Page 56 of Unexpected Love

“Rebel.” I hear it in Gage’s voice, how he wants me to stop, but his eyes tell me to keep going. He’s giving me that strength, just like he said he would.

“They mentioned the engagement, and I didn’t wait around. I told them I was moving to Ashford Falls and left them standing there. I went to my room to grab my things and booked it for my car, but I wasn’t fast enough.”

“Brian was waiting for you,” Gage offers.

“Yeah. I tried to go back inside, but he saw me. He came toward me so quickly—berating me for my behavior—and I knew he would corner me no matter where I was. He tried to force himself on me again, and—” I gulp, trying to control my emotions, but the tears slip free.

I don’t think I realized how afraid I was when Brian had his hand in my dress until right now. “I don’t think I would have been able to fight him off. Not if it hadn’t been for a caterer coming out the back door and distracting him long enough for me to stomp on his foot and get away.”

Gage doesn’t wipe the tears this time. He shifts on the couch, pulling me across his lap and holding me to him in a tight embrace. He doesn’t offer any empty promises or platitudes about everything being okay. He just holds me until the tears dry up.

twenty-three

GAGE

I don’t thinkI’ve ever wanted to cause harm to another human being more than I want to in this moment. Brian-Fucking-Wellsley is a dead man if I ever meet him. And honestly? Ava’s parents might be, too.

I know Ava comes from a different world than me—her parents are wealthy and have status—but that doesn’t mean you can treat your children like objects that can be traded for something else.

I’ve only known Ava for a little over a month, and even I know there’s no way she could be lying about what happened to her. Her parents must know she’s telling the truth—they just don’t care. There’s no way a person who’s known her for her entire life thinks she’s lying. Not if they’re paying attention to her.

I don’t know what to say. I want to ask why she hasn't told her brother or why she didn't call the police after the first attack, but right now I know that won't help anything. I want to promise her she’ll never have to see Brian or her parents again, but that’snot realistic. I hold her instead—providing whatever comfort I can.

“I’m sorry,” she murmurs, her head still buried in my chest.

My arms tighten around her. “Don’t apologize, Rebel. You have nothing to be sorry for.”

Her tears dry, but her body starts to shake, and shivers rack her body. “I don’t know why I’m shivering.” Her teeth chatter.

“It’s the shock. You haven’t stopped moving or worrying since you left your parents. Your brain is starting to recognize that you’re safe now.”

I stand from the couch, Ava in my arms. My back protests at the movement but I ignore it. Ava is more important than a shot of pain telling me I’m doing too much—and have been for the last eight hours.

I don’t stop moving until I reach my bathroom, where I set Ava on the counter. “Don’t move.” I turn to the tub and start filling it with warm water.

When I started my house hunt after joining the police force, I knew I needed a bathroom with a large tub—something I could soak in on days my back doesn’t let me forget about my life-changing injury. This house didn’t have a tub when I moved in, but the bathroom was the perfect foundation for the peaceful atmosphere I was able to create.

I’ve never been more grateful for what I did with this bathroom than I am now.

Once the water is hot enough, I lower the plug and turn back to the sink, grabbing the Epsom salts and dumping them in.

“What? No bubble bath?” Ava tries to joke, her teeth still chattering.

“Sorry, just the salts,” I murmur in her ear as I step between her legs. “I’m gonna undress you. Is that okay?”

She nods, lifting her arms. Placing my hands at the hem of her sweater, I slowly lift it over her head and set it on thecounter next to her. I move to unclasp her bra, and as the straps slip down her arms, I notice the bruises there. The sight of the handprints on her body makes me see red.

Taking a deep breath, I bend to place a light kiss to the bruise on one arm before copying the motion on the other side.

“I’m okay.” Ava’s voice is soft, but the chattering has stopped.

“I know,” I tell her. “But I hate that you have these marks on your body.”

I help her stand from the counter, bending to one knee to slide the leggings down her legs, her underwear pulled down with them.

There’s nothing sexual about what’s happening between us, and I find I’m more than content with that. I’m not happy about the circumstances, but there’s a peace that comes over me with the knowledge that Ava trusts me to take care of her. After what she went through last night—even if it could have been so much worse—I wouldn’t blame her for pushing me away.

With her leggings and underwear removed, I stand and guide Ava toward the bathtub. “I can add some body wash to create some bubbles if you want.”

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