Page 247 of Releasing 10
“Yeah, Liz.” I pressed a kiss to her hair. “No matter what.”
She was quiet for a long pause before whispering, “I remember now.”
“You remember what, Liz?” I asked, feeling my body grow tense.
“Him.”
My heart rate quickened. “Mark?”
I felt her nod. “Hurting her.”
Holy shit.
Holy fucking shit.
“That night?” I asked, forcing myself to remain calm.
Another nod. “Lots of nights.”
Jesus Christ.
“Holding her down,” she whispered, and then, after another long pause, she croaked out, “putting things inside her.” A huge shiver racked through her. “She tried to tell him no…but he never listened.”
“He hurt her more than once?”
She stiffened before squeezing out, “Every night.”
“Since when?”
Another shiver rolled through her, but this one was far more violent, making her entire frame jerk uncontrollably. “The start.”
“The start of their relationship?”
Her breath hitched and she nodded. “All the time,” she choked out a sob. “He said she would die if anyone found out, but she died anyway, Hugh, even when she didn’t tell! She did what he wanted, and she still died.”
It took every ounce of self-control I had inside of me tonotreact, but I somehow managed. “Did Caoimhe tell you this, Liz?”
Trembling uncontrollably, she nodded.
“When, baby?”
“That night.” Her body grew rigid, and she clenched her eyes shut. “I’m not lying. I swear it. I’m telling the truth.”
“I know.” I tightened my arm around her, feeling faint. “I believe you.”
“Nobody believes me.” Tears trickled onto my chest. “I don’t even think my parents believe me anymore.”
“I believe you,” I declared hoarsely, mind completely fucking reeling. “I believe every word, Liz.”
“Don’t leave.” Sniffling, she clutched me tighter. “Please stay with me.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I vowed, tightening my hold on her. “And I’m going to do something about this, Liz. I promise.”
“There’s no point,” she whispered sadly. “They won’t listen.”
SOUND THE ALARM
Lizzie
