Page 44 of Bones

This cage is fucking old, so I’m hoping it has some weak points. It’s not lost on me that this is the exact reason she’s so terrified of being in a fucking cage. If she had told me, I probably would’ve still locked her in one initially, but the day I chained her never would’ve happened. Now I know the guilt is going to eat me alive, until there’s nothing left but the shell of a man.

Athena watches as I attempt to break the cage apart on one side, and Psycho does the same on the other. It’s too small of an opening, and if I attempt to get in, I’ll be stuck in there with her, and I can’t save her that way.

I look into her observing eyes. “I’m not leaving you here to die at his hands, Butterfly. Nobody hurts my wife like this and survives.”

“Luca,” she cries, and my heart feels like it’s cracked open and bleeding.

“Butterfly, I’m here. Please come closer so I can keep you safe.”

Her lashes flutter as her eyes connect with mine, and she whispers, “I told you, I don’t like the cage.”

I squat at the door to the cage. “I know, baby. I know, and after today I swear to you, you’ll never be in another one.”

Slowly she crawls to me, as she glances around at my brothers, like she’s noticing them for the first time. I know she’s probably feeling weird because she’s naked, but I also know they aren’tlooking at her. Removing my jacket, I tell her, “Come here and put this on.”

Her eyes widen, as if she has just realized she’s naked, and she sits up and covers her breasts.

“Come here, Butterfly. I promise you nobody is looking at your body right now, myself included.”

She makes the last few movements, until she’s finally close enough to touch. Gently, I pull her out by putting my hands under her arms, and then put the jacket on her.

“Luca,” she whispers, and I pull her into my arms, holding onto her for dear life.

“I’m here, baby.”

Athena grips my shirt in both hands, and sobs into my chest. I lift her into my arms and make my way to the exit, and climb down the steps carefully.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

ATHENA

He tries to sit me on the couch, but I wrap my arms around him, because right now I need him. I am terrified he’ll leave me alone, and my father will find me. At first I wanted him to leave me to die, but I don’t really want to die. Not this way.

Luca sits on the couch, with me in his arms. “It was your father who hit you?”

“Yes,” I answer quietly because I know what question is coming.

Stroking my hair, he speaks quietly, maybe so his brothers don’t hear him, “Did he rape you?”

The tears come instantly, and he gently kisses my swollen face. “It’s okay, Butterfly, I just need to know.”

I nod slightly, causing more pain in my head. “Yes,” I whisper, and then add, “Just my mouth.”

Luca holds me close to his chest as I cry. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”

The fact that I didn’t want it doesn’t mean I didn’t cheat on my husband. Now that he knows, I don’t expect him to stick around long term. Not only being with another man, but with my own father, is as disgusting as it gets. How do you even look at someone after knowing that information? I heard him when he said he loved me, but love only goes so far. You can love someone and not be able to stay with them. My mother loved my father desperately, and yet she left. Love does not make a marriage work.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. You did nothing wrong. He did, and I promise you, he’ll pay for it with his life.”

I warn him, “He might have a gun.”

He chuckles softly. “And he won’t ever get a chance to fire it.”

I watch him as he orders his brothers around, and instantly understand why his dad wants to leave him in charge. “Psycho, go wait behind the back door, but don’t approach him.”

“Reaper, hallway.”

Then he gives the final instruction, “Kage, go to the front door. I want no chance for him to make a run for it.”

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