Page 21 of Chaos Claimed

“I’m sorry you had to face that alone,” he said. “I should’ve been there when you needed me, cariño.”

Percy shifted slightly in his embrace. “It wasn’t just about your arrest,” he said in a low tone. “That’s how it started, but…”

“Everything else came pouring out with it.” He gently brushed his knuckles along Percy’s cheek, savoring the softness of his skin.

His mate nodded, snuggling closer. “I was angry you let Gilmore handcuff you, terrified of what he would do to you once you were alone with him.”

Santiago hadn’t feared the deputy. But Rico? If Matias hadn’t arrived when he did, Santiago might’ve been tranquilized, because no way in hell would he have led his pack into a trap.

That’s what scared him. Not a human cop intoxicated by his authority.

“I was fine, cariño. Just upset I missed dinner with you, but Gilmore didn’t lay a finger on me.”

“I was on the porch, crying, when something inside me just snapped.”

Percy had struggled so hard not to let the incident impact his life. He’d put on a facade, smiling, joking, and acting as if everything was fine. However, as far as Santiago was aware, Percy had never truly confronted what Tito had done to him.

“I don’t even remember trashing the kitchen,” Percy admitted. “I’d gone inside to put the food away, and the next thing I knew, I was on the floor with Elijah’s arms wrapped around me.”

“That’s blind rage,” Santiago said. “You’ve been bottling up what happened to you.”

“Don’t,” Percy protested, trying to pull away, but Santiago held him firmly.

“If you don’t deal with it, tonight won’t be the last time you unravel, Percy. It’ll keep happening, and what if next time you’re alone?”

“Let me go.” Percy struggled against his hold. Santiago released him and watched as his mate climbed out of bed.

Santiago got up, frustrated that Percy was retreating back into denial. “I worried the entire ride you would break, instead, you were busy burying it all again.”

If he didn’t face his issues, another breakdown was inevitable. And what if Santiago wasn’t there? What if his mate’s actions became more reckless? What if next time Percy flirted with another male?

The thought made Santiago want to commit homicide. He closed his eyes seconds before he felt his pupils glowing. Percy was unaware of his world, and right now was the worst time to reveal the truth. Santiago took deep, controlled breaths, trying to calm down.

“It’s not your place to decide how I handle…”

Santiago opened his eyes. “I would never take your choices away, cariño, but how can you start to heal if you won’t even acknowledge there’s a problem?”

“I’m fine!” Percy clenched his fists at his sides, his nostrils flaring, eyes blazing.

“You were not fine in the club,” Santiago snarled, frustrated by his mate’s stubborn denial, angry at how things could’ve gone sideways while in hostile territory. “You were on the verge of a breakdown!”

Percy screamed, sweeping his arms across the top of Santiago’s dresser. Items flew off, striking the wall and scattering across the floor. The cap of his styling gel popped open, spilling liquid onto the carpet.

He yanked open drawers, tossing clothes everywhere. Santiago lunged forward, catching Percy’s wrists just as he was about to throw a small jewelry box. Inside were his mother’s keepsakes, the only mementos he had of her.

A sharp scream escaped Percy as he pulled his hands back, retreating so quickly he hit the wall. “He lied to me! Said you wanted to see me, that you were waiting for me outside!”

Santiago closed his eyes, feeling like he’d been struck in the gut. Tito had manipulated Percy’s feelings for Santiago to draw him away from the tavern. No wonder his mate was anxious around him. In Percy’s mind—however irrational it seemed—Santiago was tied to his trauma.

“He deceived you, cariño. I would never send someone else to fetch you. I would come myself.”

But Percy hadn’t known that.

“He told me you were in the shed, working on something, and you needed my help.” He wrapped his arms around his midsection, trembling. “It was so hot in there. I kept pounding on the door, but no one…”

Because everyone had been focused on helping Diablo at the time. He’d burst into the tavern with thick chains wrapped around his wrists, his eyes wild. He wouldn’t let anyone approach, but everyone had been desperate to free him from those damn chains.

At the same time, Percy had been trapped in the shed, desperately begging for help. Santiago felt sick to his stomach. “I had no idea, Percy. I never would let anything happen to you.”

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