Page 3 of The Scars of Us

Kamden grabbed my hands, cradling them in his larger ones. “Kaiya, look at me. I’m here for you—don’t shut me out. I only want to help you, to do what’s best for you. Please talk to me.”

A rogue tear fell from my lids as I looked up at him. More threatened to follow as I angrily questioned, “How could they let him out, Kamden? After everything he did to me, how could they release him? He’s a fucking monster!”

“I know. He’s only being evaluated—he’s not out yet. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure he doesn’t get released. There has to be someone I can talk to at the hospital.” His eyes narrowed in determination, his tone resolute as he spoke.

Biting my lip, I nodded as my tears began to flow freely. “He’ll find me, Kam. He’ll come back for me. What if he—”

Kamden shifted next to me, his body tensing. Gripping my chin, he forced me to look him straight in his eyes. “He’ll never touch you again! I’ll kill him before I let that happen,” he growled in fury. “No matter what happens, I’ll protect you, Ky.”

Unable to speak, I nodded again. The tears continued to rain down my face as Kamden wrapped his arms around me. Clutching the back of his shirt in my hands, I trembled against him as I sobbed uncontrollably into his chest.

Kamden ran his hand through my hair as he attempted to console me. “Shh, I’m right here,sorella.I’m not going anywhere—you’re safe with me.”

I don’t know how long I cried for, but Kamden never complained. Continuing to hold me, he murmured words of comfort, which helped pull me back from the abyss that always attempted to swallow me whole when I thought about Kaleb.

Pulling away, I wiped my swollen eyes with my palms. I looked up at Kam, who smiled softly at me, his face full of understanding.Thank God for him.I weakly smiled back, still fighting against the waves of emotion threatening to drown me. Even after eight years, Kaleb still managed to affect me so intensely. I hated it—hated him.

“Are you hungry? Do you want me to make you something to eat?” Kamden asked, his tone tender and loving.The perfect big brother.

Wrapping my arms around my legs, I wiped my nose against my pajama bottoms. I probably looked like a horrific mess with puffy eyes and red, splotchy skin. “I don’t think I could stomach anything right now. The thought of him always makes me sick.”

“Well, let me know when you’re hungry. I’ll make you something,” Kamden offered as he rose up off my bed, making his way towards my door

“Don’t you have to go to work?” I inquired curiously, the space between my eyebrows bunching together in confusion.

“I called in, too. I wanted to make sure you were okay for the rest of the day.”

“Kam, you didn’t have to do that. I’m fine,” I lied. I was far from fine, but I didn’t want to tell him that. He’d only worry more.

His lips curved up as he leaned against the doorframe. “I don’t mind. Let me know if you need anything.”

As he turned to walk out, I stopped him, “Kam, wait.”

He stuck his head back through the doorway. “Yes?”

“Thank you.”

Giving me a genuine smile, he responded, “Anytime,sorella.”

Smiling, I watched as he pulled the door behind him, leaving it open just a crack. I couldn’t stop the warm feeling that filled me whenever he would use that term of endearment. Since I could remember, he’d called mesorella,which meant sister in Italian. Both sides of our family had some ancestry in Italy, and we had learned some words from our grandparents. Kamden was four years older than me, and had always been protective over me. He’d been even more so after theincident—especially since he almost didn’t make it in time.

Laying back in bed, the warmth from Kamden’s words began to fade away as memories of Kaleb came rushing back. Reminiscing about my childhood almost always reminded me of him because he was so interwoven with my past.

Curling up under the sheets, I attempted to dispel the thoughts ofhim.Clenching my eyes shut, I tried to focus on something else, but it was almost impossible since his face was so familiar to me—I’d never be able to forget it, no matter how desperately I wanted to.

Bolting out of bed, I headed to Kamden’s room. He was sitting at his desk with his laptop open, staring intently at the screen. Turning in his chair, he directed his attention to me, “Everything okay? Do you need something?”

Gnawing at my bottom lip, I nodded. “Can I lay with you?” I hated asking him to do that, hated being such a burden to him, but having him near me was the only way I would fall asleep after hearing about Kaleb.

“Of course, Ky. Anything you need.”

I silently walked over to his bed as he made his way to join me. Lifting the comforter, he slid onto the mattress and scooted back to allow me to slide in next to him before covering us with the blanket. Surprisingly, it didn’t take long for sleep to find me in the warm security of Kamden’s embrace.

Carefully untangling myself from the naked woman clinging to me, I eased out from under the sheets and got out of her bed. I picked up my clothes from the floor, and slipped them on soundlessly before heading to the door.

Sneaking out, I softly closed the front door, so I wouldn’t wake up the woman…Abby, I think.

Whatever, her name didn’t matter, but I doubted she’d care whether I remembered or not based on the night we’d had.

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