Page 117 of An Inevitable Marriage
He didn’t get to finish his sentence. Someone grabbed him by the hair and yanked him off me. I scrambled to my feet, startled when a pair of arms went around my shoulders.
“I’m so sorry,” Tamara cried. “I wasn’t at my desk when he came in. If I’d known, I never would have—”
The distinct sound of a fist connecting with skin drowned out Tamara’s words. My gaze flicked up, and I almost wished I hadn’t looked. Liam rained down punches on his cousin over and over again.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a man rush into the room. He headed straight for Liam. Hooking his arms around Liam’s elbows, he pulled him off Shane. Face bruised and covered in blood; Shane slumped to the floor in a miserable heap.
I couldn’t bring myself to care.
Another man hurried inside. I vaguely heard him say, “The cops are on the way,” before he stopped in front of Shane. Not that Liam’s cousin was going anywhere. He was still lying on the floor.
The guy holding on to Liam said something then jerked his head in my direction.
Liam’s gaze snapped to mine, and in an instant, his rage was replaced with shame. He shrugged out of the other guy’s hold and hurried toward me. He made it halfway across the room before skidding to an abrupt stop.
Worry marred his features, and he seemed so unsure of what to do. I knew exactly why.
Pulling out of Tamara’s embrace, I went to him. The moment I could, I slipped my arms around his waist and rested my head against his chest.
“You’re not your father,” I whispered just loud enough for him to hear.
His shoulders slumped, and he released a staggering breath.
“Snow, I—”
“You’re not your father,” I said again. I drew back, and my heart squeezed tight when I looked at him.
His gaze zeroed in on my cheeks, and from the throbbing pain I felt, I knew there were bruises.
Liam shook his head and immediately shut his eyes.
I knew enough about the man I’d married to realize he blamed himself for this. It wasn’t his fault. It wasn’t his wasn't his burden to carry.
Not that he'd ever believe that.
Chapter thirty-one
Liam
Istareddownatthe woman asleep in my arms. Apart from the angry bruises scattered over her cheeks, she looked so beautiful, so peaceful. Unfortunately, it was the exact opposite for me. Guilt, rage, and shame rattled my bones and wreaked havoc on my insides.
I should’ve been there.
Should have protected her.
It didn’t matter how many times she’d told me she was okay, that it wasn’t my fault. Or that Shane was facing assault charges. None of it lessened the blame on my shoulders.
Swiping her hair off her face, I bent down and pressed my lips to her forehead.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered against her skin. “This never should have happened.”
Her lips parted with a content sigh. Behind my rib cage, my heart squeezed painfully. I rubbed at my chest, my fingers scraping over my skin again and again. How was it even possible to hurt this much?
Sleep wouldn’t come. I knew as much. Slowly slipping my arm out from under Snow, I left the bed. I tugged the covers up her shoulders and couldn’t resist dropping one more kiss on her head before I quietly made my way to the study.
My brain was a foggy, jittery mess. Too many thoughts, too many memories. I didn’t know what the hell to do with it all.
My father’s violence and the way he’d enforced his will on my mother.
