Page 48 of Burning Bridges

I hop out of the car, coming around to her side and helping her out. She's in a daze, and it’s scaring me. I wrap my arm around her and usher her into the house. Past the kitchen and hallway and right through to my room. She lets me guide her, her body almost limp in my arms. She's exhausted. I stop when I get us into the bathroom. Big brown eyes stare up at me. She looks so lost, so sad.

“I need you to take care of me. I can’t do this by myself anymore,” she begs me, and I hate that she feels so scared that she has to, but I’m glad that it’s me she’s asking.

“I’ve got you. You’re not alone, sweetheart.” I kiss her forehead and hold her tight. “You need a shower, you're freezing.”

“Will you take one with me? I don’t want to be alone.” Instead of agreeing with her, I help her out of her coat and dress, watching as it pools on the floor. Then I make fast work of my suit, not wanting to have my hands off her for long. She looks so fragile, like she could collapse at any moment. She removes her lingerie as I turn on the shower, pulling her under the piping-hot water with me. I wrap my arms around her and hold her, showing her just how safe she is with me.

We stay this way for as long as we can, but when I feel my fingers starting to wrinkle, I decide it’s time we get out. I shut off the water and grab her a towel, wrapping it around her body. She sits on the end of my bed, looking even more lost than when we got home. I dry myself off. “Get into bed,” I tell her, knowing she is past making decisions for herself tonight. Whatever that interaction was back at the restaurant, it’s broken her.

She does as I say and dries herself off, handing me her towel before slipping beneath the covers. I hang up our towels then move in behind her, hugging her close to my body. I move her hair way from her face and stroke it. “What happened tonight? I want to keep you safe, but you’re making it very difficult when you don’t tell me what's going on.”

“I know, I’m sorry. I see you and how much you care about me. I have been so conflicted, but I’m not anymore.” Her chest heaves as though she is about to burst into tears.

I’m not sure what she means by conflicted, but maybe it’s because her loyalty has always been with her family, and by putting her trust in me, she feels like she is betraying them?

“How did you end up in that situation with Kylo King tonight?” I ask, already knowing her brother was the one who talked her into going. He tricked her, telling her it was a family friend. Kylo is no one’s friend.

“He’s a piece-of-shit human,” she spits out angrily.

“Yeah, he is. But what I don’t understand is why you hate him so much.”

She spins in my arms so she's looking at me. Her sad eyes meet mine, and I know she wants to tell me, but something is stopping her.

“I always thought your family had some sort of an agreement with the Kings. And I know Tony hated Kylo more than he did most. Why?” I push her, needing to know exactly what we're up against.

“Like I agree with anything my family thought was a good idea. My father made some very poor choices for the sake of a quick buck.” Her hand comes to my chest. “Why do you hate him so much? What did he do to you?” she asks, turning the question back on me.

I can see she is hesitant to tell me the truth, but maybe honesty needs to go both ways, and if I open up to her, she might do the same. “Euphoria killed my mom. And we weren’t sure until recently, but his gang are the ones distributing it. They have been for years. And now after we banned it, they're at it again.”

“Your mother died the same way as mine?”

I nod. “It’s why I removed it from this town. I didn’t want anyone else to go through what me and my brothers did. It’s more dangerous than any other drug on the market, and not only that, but there is a new variation circulating, Euphoria X, that’s twice as potent and not taken as a recreational drug, but used as a weapon to kill people.”

Her eyes go wide, and I see her connect the dots. “That’s what happened to my mother, wasn’t it? She was drugged by them because I wouldn’t do what Gator asked of me.”

“That’s what it looks like. The dose she took was the same as the girls who were killed at our club the night of the fight,” I say sadly.

“I’m not surprised Kylo is behind all of this.” She looks back at me, miserable. “I didn’t realize your mother had passed. When was it?”

“Nearly a year to the day after my dad did. And I have always been suspicious as to the circumstances. Yeah, she was a drunk, but she didn’t do drugs, and when they said it was found in her system, I knew something more had gone down.”

I see the goosebumps rise on her skin, and she covers her chest. “Oh, Leo, you guys were just kids, and you were all alone.”

“I was eighteen, and I had been taking care of my brothers from the moment my father passed away. My mother was an alcoholic before he died. After, she was barely sober at all. I had to take care of them because she couldn’t.”

“That’s so tragic. Do you think one of the Kings had something to do with the drug being found in her system?”

“Without a doubt. Just like I believe it was them who gave it to your mother.”

“That's what Axel thinks as well,” she agrees.

“Now you understand why that drug can’t make its way back onto our streets. It killed both our poor vulnerable mothers under murky circumstances. On top of countless others. Kylo needs to be stopped. I know that’s why he was at our restaurant tonight. It’s his way of saying he’s back, and he doesn’t give a shit who knows it.”

“He’s the worst kind of human because he doesn’t care who he hurts. He’s just like my dad was, all about the money and power. They will do anything they can to take what they want. They don’t care who they hurt in the process.” Tears roll down her cheeks. “You have to stop him. Promise me you won’t stop until he is dead. I won’t be able to sleep again until I know he is.”

I stroke her hair, hating the pain she’s in. What did he do to her? “Yes, you will, because you have me here to protect you. I won’t ever let anything happen to you.” I hold her close, kissing her. “What did he do to you?” I ask her again, hoping she can trust me enough to be honest.

She looks away from me, moving out of my hold. “I don’t think I can tell you,” she says, pulling the sheet around her body protectively.

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