Page 56 of The Billionaire's Bride
"N… nothing," I blubber, It’s just…he…he…"
"He’s gone," Baron says softly. "He won’t hurt you again. Not as long as I—"
"—we," Edward corrects him.
"Not as long as we have anything to do with it," he agrees, and that only makes me cry harder.
"Shit, don’t cry, Ava." Baron cups my cheek and I turn my face into the palm of his hand.
I coil into Edward’s chest and allow the tears to fall.
Edward rocks me, Baron moves in closer and his crisp mountain air scent weaves with Edward’s cut grass scent. Heat from both of their bodies envelops me, sinks into my blood.
"Shh," Edward croons, "you’re safe with us."
I know.
Baron runs his fingers through my hair and I shiver. I hunch my shoulders, try to swallow down the sobs, and finally…finally…manage to turn down the waterworks.
"Better?" Baron whispers.
I nod.
"Sure?" Edward asks. "If you want, we could punch each other?"
"Wha—?" I stare up at him from under my spiky eyelashes. "Why would you do that?"
"To distract you, so you’d stop crying?"
"Like that would work?" I sniffle.
He stares at me and I hiccough. "Fine, fine," I mumble. "Be like that."
"You feeling better, Ava?" Baron peers into my face, "I think we need to get your face looked at."
"I’m fine," I mutter. "Just get me some aspirin for my headache and I’ll be as good as new. Speaking of," I glance around us, "where’s my bag, and my phone? I think I may have dropped them earlier."
Baron pivots, walks around the space. He pulls out his phone, shines the light close to the ground. "There." He picks up my bag, then spots my phone not far from it. He returns and hands both items over.
"Thanks," I mutter.
"There’s water in the car," Edward tells him.
At Baron’s nod, he turns, and they make their way to Baron’s SUV.
He unlocks the car, opens the back and Edward lowers me onto the seat. He straightens and I grab his hand, "Thanks, Ed."
His features soften. "Anytime." He rubs his knuckles across my unhurt cheek, then straightens.
Baron comes around the other side, and slides into the back seat, next to me. Edward gets into the driver’s seat, holds out his hand for the keys.
"You promise you’ll treat her with respect?" Baron scowls at Ed.
Her?I glance between them.Who are they talking about?
Edward glares back at Baron in the rearview mirror, "Stop fussing."
"Not until you promise."
