Page 54 of Beautifully Wounded

“I know he probably seems scary, and not the sort of man you’re used to associating with, but he’s a damn good man, Abs. He really is. Don’t let his moody attitude fool you.”

A grin pulls at my lips, and when I notice Ringo trying to hide his own behind his beard, I know for sure he can hear Lexi, too.

“Lex. Is Tahli alright?” I ask, my thoughts going back to my twelve-year-old sister, so sweet and innocent that I hate the thought of her being in that house alone with those monsters.

“Yeah, we were chatting in the game app before. She’s doing alright. Just worried about you. If you download the app, I’ll send through her username and mine too, and we can all communicate.”

“Yes. Yes, please do that.” I practically beg, desperate to chat with Tahli myself.

“She’s a strong kid, Abs. Much like you. Do you know she even drugged Maggie last night?”

“What! No, I didn’t. How?”

Lexi giggles. “She said she got one of the pills your mum forced on you and crushed it up in Maggie’s hot chocolate before bed. She was annoyed that your mum was making them sleep in the same room because she knew it was so Maggie could keep an eye on Tahli so she couldn’t try to help you.”

I start giggling too. “I love my little sister.”

“You’ll love her even more when I tell you she went back to bed after Ringo left with you. She ignored your parents’ calls for help and left them to figure a way to get themselves out of the situation they were left in. She said it took them three hours.”

“Oh, my god.” I slap my hand over my mouth. “I wish I was a fly on the wall for that.”

“Right. Me too. Tahli is fine, trust me. She’s just worried about you.”

“I can’t wait to hug her when this is all over,” I admit, and Lexi sighs through the phone.

I can picture her sitting in her bedroom, her blonde waves wild and her blue eyes bright. I bet Ayden is there with her, probably hugging her close as she speaks.

“Abs. What happened that made your parents rush the wedding forward to the next morning? Tahli really wasn’t sure why.”

I stiffen at her question, my gaze darting back to Ringo’s as he watches on silently.

I can’t say it.

I can’t tell her.

I can’t tell anyone.

What will she think?

What will Ringo think when he finds out?

I needto leave here as soon as I can. Make a run for it and figure it out on my own.

My eyes sting with the heat of my tears once again, and I force out the words. “I can’t say right now.”

She falls quiet, probably hurt that I’m still keeping secrets from her, but what other choice do I have? She will never understand. If the truth comes out, no one will understand.

The heaviness of it all feels suffocating, and all of a sudden, I can’t seem to get air into my lungs.

I gasp, trying over and over, yet nothing works, and before I know what’s happening, the phone is pulled from my grip, and the deep baritone of Ringo’s voice cuts through the air before I’m being carried somewhere else.

14

“Come on, Angel. Breathe for me.”

With another chilled can of drink from the fridge, I press it to the back of Abbey’s neck, hoping the shock will startle her out of her panic.

I’m not sure if it’s my words or the cold can, but she manages to gasp, taking in a deeper breath.

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