Page 56 of Eternal Pieces
I skid to an immediate halt. Violet is silently crying on the floor, her head in her hands. Dropping to my knees, I hold her tight. She startles, but hugs me back when she realizes it’s me.
“Maddox,” she hiccups.
“I’m here, baby. Did he hurt you? Touch you?” Please God, Satan, whoever the fuck I have to pray to let it be a no.
She shakes in my arms. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her this scared before. “Aaron—he?—”
“Take it slow. I’m not going anywhere.”
She buries her face in my shirt, her makeup staining the white fabric. Stroking her back, I patiently wait for her to be ready to talk.
“He was angry about James. He touched my stomach and said if we don’t leave town, he’ll hurt the babies.” She grabs my shirt and looks me deep in the eye. “We need to find Max and go.”
My whole body tenses, my muscles vibrating with fury. How dare he scare her enough to make her think she has to flee.
I want to chase after the fucker, hunt him down and make him pay. But Violet needs me more. “He’s not getting anywhere near you again, baby. I swear on my life, you and the babies are safe.”
“But—”
“I. Swear. It.”
Her big, teary eyes shatter my heart. I’m supposed to be the one to make sure she’s always smiling. Now look at her. I’ve failed.
I do my best to wipe away some of the makeup that’s run down her cheeks. That’s when I notice the red hue on one side of her face. It’s not from crying.
“He hit you?” The words barely come out; my throat is clogged with so much fury.
“He slapped me.”
Slapped?Fuck.
“I’ll kill?—”
“Don’t leave me!” Violet sobs.
“I’m so sorry, baby.” I press my forehead to hers. “I’m with you.”
If only I could transmit every promise to protect her, every apology for not being here when she needed me most, straight into her brain.
I’m going to make this right, but for now, all I can do is keep telling her that everything’s okay.
For a moment, she searches my eyes, and then she looks down at her stomach. Once her gaze returns to mine, I find a new determination in her.
Taking hold of my hands, she gets to her feet. “I always tell you to be careful. To not risk it all for vengeance. But I’m not saying that anymore. I’m done with giving people chances or trying to see the good in them. Do whatever it takes to keep us safe.” She places my palm on her stomach, and a tiny foot prods me. Fuck. My heart lights up.
Violet really has given us everything. Not only her love and her body, or the gift of our new family, but also the acceptance to be ourselves. She doesn’t stop us from keeping track of her night and day, or from being more than a little overbearing when it comes to her safety. Now she’s letting us protect her how we truly want to.
I need to find Max and get this started.
“What’s the quickest way out of here?” I ask. Violet points to a set of double doors at the opposite end of the hall, and I lead her through them. Everyone must be outside at the ceremony because the halls are empty. We make it to the parking lotwithout being seen. Max and Dad are waiting by the cars. They spot us, and Max instantly knows something’s wrong. He runs over full of anger and panic.
“What the fuck happened?” He scans Violet’s face, his fingers hovering over her crimson cheek. “Who the fuck did this?” He hurriedly examines every inch of her body. She lets him. Finally, he lifts her arm and asks, “Where’s your watch?”
“Oh, crap! I must have left it in the restroom. I’m so sorry!” Bringing her hand to her face, she sobs again, and Max holds her close, letting her cry into his chest.
“Don’t apologize, sweetheart,” he says to her sweetly, then he mouths quietly to me,“What happened?”
“Aaron,”I mouth back.
