Page 89 of A Hurt So Good

Dad told her that was so far from the truth, but she couldn’t bring herself to face us.

I sigh and lean my head back when I hear the basement door. Then I hear the footsteps coming down the stairs. We all look over to see her standing there, bruises and all. I want to get up and go to her. I know they do, too, but we don’t. We give her her space and let her do what she wants.

She looks between us, sadness in her eyes before she slowly walks across the room and climbs into Harlon’s lap. His arms instantly wrap around her, holding her close. I’m not jealous she went to him. It’s not surprising, either. He’s her security blanket. Where Denz and I are a little rougher, he’s the calm, and that’s what she needs right now.

“I’m sorry,” she says, crying into his chest. He keeps her held against him, pressing his lips to the top of her head.

“It’s okay, Arya. Everything is going to be okay,” he reassures her. It’s hard not to get up and go over there, but she needs her space, and I’ll give her that right now. But when she’s healed, I will punish her for what she did.

“I’m so sorry,” she cries harder. It fucking breaks me in half hearing her cry. Don’t get me wrong, I love when she cries, just not over this, not like this.

Harlon keeps his hand moving up and down her back until she finally calms down. After what seems like forever, she moves to climb out of his lap and comes toward me. She stares at me for a long second, probably thinking I don’t want her over here. But I just give her a short nod, and that’s all she needs. She leaps onto my lap and wraps her arms around my neck.

“I’ve missed you, little bird.”

“I missed you too.” I can hear the hitch in her voice, and it hurts me. No woman has ever had this power over me before.

She stays in my embrace for a long time, but when she moves, I know she’s going to Denz. I watch her walk over and sit down next to him.

“I … I ruined your car,” she whispers.

“Yeah, you did.”

“I’m sorry, Denz. I know how much that car meant to you, and I fucking ruined it.”

“You know what? That car did mean a lot to me, baby. But you mean more,” he tells her. She instantly climbs up and straddleshis hips, sitting on his lap while holding onto him around his neck.

“I feel so bad for thinking any of it, but the texts kept coming, and then the photos, and no one was here. I fucked up,” she says, pressing her face into his neck.

“You didn’t fuck up, baby. You were upset and did what came to mind. Next time something happens, you need to talk to us.”

“I should have talked to you guys first, and I’m so sorry I didn’t. I was just so pissed, and I couldn’t take it anymore.”

“We get it, baby. We do. But now we’re going to find out who the hell did this to you, and we’re going to handle it.” She lifts her head to look up at Denz.

“So it wasn’t Rachel?”

“No. It wasn’t, but she and her girls have been handled,” I add loudly. She turns her head to look at me, a strange look on her face.

“You didn’t … did you kill them?” Instantly, I laugh. She would think that, and honestly, I thought about killing them. If it hadn’t been for the guys making other plans, I would still be there carving those bitches up a week later.

“I didn’t kill anyone. Yet. When we know who started this whole thing? That’s who is going to die,” I tell her. She looks to relax a little, and a sigh leaves her lips. I watch her climb off Denz’s lap and stand in the middle of the room with her hands on her hips.

“So now, what do we do?” she asks. Just then, I hear someone else coming down the stairs, and when I look over, I see it’s our dad.

“You feeling better?” he asks Arya. She nods and walks over, wrapping her arms around his waist.

“Thank you for everything,” she whispers.

“You’re very welcome.” He keeps his arm around her as he looks at the three of us.

“I have some information, and I’m not exactly sure how everyone is going to take it.”

“What is it?” I ask.

“It’s about who has been texting her,” he says, nodding to Arya. The three of us are on our feet, waiting for more information. Arya stays clinging to dad’s side as she peers up at him, looking a little unsure of wanting to hear this. Then she pulls away and paces the floor.

“What do you know?” Denz asks.

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