Page 31 of Beyond Repair: Part Two
Chapter 19
Trevor
My name being bellowed through the house will go down as one of the most terrifying moments of my goddamn life. Jumping up from the couch where I was holding Meg's hand, I sprint for the small door where Ridge is hiding out with Nina.
The closer I get, the louder the cries become. My gut churns uncomfortably and my mind goes into overdrive of all the possibilities that could have Ridge and Nina so horribly upset. Meg had zero insight as to what happened to spark Nina's anxiety. All she could tell me was that they were sunbathing out back and Meg fell asleep. She woke up to Nina muttering and knocking over a glass of juice as she bolted into the house.
"Ridge?" I ease the door open and fit my wide shoulders inside. The visual that greets me makes me want to tear the world apart. In Ridge's arms lays Nina curled into a shaking ball of tears and snot.
"Trevor..." Ridge breathes out and when I get a look at his face, I'm shocked as shit to see tears flowing freely down his redcheeks. His glasses are askew, and quite fucking honestly, he looks like a wreck. "Help. I don't know what to do."
"Kick your legs out," I grunt, switching some of my emotions off and channeling the determination I have to make everything better for them. My cousin does as I ask, and with his feet in grabbing distance, I drag them close enough to touch Nina.
When I try to unravel her from his body, Nina clings to him harder. If I'm not careful, I might start to cry too. "Baby, I need you to let go of Ridge now." The soft, soothing voice doesn't work. "Now, Nina."
My dominant tone does the trick, but the only good thing that comes from it is Nina allowing me to pull her from the small room and pull her into a bridal carry. The scariest thing I may have ever seen is my girl shutting down.
Almost immediately after my demand, her cries muted and her eyes went blank. "Baby girl?" I whisper and swallow as I trail a finger down her cheek. Her dead eyes stare at the center of my chest while tears continue to drip from her chin. "Okay....Okay. You rest, then."
There's some shuffling around me and I feel more than see the other guys surround us. Somewhere I hear Meg and Will talking to the officer who's been watching the house today. I hate that they'll need a statement from Nina, but if her terror sent her into a panic, then disassociation? It feels pretty damn necessary.
"Trev?" Kai gets through to me first.
When I blink at the sound of his voice, I look around and notice Ridge on the ground for the first time. Henry has an arm wrapped around my cousin in an attempt to console him, which I am thankful for. I'm worried this episode will set him back.
Finally, I look at Kai, who's staring at me with an expression that matches how I feel. "What do we do?" he asks and fuck if I don't do the same thing as the trembling girl in my arms.
I shut it all off.
"Everyone, up to Nina's room. Now." Someone has to take charge and they all turn to me to be that person. I'll step up even if I have no clue how to fix this.
It's slow moving, but soon Henry is following a tired-looking Ridge up the stairs. I'm torn between bringing Nina up right away or grabbing her some water and a snack when Kai lays a hand on my shoulder.
"Bring her to bed. I'll make sure everything is okay down here, talk to Will, and bring up some food soon, alright?"
I fight like hell to keep my emotions in check. "Thank you," I reply hoarsely. He nods and turns away as I start making my way up to Nina's bedroom.
That was a great example of why the four of us are meant to share the same woman. If it had just been me, I would have needed to leave Nina to go get some other stuff settled. Had Ridge been the only one here for Neen, he could have tumbled right down into his own panic attack.He was pretty damn close as it was.
Cursing my inadequacies to keep this family intact, I shoulder through the doorway. My chest squeezes immediately, but I keep walking. I settle Nina into her bed beside Ridge. He's fast asleep with swollen eyes and a red nose, making me feel like a piece of shit.
Where the hell was I when Nina first needed me? Fucking around on my laptop, that's where. Fucking around might not be the best term, but trying to get our house on the market should not have kept me from my woman when she was in distress.
Like a damn mind reader, Henry whispers, "You can't always be there."
I spare him a glance. Instead of looking away, I watch him round the bed and study Nina with a furrowed brow. Keeping my mouth shut, I follow his movements.
Nina's blinks are slow and heavy as she stares at the ceiling, but her gaze is forced to shift when Henry moves her onto her side so she faces Ridge. Henry steps back to stand beside me while we watch over them.
"I know," I finally reply. It takes a great deal for me to admit that I'm not a superhero or a bodyguard. I may be fit and ready to lay my life on the line for my family, but that doesn't mean I'm a fighter in any way. "I wish I could be though."
Henry quietly agrees. Kai comes in some time later and settles on the bench seat with an armful of food and waters. I’m not sure how much time passes, but from the ache in my feet, I would imagine it's been a little while.
The sheets rustle and Henry sucks in a breath next to me. My muscles bunch as I use all the willpower I have to keep still so as not to spook my girl. I stop breathing as if the thing that happens next is all the hope I need to continue on.
With stiff movements, Nina's left arm glides up between her and Ridge. There's a slight sniffle right before she places a small hand on my cousin's cheek. I'm not sure who moves first, but two seconds later, Ridge has Nina wrapped in his arms before two soft sets of snores rattle from the bed.
"Thank fuck," Kai breathes.
I couldn't agree more.
