He sounds exhausted even though all he’s done is eat.
I set everything down and turn back to him, taking his hand in mine.
“Can you first tell me what happened,” I ask softly.
He looks down at our joined hands and slowly pulls his away. Looking back up to me, I see him chewing his bottom lip so hard I’m worried he’s going to draw blood. I reach up and gently pull it free from his teeth. He leans his head into my hand as I cradle the side of his face.
“Talk to me, baby. Let me help you.”
Charlie shakes his head still in my hand, closing his good eye.
“You can’t help me. No one can.” It’s whispered and full of sadness.
I rub my thumb across his cheekbone as I lean in and kiss his forehead. I move my head down until my forehead connects with his.
“I love you Charlie and nothing you tell me will change that. You’re mine and I protect what belongs to me. And right now, your pain is my pain, and I want nothing more than to take it all away.” I watch as a tear falls from his closed eye. “Please tell me who did this to you.”
A gut-wrenching sob leaves him making my heart squeeze in my chest. I collect him as carefully as I can onto my lap. With his chest to mine, he tucks his face into the crook of my neck, fisting my shirt, and lets out more sobs. I wrap my blanket over his naked back and hug him to me as he falls apart in my arms. I rub his back soothingly as I slowly rock side to side, a few of my own tears falling into his hair.
When his sobs turn into soft hiccups, I tilt his face up to mine and wipe away the wetness from his cheeks. His left eye is slightly open, the gold flakes bright from crying.
“I’m sorry,” he hiccups.
I shake my head at him. “You have nothing to apologize for, beautiful.”
He lets out a slow breath, closing his eye. A few seconds later, he’s asleep.
I scoot my ass down so I can comfortably lean back against the stack of pillows while keeping Charlie on a slight angle, avoiding adding more pressure to his bruises. I toss the warmed ice packs to the floor and wrap my arms around him and bury my nose in his hair which smells like my shampoo.
I have no idea what to do and it’s scaring the shit out of me. I love him so much and it pains me that I can’t help him. I need to find out who hurt him. My mind won’t settle until I have a name. I’m not a fighter but if I find out it was Benji, I’ll make sure his ass gets kicked off the team then make his face match his brothers. Plus, Ryder’s dad is a highly respected judge in Chicago who’ll have no problem slapping Benji with a few charges and ignoring anything Franklin Alexander tries to do.
My phone pings with a text. I reach for it and smile when I see Becca’s name.
Becs: Hey! Just checking in on you. My big sister spidey sense was tingling and I know Liz is fine because I was just with her. So that means you’re feeling big emotions up there. Talk to me!
A soft huff leaves my nose as I shake my head at her.
Me: How do you do that? We’re over 1,000 miles apart!
Becs: It’s a superpower only the eldest sibling receives. Now tell me what’s wrong.
I blow out a breath debating if I should tell her what happened. She already knows he has panic attacks but not much else.
Fuck it. She’s the best person to help me through this.
Me: Someone attacked Charlie
The dots start and stop a few times before disappearing. I’m about to text back when a video call comes through. I quickly hit accept before it wakes Charlie.
My sister’s worried face fills the screen.
“Is he ok? What happened? Why aren’t you at the hospital?" she rushes out in one breath.
“Hold on.” I lean over and grab my earbuds, slipping them into my ears. “Sorry. He’s sleeping on me and I don’t want to wake him.” I say quietly.
“Well?” She raises her eyebrows expectantly.
I hold my phone off to the side so I won’t be talking over his ear.
