Page 73 of Faith
Montgomery cupped her face and looked at her closely. “Are you okay?”
Nina laughed mirthlessly and shook her head. “No. Not even a little.”
Montgomery pulled her in again, his shoulders tight with the tension of the day. Nina held on to her brother, Zeke standing to the side like a third wheel who couldn’t take a hint. He didn’t fucking care.
Montgomery eased back from her again. “What can we do?”
Nina shook her head. “Nothing. I just… I trusted him, and it hurts to know I was wrong. That nothing was what I thought it was.”
“None of that is on you,” Montgomery declared. “Not one second.”
Nina jerked her head behind her. “That’s what Frannie said.”
“She’s right,” Zeke interjected. “You were lied to for years. How could you have known that? But you’re safe now. You’re with us.”
Nina looked straight at him, but there was something different in her gaze. A question maybe? Something that said she wasn’t so sure about them anymore.
Fuck that.
“Come here,” he said roughly, reaching for Nina.
She went to him, her lower lip wobbling before she clamped it between her teeth and stepped into his embrace.
“You are so damn strong,” Zeke whispered. “So strong, angel.”
Nina relaxed against him with his words, letting him hold her as she finally crumbled. Sobs shook her body and echoed around all of them.
Zeke scooped her up and carried her to a booth. He shoved the table to one side and sat on the bench.
Nina hung on him, her strength barely enough to keep her in place.
Zeke held her, both arms wrapped tightly around her. He whispered to her as she cried, reminding her how strong she was and hating that she had to relive the worst parts of her hell.
When Nina told him about the men she felt connected to, Zeke was jealous. He wanted that with her. He wanted her to trust him, to count on him. Hearing that it was all a lie, that she was manipulated into those relationships, had his heart cracking.
Nina deserved the world. She deserved love and care and passion. She deserved to be with someone who would always put her first.
Zeke wanted to be that person for her, but he wouldn’t force her into it. He would make sure she knew he was there and always would be.
Montgomery kicked Zeke’s boot. Zeke looked up, his heart skipping when he saw the look on Mont’s face. “What do you need?”
Mont’s quiet question was directed at Zeke, not Nina. Zeke shook his head, trying not to be upset that Mont was asking.
“I can take her,” Mont whispered.
Zeke shook his head again. There was no fucking way he was letting her go. She was his. Until she decided she didn’t want to be, she belonged to Zeke. He would forever belong to her.
Mont nodded. He turned to the rest of the coffeeshop, blocking them from all the others who were there. Arms crossed, feet planted wide, Mont was protecting Nina.
“I’m sorry,” Nina whispered to Zeke. “I shouldn’t be crying to you.”
“Why the fuck not?” Zeke asked.
“You didn’t sign up for this.”
“I’m here for all of it, angel. Every bad moment, every good moment, every threat, every celebration. I want all of it. I’m not going anywhere.”
Nina looked at him, her watery gaze searching his for the truth. He let her look, not caring what she saw in his eyes. He wasn’t leaving her. “Thank you.”
