Page 96 of Misconducts & Temptation

He cried out in pain, trying to shield his face with his arms, but I didn’t let up. My knuckles were raw and bleeding by the time he stopped moving, but even then I couldn't stop myself.

"Keaton," Elodie's voice cut through the haze of violence. It was weak but clear enough to reach me.

I turned to her, my breath ragged and chest heaving. She looked at me with wide eyes, relief on her pale face.

"It's over," she whispered, and for a moment, time stood still.

William lay motionless beneath me; Elodie needed me more than ever now.

I shrugged off my jacket and wrapped it around her. The fabric swallowed her small frame, offering a semblance of warmth and protection. Her eyes darted to mine, wide and haunted.

"Did he touch you?" My voice trembled despite my effort to keep it steady.

She shook her head, biting her lip to hold back the tears. "He didn't… he didn't rape me," she whispered, voice cracking. "I… I fought."

Her words hit me like a sledgehammer. The anger I felt toward William now mixed with an overwhelming sense of pride for her strength. I cupped her cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin against my cold fingers. "I know you did, babes," I murmured, my thumb brushing away a tear that escaped. "I know you did."

Her shoulders sagged as the adrenaline began to wear off. She leaned into my touch, seeking solace in the one place I knew I could provide it.

"I’m sorry," she whispered, eyes closing as if to shut out the world. "I didn’t want to?—"

"Shh," I interrupted, pressing my forehead against hers. "None of this is your fault."

She nodded weakly, but I could see the doubt lingering in her eyes. The warehouse around us seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of us in that moment. Her breathing steadied as she drew strength from our connection.

I promised myself then and there that I’d never let anything like this happen to her again. No matter what it cost me, I'd protect her from every shadow that dared to creep into her life. I'd be the barrier between her and a world that had done nothing but try to break her.

As I held Elodie close, the rage that had fueled me moments ago began to dissipate, replaced by an unwavering resolve. She was safe now—in my arms where she belonged—and I intended to keep it that way forever.

Nothing would ever hurt her again if I could help it. That was a vow as unbreakable as steel.

Chapter 29

Elodie

The car ride home felt endless. Keaton's silence matched mine, the tension between us thick as the air outside. My eyes drifted to his hands on the steering wheel. His knuckles, raw and bloodied, told a story of violence. A pang of worry twisted in my chest.

"You should have wrapped them," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Keaton glanced at me, his eyes softer than I’d ever seen them. "Doesn’t matter."

It did matter. Those hands held his future on the ice, his ticket away from everything he hated. But I couldn’t bring myself to argue. Not after what he’d done for me.

If he hadn’t come… The thought alone made my stomach churn. I turned to look out the window, watching the world blur past in muted colors. The memories of the warehouse felt like chains tightening around me.

Keaton broke the silence again. "Why didn’t you tell me?"

I hesitated. "My phone was dead."

He gripped the wheel tighter, his knuckles whitening despite the cuts. "You don’t have to handle everything alone, Elodie."

I bit back a bitter laugh. Handling things alone was all I knew. But his presence beside me, his unexpected intervention—it challenged that belief in ways I wasn’t ready to face.

We pulled up to the house, the oppressive silence in the car giving way to the soft purr of the engine shutting off. Keaton turned to me, his eyes piercing through the darkness. He reached out, his fingers gently brushing against my cheek.

"Lola did that to you?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper but heavy with anger.

I looked away, my heart racing. His touch was gentle, almost reverent, but it still felt foreign. Keaton’s hand moved to my chin, tilting my face back towards him, keeping our eyes locked.

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