Page 23 of Beyond Repair: Part One

The edge of panic I was riding on when they pulled in seems a lot closer now that I'm studying the hard frown behind his glasses. Staring at my legs, he looks ready to attack me like?—

I sniffle, and it's then I realize tears are streaming down my face and onto my pillow. Never mind the numb layers, they're all but gone, having disintegrated in the face of Ridge's obvious discomfort.

He doesn't want to be here. Why would he? I'm broken and utterly unwell.

I swallow and it must be loud, because Ridge snaps his eyes to mine. Mustering up any courage I can find, I give him the out I'm sure he needs to flee without guilt. "You can go," I whisper and tuck my hand under my head.

His frown only deepens, so I squeeze my eyelids shut and beg silently for him to go away. If all they'll do is bring me pain, then I don't want them here.

"I would never hurt you, Nina."

A sob rips through my throat, shattering my final flimsy barrier of numbness.

Chapter 18

Ridge

What have I done?

"Shit! What happened?!"When the hell did Kai and Henry get here?"Ridge, what happened?" Kai demands, skidding to his knees in front of Nina.

"I-I don't know," I stutter out, feeling shell-shocked. My first words to her make her break down into sobs. What does that say about me?

"Hey." Henry comes over to me after dropping a few bags on the kitchen table. "Walk me through it?"

Trevor comes barreling over, and I watch as he knocks Kai's hand away from Nina. Muttering back and forth, Kai finally leans back and gives her some space. "Baby, can you look at me, please?" Trev asks her, his voice like gravel.

"Sh-she told me I could go, then she was whispering about us hurting her. I told her I would never hurt her, and this happened." I wave my arm at Nina who's now quietly sniffling into her hands. Henry nods thoughtfully with a sad look on his face.

When Nina chokes a little, Trevor's spine straightens. In a tone I've never heard before, he demands her attention. "Nina, look at me. Now."

My throat clogs when she opens her eyes and peeks at my cousin between her fingers. She looks so small. So fragile. Nothing like the young girl who used to whip my ass in any sport.

"Good girl."

My eyebrows rise to my hairline when Nina visibly relaxes at his praise.Interesting.

Trevor keeps talking. "There you go. Just breathe, Neen. I don't want you getting worked up again after choking like that."

I'm envious of the way she hangs on to his every word. Hell, I say one sentence and it upsets her. Trevor seems like a fucking God at this moment.Maybe I need to pull out some Dom shit to get her to feel comfortable with me again.

With me across from her in a recliner, Henry standing by me, Kai sitting on the ground by her feet, and Trevor crouched beside her, I'm shocked we aren't scaring her.Already did that, dipshit. She moves her hands and wipes her tears away as she pushes into a sitting position.

"Good. Good job," Trevor murmurs, reaching to brush a stray hair off her face.Thatis something I wouldn't have done. I'm proven right not a beat later when she squeaks and presses into the cushions behind her. "Shit. I'm sorry, Nina."

Her eyes which were relaxed until Trevor tried to touch her now ping-pong between the four of us. Realizing she's surrounded, her breathing picks up.

Keeping my volume low, I suggest, "Maybe we should go."

Nina sniffs, and Trevor shoots a glare over his shoulder at me. "We aren't leaving."

Henry shifts beside me, seemingly uncomfortable, but my irritation flares. "Are you blind? We're making her uncomfortable. This isn't helping."

"Are we making you uncomfortable?" Kai asks Nina, looking like he's being tortured. She glances at him but doesn't say anything. I sigh and her lip wobbles.

She pulls her knees up to her chest. A tear slips down her cheek and her gaze moves to her lap. "Y-you can go."

That's exactly what she said to me five fucking minutes ago. Why the hell does she keep saying that?I wish she would just tell me what she wants.

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