Page 71 of Point Proven
“Oren… I?—”
But he was focused on the place the ring had dropped, unmoving, as if frozen in time. He didn’t cry, didn’t scream, didn’t do anything forminutesuntil his whispered timbre cut through the van.
“I-I’ll fix this. My fault… I’ll fix it.”
Placing a hand on Oren’s shoulder, I squeezed once. “We’ll talk with everyone later. They deserve the full truth, but it doesn’t diminish what you fucking did, Oren.”
He simply nodded, eyes still on the fallen ring. The rest of the ride was quiet, neither party speaking a word, and for the first time, I wasn’t sure the couple I so admired would make it through this battle.
Brushingmy thumb over his knuckles, I stared at Liam as he slept peacefully. Tears blurred my vision. He didn’t look like himself. He looked like a ghost, pale… like the light was sucked out of him.
Matt had sat me down, telling me in as few details as possible what he’d endured. I made it through three of his descriptions before faltering, my wails covering the rest of his words.
My… My sunshine had been collared, forced to participate in acts I knew would haunt him for the rest of his life, and endured physical torment I wasn’t sureIcould handle. He was so strong, but I knew he couldn’t be anymore. That man… Thatmonster had sucked it from him like a leech, ridding him of any happiness I’d instilled within him.
Stefan stole his soul, his heart, his… his very essence, and the man sitting here was a shell of the person I loved. It would take more than time to heal him, but he was worth it. Always fucking worth it because he was my sunshine, my breath, my reason for continuing.
And I would be that for him now—the strongest pillar, the goofiest boyfriend, and his safe space. We were tied together for life, and I would never abandon him. Not now, not fucking ever.
Bringing his hand to my lips, I kissed it softly, brushing over it with the dedication and care I would always impart on him. I wasn’t sure how he would respond when he woke up, but all I knew was that I would go at the pace he needed.
Slow.
Just like we’d done before—together.
With my touch, he groaned softly. Lids fluttering, he turned his head to face me, a haze-filled exhaustion coating his dark browns. “Simon…?”
Instantly, my fingers laced with his, the sound of his voice spurring my emotions as a broken sob tumbled from me. “Yeah, I’m right here. I’m fucking right here.”
“Sai…” His bottom lip trembled, a shattered cry escaping him. “I-I… I tried… I-I tried to be… to be strong… and I… and he…”
Standing up from the chair, my arms wrapped around him, pulling him into my chest. “You were. You were stronger than anyone else. It’s okay to not be anymore. You’re safe… God, you’re safe.”
“I’m so… I’m so sorry…”
“Shh, I’m sorry for not finding you faster.” Biting my lip, I rubbed coaxing circles into his back. “You’re not okay, and that’s alright. I’ve got you now?—”
“I… I kissed him… I was… I-I was unfaithful to you… and I… I?—”
Stopping, I pulled away slightly to look at those beautiful coffee-brown irises. “Listen to me. Whatever you did, you did it to survive. You were not unfaithful to me, and I willguthim for what he did to you.”
His grip on my hand tightened. “Please don’t… don’t… leave me…”
“Hey… Hey, I’m not going anywhere. I’m right here.”
“Not… You’re not… close enough… I-I can still feel… still feel him…” he whimpered, tears slipping past his waterline. “I can still feel him… I can still feel him… I can?—”
Brushing my thumb across his sorrow, I positioned myself next to him on the cot. It was a tight squeeze, but I needed to make it evident to him that I wasn’t leaving. While I couldn’t remove the memory of his touch, I could replace the horrors of Stefan with my love. With a gentle tug, Liam’s head rested on my chest, and I curled my arm around his shoulder.
He nuzzled his face into my neck, fingers curling around my shirt with an adamant refusal to let go. “Don’t leave… Please don’t leave me…”
“Never.” Swallowing the dryness in my mouth, I brushed my fingertips across his cheek. “Never.”
He continued mumbling his plea, his words softening as exhaustion swept over him once more. Relaxing against me, a sigh of relief slipped between my lips as his entire body weight rested against me. His gentle breaths and light snores replaced the sobs and agony he’d expressed.
Two things I knew would return as soon as he woke up again, but I’d be there, a never-ending constant.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
