Page 12 of Point Proven
“What…?” I forced out, attempting to crawl toward Simon, beyond fearful that he would never forgive me for what was unfolding.
“Hear Simon’s wrath? That anger billowing from him? That’s exactlyhow he’ll sound until my cock is shoved down your pretty little throat, until he realizes he can do nothing to stop what’s happening. Because you will always be mine.”
And that’s when I finally heaved, reality looping around my throat like a noose—a haunting reminder that I would neverescape my past no matter how far I tried to run.
CHAPTER SIX
SIMON
The click of the call still rang in my ears, but it wasn’t as persistent as Liam’s cries. Mixed with his heaving, my shuddered breaths added to the symphony of panic blooming in our once quaint home. Tainted in a bitterness I never expected, I blinked, willing myself to move, becauseheneeded me.
Practically crawling to him, my palm greeted his back, and I rubbed it in soothing circles. With the last remnants of his food spilled, bile followed, coating everything in a sick sheen.
At the end of his purging, I gently tugged him against me, cradling his trembling figure. Tremors racked his frame, and I struggled to keep him within my hold.
“I’ve got you.” Rocking slightly, I stifled my cries to focus on him. “God, I’m here… I’m here.”
His breath came hitched, each gap filled with a shattered sob. “I’m so… so… sorry… I’m so sorry… I-I’m so… so sorry… I’m so… so fucking sorry?—”
“Stop.” The word fell harsher than I meant it to, but I drew his gaze to mine by hooking my finger under his chin. “Sunshine, stop. There isnothingyou need to apologize for.”
“I-I… I didn’t tell… and now… now…” he whimpered, burying his face in my chest. “You… hate… You hate me…”
Curling my arms around his shoulders, I held him against me. Placing my palm at the nape of his neck, I slowly threaded my fingers through his hair. “No. I don’t, and Ineverwill. I’m sorry you weren’t able to tell me when you were ready.”
“I-I’m sorry…” he whispered, the brokenness in his timbre fracturing my heart to pieces. “I… told you… I’m one… one of them…”
“I know,” I muttered, continuing my touches to ground him and provide him some form of comfort. “You don’t have to explain anything else?—”
“S-Stefan… purchased me when I was three…” Tears rolled down his cheeks and onto the inked clock on my chest. “I grew up… with him… He… He beat and raped me, my… my entire life… I… I escaped when I was nineteen and joined the ranks… to try… to try and get away from him…”
Though he spoke only words, they pierced my chest like a serrated knife, sinking beyond my blood and into my very essence. A sob ruptured from me as my fingers trembled, each brush through his locks harder than the last. Knowing he’d gone through all of that alone wasn’t an easy pill to swallow, and now… now thisfuckingman was back to take him?
Jaw clenching, I sniffled. “I will not let him take you. Do you understand, Liam? Iwillnot.”
“I-I wanted to tell you…” He looked up at me, his coffee-brown eyes wavering slightly. “But… I didn’t want you to look at me differently… Like I was tainted… or breakable…”
“I understand. I… I always knew there was something, which is why I didn’t press you that hard, because I saw the remnants of your fear. But just like you don’t view me as tainted or breakable, I would never do that to you.”
Swallowing, I swiped my thumb across his cheek, wiping at his tears that continued to fall. Releasing a shaky breath, I memorized the glow of his irises and the sadness within them. I vowed toneversee them like this again.
“Liam, you are anything but broken. You are strong, caring, and devoted to helping others. You’re the breath I need to continue living, and the very essence that drives my heart to beat. You are the purest, most radiant man I know, and it is a privilege to love you. I know… I know your past will forever be a dark spot in your life, but there is nothing,nothingthat would ruin you.”
“I-I am not… pure.” Shaking his head, he sank further into my touch. “H-He… defiled me, Simon.”
“You are to me. No matter what happened, it does not impact how I see you, Liam. Will I murder him and delight in his fucking spilled blood? Absolutely. Butnothinghe did to you makes me love you any less or view you any differently. I promise.”
He fell silent for a handful of seconds before electing to speak once more. “He said… He said he would cut off Oren’s head if I told… told Thorne. But if we are starting this organization… how… how can I not?”
I grinned. “He saidyou. What if a cocky, no-good boyfriend told Thorne instead?”
“I don’t want you in danger, Simon… I can’t… Ican’t…”
“I can handle it. I know you?—”
“No,”he practically snapped. “You… Youcannothandle him, Simon…”
My face hardened at his words. “What do you mean? I’m capable of a lot of shit, Liam, and hell, it’s not like I’m going to storm off by myself. With all of us, we’ll take this sick bastard down along with the rest of the fuckers Thorne mentioned in those folders.”
