Page 88 of Possession

I can’t tear my gaze from Landyn, but with Rocco standing in front of her, it’s easy to see his bloody fist constrict and loosen.

June keeps talking, every word escalating. I wonder what happened in this very room before I got here. “Make him get out of the way.”

Another tear falls from Landyn’s blue eyes.

I can’t take it.

Unlike June, I have no fucking idea what to do. What I do know is I can’t let her sit here balled up like a broken doll. And I can’t take another moment being this far from her.

I shrug my jacket down my arms and pull at my tie. They land somewhere behind me on the floor as I move across the room.

Landyn’s eyes close, and she turns her head from me, but I don’t stop. Rocco chooses well and steps to the side to let me pass. If he tried to keep me from her, I’d have to throw him across the room.

My gut clenches when I get close. I don’t know what I’ll do if she pushes me away. I bend to gather her in my arms. She folds into herself tighter as I bring her to my chest.

But then she turns to press her face into my neck.

Her tears melt into my skin, and a wrath sparks in me that I’ve never felt, which says a lot since my life has been fueled by rage since the day we got news about Brian. Even I can recognize this is different.

What happened to Brian started with grief and turned into an inferno.

But as Landyn’s trembles rock through my chest, they send an electric charge to my heart.

It wakes something inside me.

I hold her tight, turn to June and Rocco, and barely recognize my voice. My words sound like they’ve traveled a long, cratered road when I growl, “Get out.”

“No,” June argues. “Put her down so I can clean her wounds.”

Rocco does the opposite of my orders and takes a step toward us.

For the first time since I walked into the room, I take him in. His face is bloodied and battered. He’s already swelling between his eye and temple, and his expression…

It’s haunted.

Fuck.

The evidence proving what Spencer said is right in front of me. He saved her.

My hold on Landyn tightens when I speak to him. “Do not leave the house. Let June clean you up and try to get some sleep. You and I will talk first thing in the morning. I need to be with her, so you’ll have to be good until then.”

His stare is intense when it moves from the woman in my arms to me. He answers with a simple lift of his chin, but remains silent.

I turn to June. “Take care of him. I’ll take care of my wife.”

Finally, the old woman’s shoulders drop just enough to let me know she might finally follow orders. She proves she’s more business than maternal and walks to the door but stops. “Come, Rocco. I have a medical kit in the kitchen. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

The kid hesitates as his stare hangs on Landyn.

Given the fact I was jealous of him just yesterday for the easy relationship he’s developed with the woman in my arms, right now I have nothing but gratitude, even though I’ll kick him out if I have to. “Grateful for what you did tonight. We’ll talk about it in the morning, but right now I need to be alone with her.”

His eyes fall shut before he turns to leave. June shuts the door behind both of them.

The minute the latch clicks, a single sob bleeds from Landyn.

“Shhh, baby. Let me tend to you.” I move to the bathroom.

She groans when I set her on the counter between the two sinks. It kills me to let her go. Fuck, her beautiful skin is marred. Her bright eyes are stormy. And her spirit is broken.

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