Page 104 of The Destruction You Desire
"I've sent Lee and Kane over there to help."
Her brows pull together in concern. "Don't worry, if Bry doesn't know the right people, I can assure you that Kane does."
"To do what?"
I shrug. "Finish what I started."
As I say the words, she pulls her face from my hold and takes my fist in her hand.
"Has it even healed from the last time?"
"I don't care, Peyton. I'd do it all over again if it meant keeping you safe."
She drags in a shuddering breath. "I really thought they were going to—"
"It's okay."
"You saved me," she whispers.
"Always, baby." I lower my head to hers. "I'd go kill them both right now if that's what you asked of me."
She shakes her head. "Brett needs to pay, by doing what you really want to do would be the easy way out for him."
Our eyes hold, a million words we both want to say hanging between us.
"I really need to shower. All I can smell is them."
"Shit, baby. I'm so fucking sorry."
She swallows and drags up some strength from a deep place inside her.
"I'm okay. They didn't hurt me, not really."
I take her jaw in my hand, gently rubbing my thumb over the darkening bruise on her cheek and beneath the split in her lip.
"Did he—"
"Yeah."
My entire body tenses with my need to go back there, to ensure that he can't touch any female ever again. But as if she can sense it, Peyton wraps her hand around the back of my neck and stares at me with her big, silver eyes.
"Shower with me?" She leans forward, her lips brushing mine ever so gently.
"You sure?"
"I need to replace their hands with someone else's."
"Someone else's?"
"No, Luc. Just yours."
"You know I could never say no to you."
I stand with her still in my arms and walk toward my bathroom. Sitting her on the counter, I pull my hoodie from her body, careful of her face before ridding her of the rest of her clothes, relieved when I don't find any marks on the rest of her body.
"Okay?" I ask before stepping back so I can shed my own clothes.
She nods, sucking her bottom lip into her mouth as I drag my shirt over my head and drop my sweats and boxers.
