Page 84 of Beautifully Wounded

“Whatever,” Abbey mutters, and I give her knee a squeeze.

“So, you and Daniel were in a relationship?”

She nods. “Yeah. I was worried about my parents finding out, but when he told me his parents were members of the same church my parents joined earlier that year, I knew that perhaps I didn’t have to hide my relationship from them.” She shakes her head in disgust. “The stupid church. I don’t know why they moved from the one we’d been at for years.”

“What’s the name of it?” I ask, already knowing and hating this fucking story. There have been hundreds of random churches popping up across the country over the last few years, and not your basic Christian or Catholic church, either.

“It’s the Valley of the Trinity and Merciful Fellowship.”

Even though I already know, just hearing her confirm it has me rolling my tongue in my mouth to bite back the rage I want to start spewing.

Those fucking churches are run by cult like groups who like to enforce sick and twisted beliefs and make money off trafficking.

Knowing they are a part of that church explains a lot about Abbey’s mum’s extremist ways. Unfortunately, since Abbey has obviously attended that church and knows some inside information, it does put a bigger target on her back.

I’m going to have to tell Smitty the real reason Abbey is here.

Fuck. I should have already done it.

“Is something wrong?” Abbey asks, and I sigh, realising my expression must be giving away the fucking chaos in my head.

“No, sorry. I’m just processing everything.” I gesture my hand in a wave for her to continue. “So, was your mother happy about the relationship?”

She nods. “Happier than I thought she’d be. It’s all she could talk about with Dad, and before I knew it, she was having lunch with Daniel’s mum, and giving me permission to go away for the weekend to their beach house with them.” She shudders, and whispers, “I hate that place now.”

“Hey. Come here.” I offer, patting my lap, and a small grin tugs at her lips as she unravels herself from hiding in the hoodie, and crawls onto my lap, getting comfy and stretching her legs out on the couch.

“Am I squashing you?” she asks shyly, and I can’t help but chuckle.

“Angel, you’re as light as a feather.”

She grins back before her eyes fall to her lap again, where those damn fingers start fidgeting again.

“So when did things change with you and Daniel?” I ask, weaving my fingers through hers to stop the fidgeting… and also because I can’t fucking help myself.

“It was just after I spent the weekend away with him and his family. My parents were out. Weren’t meant to come home for ages, and well… ummm.”

I already know the story from the Angel sisters, but I want Abbey to think she’s the one that told me. I need her to trust me.

“Angel. Were you a naughty girl?”

Her big doe eyes meet mine, amusement dancing in them at my question, and I can tell she’s not thinking about what she and that fuckwit did, but rather what she wants to do with me.

Just to test my theory, I dart my tongue out to wet my lips, and she instantly tracks the movement, her lips parting as her breathing grows heavier.

I have to admit, I feel fucking invincible that I can get such a visceral reaction from her despite the conversation we are having. She’s clearly in need of a release, and one I’m determined to help her with, but first, she needs to lift this weight off her shoulders.

“What did you and Daniel do?” I ask, and the mention of his name severs the trance she was in, making her spine stiffen.

“Ahhh, well. You can guess.” She shrugs. “And my mum came home early and walked in to find her sweet innocent daughter with her legs spread and her cherry obviously already popped.” There’s so much hate in her tone, her lip curling as she speaks. “That was the moment everything changed. She lost her shit, got on the phone to his mum, and before either of us knew what was happening, we were told we were to get married.” She waves a dismissive hand. “There was a whole lot of talk about bringing shame to the families, and me being a whore, which I found utterly rude since no one called Daniel a whore. Just me for being so easy and giving it up to him.”

I can’t fucking wait to gut her mum.

A low growl rumbles in my chest, and Abbey’s unsure gaze meets mine.

“In my defence, I really did think he loved me. He told me he did.”

“Angel. There is no defence needed. None of what you just told me is alright, nor is it your fault. You did nothing wrong.”

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