Page 31 of Beautiful Scars: Unshakeable

The words are broken glass in my throat, but I force them out as I lean into his chest. "I love you, Levi. So much."

He stills completely and lets out a deep sigh. His heart hammers against my cheek, and he starts to tremble.

"I've got you," he whispers, the words meant only for me. "I'm not letting go this time."

The movement as he stands sends waves of dizziness through me. I turn my face into his shirt, breathing in the acrid smell of gunpowder and blood.

"Stay with us, Angel." Zane's voice follows us as Levi carries me from the room. "Just hold on."

I try to fight the darkness, but it's tugging at me again. The last thing I register is Levi's arms tightening around me as he whispers, "Stay with me, Sunny. Please."

Chapter Fifteen

Zane

Theridebacktothe house is made in silence. Anything Levi or I could possibly say in this moment wouldn't be enough.

Once we're back at the house, I cradle Sunny against my chest as I lift her from Levi's arms and out of the truck. As we head inside, my arms tighten instinctively around her when she whimpers, her face pressing into my shirt. The scent of blood clings to her skin.

"Please don't..."

Her head rolls against my chest as she slurs out the words. Her beautiful blonde hair is matted with sweat and tangles. Every few steps, another plea escapes her lips.

"Sorry... so sorry... "

Each whispered fragment feels like a knife in my chest. Her fingers clutch weakly at my shirt, then release, consciousness ebbing and flowing. Behind me, I hear Levi's sharp intake of breath as another whimper escapes her.

"Help me... please... "

Her body quakes against me as she shivers uncontrollably. I'm not sure whether it's from the memories she's lost in or the drugs. Either way I pull her in tighter. When her eyes flutter open, they're glazed, unfocused, seeing horrors I can't protect her from.

"Z—Zane?" The moment of clarity in her voice stops me mid-stride. Her brown eyes find mine, tears spilling over as recognition dawns. "I'm sorry... so sorry..."

"Oh, sweet girl." But she's already shaking her head, words tumbling out faster now.

"He broke me. Made me dirty..." Her voice cracks, shame and despair threading through every word. "You can't... shouldn't touch me now. I'm not... I can't..."

The sobs wracking her small frame are worse than any of her earlier pleas. These aren't drug-induced memories or thoughts plucked out of the air. They’re real, in-the-moment declarations of pain. I kiss her forehead, unable to do anything else.

"Nothing about you is broken or dirty," I growl, the words fierce with conviction. But she's already slipping away again, consciousness fading as fresh tears track down her cheeks.

"Just let me die… I want to die…"

My jaw clenches so hard my teeth might crack. Beside me, Levi's breath catches, his hands trembling as they hover near her hair.

"You're safe now, Angel." The words feel inadequate, but I keep my voice steady. She needs that right now.

She starts shaking. "Need to get clean. Please."

The walk up the stairs feels endless. I count her breaths, matching them to my own. Twenty breaths to the bedroom. Twelve more to the bathroom. Thirty-two separate promises that Garrett will pay.

I cradle Sunny closer as another sob wracks her body. "Need to get clean... please. I can still feel..."

Her voice cracks and it pierces something inside of me. Something deep and vital and necessary. Without a word, Levi moves to the shower. His hands shake as he adjusts the temperature, testing it until it's perfect.

"We've got you, sweet girl." My voice comes out harsher, more rough with emotion than I intend. She feels so fragile in my arms, like she'll break if I hold her wrong.

The blanket wrapped around her is stained with blood and God knows what else. My jaw clenches as Levi and I work together to unwrap her, each new bruise, new injury revealed in the privacy of this moment is stunning. The clinical assessment we made during the rescue, through the tunnel vision of adrenaline and relief, did nothing to prepare either of us for the enormity of her injuries.

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