“Honey! I’m home!” I heard Steve call as bile rose in my throat.
“Look at me,” Zane commanded, walking over to me. “He won’t touch you again.”
“But my Dad-” I sobbed, his arms circling me.
“Layla! This is fucking abuse!” Zane hissed, his eyes flashing dangerously. “It’s never,everhappening again.”
“Layla?” I heard Steve drawl from downstairs as I heard my mom squeal with delight.
“Ah, Gretchen! Cal?! Alice?! What are you doing here?!”
“This is a nightmare,” I wailed as Zane wrapped his arms around me.
“You need to stay here. I’m going down there, but you need to lock that door behind me. I don’t care what you do, but you don’t come out until I tell you it’s safe. Do you understand?” he demanded, sending a wary look towards the stairs.
“Zane, you’re not a fighter,” I protested as he winked at me.
“No, you’re right. But I’m a Fallon, and that must mean something, right?”
He went to walk away as I grabbed him suddenly, pulling him close to me.
“Don’t,” I begged him, his eyes meeting mine as I began to cry. “Don’t leave me, please.”
“Fuck, Layla...” he muttered, closing the door as he pulled me into his arms. “Don’t cry. I’ll stay; it’s okay.”
“Why are your parents here?” I asked with confusion, his scent comforting me as I inhaled it in like it was oxygen.
“Truthfully, I think my dad is majorly pissed with that prick. Hopefully, he will kick his ass.”
“That’s not fair; I can’t hide up here like this while your family fights my battles.”
“In battles and wars, you need an army. Consider my family your army.” Zane sighed against my mouth as our lips met.
“I’m so sorry I did that, he told me—”
“Listen to me,” he demanded, tilting my head up to his as he gazed at me. “Did youwantto do it?”
“No. But he made mesayI wanted to-”
“He raped you. It’s rape.”
I nodded, remembering that I said that to Steve. I trembled, as Zane swore, sitting me on the bed as he crouched between my legs.
“I need you to know it’s okay. None of this is your fault. I’m just so sorry I let you come home alone. This would never have happened—”
“It’s not your fault.”
I ran my hands through his hair as I leaned against him, my heart hammering in my chest like a bird desperately trying to get out.
Suddenly there was a crash from downstairs, and I heard yelling as I stared at Zane in horror.
“Stay here. I won’t go down. I want to see what that was.”
Zane strode over to my door, opening it slowly.
“What are yousaying? What the fuck are yousaying?!” My mom screamed as Steve shouted back.
“I’m saying he was a drug-addicted piece of shit. He owed my old manthousands.”
