My breath gets caught in my lungs. He looks so small, so childlike right now. Lost, hurt, broken. I hate it. All I want to do is fix him. And I plan to do my best to help.
When Preston looks down at his hands lying in his lap, he speaks. “He was on me the second I walked through the door. Demanding I call Tina and take her back.” He huffs out a laugh before looking up at me. “He wanted me to take her to the courthouse and marry her tomorrow. Can you believe that?” Heshakes his head, and panic rises. I know it’s not happening, but just the idea of losing him to anyone makes me sick. Not when I just got him. “I told him no. That I was done with him, her, and anyone else he wanted me to marry. That he wasn’t going to have control over my life anymore. That I was done with the Jones family name and he was dead to me.”
Wow. That's... that's big. Like really big for Preston.
“What did he say?” I ask softly.
“What I was expecting him to say.”
The kettle clicks off and I quickly make us cups of tea before joining him on the bed. “Thanks,” he says, taking his before blowing on it and taking a sip.
“I take it he wasn’t very happy?”
“Nope,” Preston says, looking at his cup. “Words were shared, he loved reminding me just how worthless I was.”
“You're not,” I say with everything in me.
“Thanks.” He gives me a small smile, but I know he doesn’t believe me. Another thing I hate. Because this man is worth the world. I just wish he could see what we see.
“After some more words were said, he told me that he wasn’t going to let me leave this family unless it was in a body bag.”
“What?” My eyes widen. I’m not sure why I'm surprised. That monster made his son into his own personal punching bag one too many times. “What did you do?”
“Pulled a gun on him.” He shrugs, taking another sip. “Told him that he wasn’t going to touch me and pretty much if anyone was going to leave in a body bag, it was going to be him.”
“Preston,” I say softly, placing my cup on the bedside table. He leans over and does the same thing.
“It’s fine. I’m fine,” he lies, scrubbing his hands over his face.
“No, you’re not.” I take his hands in mine, pulling them away from his face. “And it’s okay to not be okay.”
He stares at me hard, blinking rapidly. I can see him slowly start to crumble, and it fucking destroys me.
“I’m broken,” he whispers, every word growing more and more hollow as he speaks. “I have no money. All my personal belongings are in that hellhole. I won’t even see them again because I will never step foot on that property again. I have no car, no place to live. I have nothing.”
“Yes, you do.” I kiss the palms of his hands, shifting closer to him. “You have me. Sadie. Collin. Grayson. You're not alone. I know it’s hard for you to believe, but it's true.” I move until I’m in his lap, arms wrapped around his neck, needing to be as close to him as I can so he knows just how true my words are. I need to feel him, for him to feel me.
“Declan,” he croaks, but I keep going.
“You don’t need any of that. You need money? Take mine. You need a car? I have three. You need a place to stay? We can leave this dorm room and go back to my house. You know the only reason I stay here is because I don’t like being alone.” It's my voice that cracks this time. “But I’m not alone anymore.” I kiss him hard. “I have you,” I murmur against his lips. “You have me. We have each other.”
“Yeah?” he breathes against my lips. “And Sadie.”
“And Sadie.”
“I love you,” he sobs out. “I love you so fucking much.” He wraps his arms around me, pulling me tight to his body, burying his face into the crook of my neck before breaking down.
“I love you, too, baby. I love you so much. I’m not going anywhere. You're not alone.”
“I don’t deserve any of you,” he says. “I’m not worthy of your love, your trust, any of it.”
“Yes. You. Are,” my words come out choked. “You are worthy of our love and so much more. Don’t believe a word that monster says. He’s a sad, angry, deranged man who only cares abouthimself. He says things to hurt you because it’s what he does. It’s not the truth. He’s the one who’s not worthy. Of the money he has, the people in his life, and the power he holds. And one of these days, hopefully soon, he’s going to lose it all. Because I believe we are stronger than him. You stayed for so long because you felt like if you fought back, you wouldn’t have anyone to fall back on to help you in your battle. But you’re wrong. We’re on your side, Preston. Whatever it takes. Money, influence, and connections, we have it all. We will win this. He will lose. You are not alone,” I repeat again and again as he continues to break down. His body shakes, his fingers gripping my shirt tightly, clinging to me like he’s afraid I’ll leave. I’d never leave him. Not in a million years. This man owns half of my mind, body, and soul. I’m his, just as much as I’m hers.
“I have you,” I murmur as I rub his back, squeezing my eyes shut as my tears spill alongside his. “Everything is going to be okay.” And this time, it doesn’t feel like a lie you say just to comfort someone.
We’re one step closer to our happily ever after. We still have a long way to go, and it’s not going to be easy, but as long as we have each other and a team of people at our side, we’re going to make it to the other side. And I’m going to do my damnedest to make sure we’re whole when we do.
Chapter 19
