Page 77 of The Preachers' Promise
“Come on. Let’s go.” Mal has one of Roman’s arms slung over his shoulder, and he edges with him toward the door.
Ophelia and I follow, but Ophelia breaks off to hug her mom. “I love you, Mom. Thank you, for everything.”
I notice she doesn’t tell her father she loves him or even say goodbye.
We get to the car, and Malachi carefully places Roman in the back seat.
Ophelia slides next to him. “I’m so sorry, Roman,” she whispers.
“Not … your… fault,” he manages to grind out.
“We need to get him checked out urgently.” Mal shakes his head. “Where the fuck can we take him?”
“Ophelia?” Her mom comes running out of the house toward us. She holds out a piece of paper, and Ophelia steps back out of the car. “Before you go back to Verona Falls, take your friend here. I’ve written the address down for you. It’s a small local hospital, but they have excellent facilities. They often work for your father, and in the past the family has donated to them. They owe us, and I have just called. They’re expecting you.”
Ophelia takes the piece of paper. “I love you so much, Mom.”
“I love you, too, darling. I’m so sorry I ever let them take you to that place.”
They hug for a long time then Ophelia steps away.
“Please keep in touch,” her mom says. “I couldn’t bear to lose you again.”
“I will, I promise.”
Ophelia climbs in the back beside Roman. I take the passenger seat, and Mal slides behind the wheel this time. Ophelia reads out the address of the hospital, and I put it in my phone to get directions.
As we drive away, I glance behind me to see her mom still standing there, watching us leave, right until we disappear around a corner.
“We’ll get you fixed up, Roman,” Ophelia tells him, lightly brushing his hair out of his face, away from the blood.
His only response is a groan.
“Get us there fast.” I keep my voice low so only Mal hears me.
Malachi nods and puts his foot on the accelerator.
36
ROMAN
Everything hurts,but I don’t care.
I’d take the same beating ten times over if it meant we got the same result.
Ophelia is ours now. Her father has relented. We can return to Verona Falls.
A part of me—a big part—felt like I deserved that beating. Maybe if I’d felt differently, I’d have put up more of a fight. It had been inevitable, in so many ways. I’d terrified Ophelia that day at the facility. A more stable man would have just cut her abuser’s throat and walked away, but instead I’d taken things too far. Damaged goods, that’s what I am, and ought to fucking pay penance for terrifying her that way.
I slide in and out of consciousness, unsure how much time passes. All I’m aware of is the purr of the car’s engine and Ophelia’s presence beside me. She talks to me softly, stroking the uninjured part of my face and holding my hand.
She is the best of everything.
To think not so long ago I’d convinced myself we’d have been better off without her around. Now, it feels as if I can’t breathe when she’s not with us.
At some point, the engine stops, and I realize we’ve come to a halt. The rear door opens beside me, and Cain’s arms gently wrap around my middle, lifting me out of the car. The movement sends fresh pain stabbing through my ribs, and I grit my teeth, doing my best not to scream. I think he’s going to take me away from Ophelia, and I panic and shout her name—though it only comes out as a mumble. I can’t be without her right now.
“I’m right here, Roman,” she says, taking my hand again. “I’m not going anywhere.”
