t touch her. Hell, you won’t even fucking look in her direction… Got it?”

Asher sneers, jerking his head away as he spits a glob of blood onto the floor.

“She’s my wife,” Asher scoffs.

“Hardly,” Liam sneers.

“In the Brethren’s eyes,” Asher counters.

Liam is silent for a moment, his jaw working back and forth as if contemplating what to say next.

“That’s all she will ever be now. In the Brethren’s eyes and legally sure, but that’s the only piece of her you willeverhave.”

Asher scoffs again as he shakes his head.

“Trust me, it’s more than I want.”

Liam’s eyes narrow.

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