Page 60 of Ruined By Protection
I stand perfectly still, hands clenched at my sides, watching Hazel shake against the wall. Her face is ashen, tears streaming silently down her cheeks. Every instinct screams at me to go to her, to gather her against my chest and shield her from whatever demons are tormenting her. But I saw how she recoiled from my touch.
Don't touch me!
Her terrified plea echoes in my head, fueling the inferno building inside me. I've killed men for less than what Elliott Montgomery has done to her. But this—this is different. This is personal in a way nothing has ever been.
I want to find this bastard and make him suffer. I want to take my time with him. Make him feel every ounce of fear he's instilled in her. Make him beg for a mercy that will never come.
Hazel's breathing has slowed but she still hugs her knees tightly to her chest, her eyes vacant and red-rimmed. A single tear tracks down her cheek and something twists painfully in my chest.
"Everyone's gone," I say, keeping my voice soft, controlled. "Just us now."
She blinks, slowly coming back to herself, and nods.
"Lucrezia's bringing the car around. We'll take the rear exit. No one will see you."
Another nod. She swipes at her tears with trembling fingers.
"Can you stand?" I ask.
She takes a deep breath and pushes herself up, using the wall for support. Her legs wobble and I step forward instinctively, then force myself to stop.
"I won't touch you," I promise. "But I'm right here if you need me."
Hazel's eyes find mine and the raw vulnerability there makes me want to burn the world down. "I'm sorry," she whispers.
"Don't." The word comes out sharper than I intended. I modulate my tone. "You have nothing to apologize for. Nothing."
She wraps her arms around herself, still shaking slightly. "I ruined the shopping trip."
"Fuck the shopping trip." I glance toward the door where the sales associate hovers anxiously. "We can have anything you want delivered to the house."
My phone buzzes with a text from Lucrezia.Car waiting.
"Time to go," I tell Hazel. "Think you can make it to the door?"
She nods, straightening her shoulders with visible effort. Even now, after everything, there's a core of steel in her that refuses to break. It makes me want to protect her more fiercely.
I lead the way to the rear exit, clearing a path and keeping a careful distance. The sales associate unlocks the door for us and I give her a nod of thanks as we step outside into the alley where the Audi waits, engine running.
Lucrezia sits behind the wheel and I open the back door for Hazel. She slides in without a word and I follow, sitting beside her. Giving her space.
As we pull out onto the street I finally let myself observe her properly. Her face is pale, her eyes red and swollen. She stares out the window, still trembling slightly.
The rage rises again, hot and violent. I want to put my fist through something. Preferably Elliott Montgomery's face. I want to make him pay for every tear, every moment of fear, every fucking bruise on her body.
"I want to take it all away," I say, not giving a damn if Lucrezia hears me. Hazel turns and locks her beautiful eyes on mine. "Every fear, every nightmare, every bad memory. I want to erase him from your life completely."
A tear spills down her cheek and I have to grip the door handle to keep from reaching for her.
"You can't," she whispers.
"Watch me."
CHAPTER 18
Matteo
Istand under the icy spray, letting it thunder on my shoulders and back. The water's so cold it stings, but it's still not enough to drown out the image of Hazel collapsing against that boutique wall, eyes wide with terror. Three days have passed since that day. She avoids me like I am the one she needs to be protected from.
