Page 79 of Broken By Silence
That’s it—everyone loses it. Even Elijah cracks a laugh, trying tohide it behind his hand. For a second, it’s perfect—this strange little moment where everything’s simple again.
No ghosts, no grief. Just them.
I don’t realize I’m smiling until Archer nudges me.
“She’s happy,”I sign. Unable to stop myself from looking at her again.“Like, really happy for the first time since I met her. She’s healing Archer, and I hate to admit it, but it’s because of them.”
“I know…”he sighs, his body heaving next to me.“I just want her to continue being this happy. All the bullshit on the other side of the door… I hate it. Hate that all she gets is small pieces of happiness.”
“We’ll protect her.”
Then Lottie moves.
She stretches to grab something from the top shelf, and her sweatshirt rides up.
The moment shatters.
There, along her ribs—shadows of purple, fading yellow, deep bruises painted across pale skin.
Archer sees it at the same time I do. His entire body stiffens. I canfeelthe change in him—the air gets heavier, his shoulders square.
I sign quickly,“Wait. Don’t blow up at her… didn’t end well for you last time.”
“She’s covered in bruises, Oscar…”
“I know. I’m deaf, not blind, Archer. But just give her a moment, yeah?”
His jaw flexes, eyes burning.“What the hell happened to her?”
She turns, oblivious, laughing at something Crew says. But one by one, they all notice. Elijah’s face goes still. Crew stops mid-sentence. Roman’s smirk fades.
Will’s the last to see. When he does, the look on his face could quiet a storm. He sets his mug down slowly. “Lottie.”
She blinks, confused. “Yeah?”
“What’s that?” He gestures to her side.
She follows his gaze, realization dawning—and immediately, she pulls the sweatshirt down. “It’s fine,” she says quickly. “I’mfine.”
Archer steps forward. “That’s not fine. What happened?”
“I told you, it’s nothing.”
Claire shifts where she stands, eyes flicking between them. She knows something. I can tell by the set of her mouth.
Will turns toward her. “Claire.”
Claire meets his stare without flinching. “She’s been training.”
Roman blinks. “Training?”
“Self-defense,” Claire clarifies. “With me.”
No one moves. And I swear none of them take a breath as the room seems to stall.
“She’s bruised all over.” Crew’s gaze darts from Lottie to Claire. “That’s not training, that’s?—”
“Necessary,” Claire cuts in.
