Before I know it, Ander has his arms around me, cradling my body to his.
I glance up at him, searching for the comfort I need while completely falling apart as realization quickly sets in. His eyes don't meet mine. No, his eyes are hot on Liam as if he's ready to pounce.
He leans into me, "I've got you, V. I got you."
The sobs that break from me are inconsolable. I am not just breaking; I am entirely shattering with each second that my heart continues to beat, and I know that theirs aren't.
I've always known what Liam was capable of. He unleashed that side of himself on to me for years.
They didn't know,and I didn't protect them. I failed to keep them safe.
This is as much on me as it is on Liam.
Chapter eight
Ander
"Do you want to go see them?"
I ask softly, wanting the option to be hers and hers alone as I continue to pull her into me, not wanting to let her go. I don't care that we're on a hospital waiting room floor.
She's falling to pieces, and I have no idea how to fix this. I know I can't fix this one for her, and it's breaking me apart along with her.
Have you ever loved someone so much that you would tear yourself apart to hand them the broken pieces of yourself to help repair what's broken in them in an attempt to make them whole again? That's how I feel right now.Helpless that I can't help her. I'm hurt that she's hurting, and there isn't a damn thing I can do about it. I can't make it stop, no matter how hard I try.
Her sobs have died down. I know this is the part that will hurt her and me both the most. I've known her for most of my life, so unfortunately, I already know what will come next.
This will be the part where she shoves all her emotions down, puts on a brave face, pushes forward, and pretends to be stronger than she needs to be while trying to find ways to "fix" the situation. I've seen her do it far too many times with the shit she's dealt with concerning Liam. I can't let her do it right now.
It's a recipe for disaster.
"You're allowed to feel. Let yourself feel, even though it hurts. Please don't shut down, baby." I say, sounding as frantic as I feel as I run my hands through her hair. Just like I predicted, not a second later, her head lifts, and she's standing to her feet, wiping the tears away. Her breaths are deep as she tries to bury her emotions away with all the others she's had to hide over the years. She pulls out of my grasp, and she's focused on Liam as he walks away down the hall toward the exit, as if he has no cares in the world.
"Rosie," I whisper as my voice catches. I'm trying to hold myself together for her right now. She needs me strong. She needs a safe place to land. Someone she knows she can lean on. Someone she can come to and not have to be strong.
I try to pull her back to me. I want to embrace her. I want to hold her, but she isn't having it. A part of my heart breaks, even though I try like hell not to let it. I know she's hurting, and she doesn't know how to cope right now. Liam is almost to the exit as he turns around and flashes her a grin.A fucking grin. That motherfucker.
"Fuck you, Liam! You slimy piece of shit!" I scream after him as I storm towards him, more than ready to tear him apart with my bare hands.
I can hear Jett's exasperated huffs behind me, and I know he's with me on this. I don't need his help, but knowing my brother has my back if I need him and I'm not overreacting is reassuring.
Liam is still standing at the end of the hall, looking the least bit threatened. Like he knows something we don't. I can't wait to beat that fucking smirk right off his stupid ass face.
I make it a little over halfway towards him when I finally hearhervoice. It's closer than I expected it to be. The next thing I knew, she was in front of me, panting and out of breath. She places her hands on my chest to stop me.
So I do.
I let out a grunt. I want to tell her she needs to let me handle this for her, for once. I want to prove to her that I am in her corner.
She is mine, and I will not continue to stand by and let this fucker destroy her. No one messes with her and gets away with it. Especially not Liam.
Before I can say anything, her eyes close as she lets out an exhausted sigh.
"Leave," her voice is low, barely audible, but the one word she mutters singes through my veins, coursing its way right to my heart and breaking another piece of it.
I don't respond.
I place my hand over hers, which is still on my chest. Or, I attempt to. She pulls her hand back.
