Page 89 of Beneath Your Beautiful
Killian held up his hand. “Don’t talk to me.”
“It needed to be said,” he called after Killian, who was charging up the stairs, his face murderous. “You can’t keep pretending it never happened.”
“Not. Another. Fucking. Word.”
I made myself small to let Killian pass and looked down the stairs at Connor. He hung his head and leaned against the wall. I was torn between wanting to make it better for Connor and going after Killian. I chose Killian and stood in the doorway, watching him.
“You ready for work?” he asked, pulling on a black T-shirt.
“Work?” I repeated.
“You have five minutes.” He pulled jeans out of his drawer. Socks. His combat boots from the closet.
I stood there, staring at him, my feet rooted to the spot while he got dressed as if nothing had happened. His face was shuttered, and now I understood why he’d perfected the art of locking it down. My heart was breaking for the boy he’d been, for the man he’d become, burying all the hurt and lies and secrets deep inside.
“Killian—”
“I’m leaving in three minutes,” he said brusquely.
I glanced at the clock on his bedside table. “It’s only three forty-five.”
He pulled out his wallet, laid a twenty-dollar bill on the dresser, and sat on the edge of his bed to put on his boots.
“What’s that for?”
“Taxi money.”
“I don’t need your money. We need to talk about this.”
“Either you come with me or you take a taxi. Your choice.” He stood, and I slammed the door shut, blocking his exit with my body.
“I’m not talking about the taxi and you know it.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “I told you to stay in the room. You didn’t. I told you to get ready for work, so I could give you a fucking ride. You’re not doing that either.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Silent tears streamed down my face. “You claim you love me, but you kept this huge secret from me and—”
“I don’t have time for this shit.” He lifted me off the floor, set me down, then opened the bedroom door and walked right out. I heard his footsteps on the stairs, his boots hitting every step in staccato like he was sprinting down them.
“If you leave now, I’m packing my stuff and leaving,” I said loud enough for him to hear. I didn’t want him to leave, and I didn’t want to leave him either. His footsteps stopped, then started again. “Please come back,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around myself.
The front door opened, and I strained my ears, listening. There it was…the sound of the door closing behind him and the locks clicking into place. I lowered myself to the floor, drew my legs to my chest and wrapped my arms around them, Connor’s words echoing in my head.
How many punches did you take, Killian? How many times did he knock you out? Break your ribs? Leave you unconscious on the kitchen floor?
You tried to break him, but you couldn’t.
My silent tears turned into sobs that wracked my body.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Eden
Iheard footsteps on the stairs, slower and more labored than the way he’d descended them and then he was standing in front of me. He pulled me to my feet and wrapped his arms around me, holding me close. Killian had always made me feel safe. But he’d never been safe, not even in his own house. I wanted to be strong for him, but I was the one breaking down, crying for Killian’s lost childhood, and he was the one holding me together.
How could anyone hurt beautiful Killian? His father was a monster.
I took a shaky breath. “I hate him for what he did to you.”
