Page 129 of Filthy Liar

“You’re not.”

I didn’t bother explaining it to him, he knew everything from my past, and I hadn’t shied away from the details.

He’d actually discovered one of the Demon’s who’d hurt me had escaped with his life and hunted the fucker down on my behalf last year when I’d told him.

I climbed out, the fresh air cooling my skin.

“That was weird,” I mumbled, scrubbing a hand over my face.

“Trauma doesn’t go away, man. We just learn to bury it,” he replied, tilting his head. “I still get nightmares of Mom and Kimberly sometimes.”

“I never get flashbacks,” I said with a frown, glancing at my hands as they shook slightly. “I literally smelt him and felt his touch.”

He knew whichhimI was referring to.

“The best cure for that is letting someone else put their hands all over you,” he half-joked. “I love you, but not that much. Let’s get home so you can snuggle with Raven or something.”

I nodded, still glaring at my shaky hands as I walked around to the passenger seat and climbed in, the rest of the drive home being silent.

Logan

I was happily enjoying my snuggles with Raven on the couch when Hurricane Zavier appeared and stole her from my lap. I went to stand and demand he gave her back, but Ander shot me a serious look and shook his head.

Studying Zavier for a second, I realized he didn’t look right. His hands shook a fraction and he seemed pale, making me frown.

Raven had noticed too, but she didn’t draw attention to it as she took his hand in hers while cupping his cheek with the other, murmuring to him about missing him all day.

“What happened?” I asked under my breath, and Ander sighed.

“Flashbacks.”

“Of what?” The second it left my mouth, I knew. “Oh. He never gets those.”

“I know. I said something in the car that triggered it,” he answered quietly, eyeing our friend who was already looking better just from Raven’s touch.

His shoulders relaxed, his eyes brightened a fraction, and his voice calmed.

I knew what that was like, she chased the darkness away for me too whenever it got too close.

Reid joined us from where he’d been cleaning up in the kitchen, his eyebrow raising as Zavier tugged at Raven’s shirt.

They were still talking, so I had no idea if he was even aware he was doing it.

Raven let out a squeak of surprise as Zavier suddenly kissed the hell out of her, Reid turning to us with amusement. “What did I miss?”

The amusement fell from his face as I answered. “Flashbacks.”

“How?”

“Lavaro said something and it set him off,” I stated, glancing at Ander. “What did you say?”

Zavier had started dragging Raven toward the bedroom, but his kisses had softened and he was in control. She was breaking through his demons with ease, just like she did for all of us.

Ander explained the car ride home, what he could remember of it anyway. He didn’t seem okay either, the sleep deprivation obvious.

“I think we all need some sleep,” Reid yawned, his eyes sliding to the bedroom as Raven groaned. “Should we consider stopping that?”

“Nope. After the day I’ve had, I need some Bluebird on my cock too,” Ander said as he kicked off his shoes, leaving them in the middle of the floor as he headed to the bedroom.

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