Loving His Forever Read Free Page B

the room, running a hand through my hair before turning back to her. “Why didn’t you tell the police this?”
    “I was scared and humiliated. I didn’t want anyone to know what happened to me. I just ran. I thought if I ran, I could outrun what happened to me.” Her voice is barely a whisper. It’s easy to see how hurt she is over this.
    “Sydney could be in danger because of this,” I tell Kane.
    “I know...” Braelyn trails off and turns to Sydney. “I’m so sorry, Sydney. I’m leaving now. Putting you in danger wasn’t my intent. I just didn’t know what else to do.” A sob escapes her as she starts toward the door.
    Sydney looks at me, ready to kill, and I realize she thinks I want her gone.
    “You will stay with me,” I tell Braelyn. She looks at me, shocked. Then she looks at Sydney, wondering what to do, but it’s already decided. She is staying with me.
    “You will be safer with him, Brae,” Sydney tells her softly.
    “Damn straight,” I agree with her as I cross my arms over my chest, smiling.
    Braelyn looks ready to bolt, so I take a step toward her. “I will protect you with my life, Angel.”
    She nods and then smiles at me. And just like that, I’m a fucking goner.
     

Chapter Three
    Braelyn
     
     
    Ethan’s presence is towering and powerful. His eyes look all around me as his hand rests at the small of my back as he leads me to the passenger side of his truck. My chest feels like an elephant is sitting on it as my anxiety is taking full effect; the fear I am feeling isn’t helping anything, while the unknown looms in front of me like a blinking sign.
    Ethan’s arm runs along mine as he reaches for the door handle. Gulping, I step to the door and reach inside to grab the handle to lift myself inside. I pull with all my might, but I barely manage to get my foot a few inches off the ground. My body is weak from months without proper nutrition.
    My hand slips from the handle, and my body plunges to the ground. Closing my eyes, I brace myself for impact, but it doesn’t come. Hands grip my waist. I stiffen as the heat of his body collides against the back of mine. Fear flows through me as my mind wanders back to the time where hell was present day. Hell that still walks this earth.
    My body trembles as I zone in and out. I don’t notice Ethan lifting and placing me gently into the truck, him running his finger over my cheekbone, or his eyes filled with fury at the pain I’m going through. My mind is in a place I haven’t been in years, bringing the memories of what happened back to the surface. The surface that was made up of fragile piece of glass, that is now cracked right down the middle.
    What is the purpose of life? My life has been hell for as long as I remember. My dad hit me for as long as I could remember, reminding me daily of how I destroyed his life. If my mother had gotten an abortion and gotten rid of me, at least I wouldn’t have to suffer like this.
    College gave me a little hope that life could be okay when I found Sydney. Those years were the best years of my life. Until that night… That night was the night that changed everything.
    Being broken inside, being empty, is a horrible feeling. Pity is something you can’t help but feel. I was raped. I hate that word. That word destroyed me. Took my innocence, my life, everything I worked hard for.
    Clamping my eyes closed, I try to bring myself out of my thoughts. I take a deep breath then let it out slowly. My hands run up and down my legs roughly as I try to stop the looming panic attack.
    As my breathing goes back to normal, I sense Ethan’s presence beside me. Looking out of the corner of my eye, I see he’s got both hands gripping the steering wheel so hard his knuckles are white. His jaw is clenched, showing his fury. I tuck my hands under my legs as I try to curl into myself. To blend in. Be forgotten. I wonder, why haven’t I taken my life? Because I want to live, to overcome this, be happy, have a family