Page 144 of Torrid Love

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I turn to face her. I’m breathing so hard, I fear I might have a heart attack.

Dom looks at Gideon’s lifeless body, her eyes widen in panic. “Oh my God is he already dead?”

I can’t tell.

Shit.

Adrenaline pummels my temples like a jackhammer on a construction site.

I place two fingers against his neck to check his pulse.

The motherfucker is alive.

“He isn’t,” I tell her.

“Thank God,” she says in a whisper.

“Did he…? Tonight…?” My words fade off. I can only wave my finger at her ripped top.

She looks down then back up. She shakes her head. “No. I was trying to get away from him.

“Did he really…? You were seventeen…?” I still can’t say it.

“I’m so sorry,” Dom sobs, running to me.

She throws herself at me and I catch her.

“You didn’t do anything wrong, baby.”

“I should’ve told you.”

Jesus Christ.

He did hurt her.

The agony of knowing I didn’t protect her when she needed me the most is enough to kill me.

I look down at Gideon’s body and it’s hard to justify why I shouldn’t end his life right now.

Piece of shit.

“Shhh. It’s okay,” I say, getting up with her still cradled in my arms.

“I’m sorry,” she repeats like a prayer in between hysterical fits of tears.

I want nothing more than to take her pain away, but I can’t yet.

“Give me a sec,” I say.

I reach into my back pocket, fishing for my phone. It’s missing. I look around and notice it on the floor. It must have fallen out in the chaos.

I grab it, smearing Gideon’s blood all over it.

Goddammit.

I dial the number and wait.

“911, state your emergency.”

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