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“No, baby, no. Nothing like that could ever be your fault. You are not to blame.”
My knees are screaming from maintaining the same position on this hard-ass floor, but I wouldn’t dare move when she needs me. I’ll never move if that’s what it takes to be her protector.
“I— I don’t even really remember what happened. It’s a blur, something I blocked out, but I just know that it was—” She stops, hanging her head even lower than it already is.
With a gentle push, I nudge my pointer finger under her chin, encouraging her that she has no fucking reason to hang her head.
Not when I’m behind her.
“It was what?”
“It was during my period. I had a tampon in, but he didn’t care… He— He just kept going.”
A hearty sob finally escapes her, and if I didn’t have to be strong for her right now, I’d let one go too.
Whoever this motherfucker is, I’m going to kill him.
“Baby,” I whisper, choking out the word. “I am so fucking sorry.”
“It took me two hours to dig it out. I-I was so scared.”
Rising from my knees, I finally ground myself on my feet, her eyes slowly tracking up my body.
Noticeable worry takes over her, but before she can experience another ounce of pain at the hands of a man, I gather her in my arms.
“What are you doing?” she asks, weakly and hushed. She’s still scared, but I’ll make sure she never has to be again.
“Showing you what being protected feels like.”
I’ve heard all I need to hear, and by the strain in Fia’s voice, she’s told me as much as she can.
Finally making it to my room, I pull back the duvet with the hand I can freely remove from underneath her, then adjust the sheet so I can lay her down.
When we’re both under the covers, I pull her limp body against mine, giving her no option but to be close. Thankfully, she doesn’t bite back.
“That wasn’t your fault,” I whisper into her ear, eager to ingrain it into her memory.
“I know,” she says, softer than my whisper.
Wrapping a strong arm around her middle, I pull her flush against my front.
“I’m just going to hold you, okay?”
When her grasp latches onto my forearm and she snuggles into me closer, my anger simmers, but only because I know she’s safe. While my mind races, I listen as her breath settles, tickling the hairs on my skin. When they become deeper and longer, I know she’s almost asleep, until she harps out one last thing.
“Thank you, Jett.”
“For what, baby?”
“For always being safe.”
CHAPTER 44
FIA
The warmth of Jett’s skin wakes me before the fullness of my bladder hits. Gently wiggling out of his arms, I tip-toe to the bathroom.
When I peek at the clock on the bedside table, it reads three in the morning.
