Page 105 of Shattered Silence Duet

“You know that’s not true though, right?”

I shake my head, and his frown deepens.

“It’s not. She’s a psychopath, and probably a murderer. Nothing that happened to you was your fault,” he says firmly.

I decide to finally tell them the truth I’ve been hiding and let it all out, all the insecurities that plague me, even if they drive them away.

“I deserved it. I’m evil, I have a demon inside me. I’m worthless, trash. I don’t deserve kindness, affection, or love. I attract sin, and it’s my fault that those around me cause me pain. I shouldn’t even exist.”

The tears stream down my cheeks as the app speaks my words, and I wait for them to leave me now that I’ve told them the truth.

When nobody says anything, I peek up. Atlas looks furious.Half the guys start swearing, and something bangs on the ground, making me jump.

Dom growls in my ear, dropping the phone and holding me tight. “Now you listen to us, and you listen good. Every word you just said is untrue. Your mother told you those things to manipulate you. She wanted you to feel bad so she could feel better.”

Atlas picks up the conversation. “You are sweet and kind and worthy of love.”

Gideon squeezes my arm, pulling my attention to him. “Every time you enter a room, my heart lights up. You have so much goodness in you, you makemefeel unworthy of being withyou.”

Tucker moves closer and leans in to touch my cheek as he adds, “you’re so much more than just worthy. I feel like someone as bright and perfect as you couldn’t possibly even notice someone like me, but you do. You see me.”

“Because you’re incredible, Angel. You’re the smartest, sweetest person I’ve ever met, and I’m honored just to know you,” Jasper says with a small smile.

“You are literally the light in my days, and I find you so genuine and sweet. And it doesn’t hurt that you’re ridiculously sexy, too!” Max adds with a grin from the foot of my bed, making me blush.

“Princess, to survive what you’ve been through, you’d have to have an incredibly strong spirit to keep going. You’re brave and fierce. The fact that you’ve been through all that and you aren’t angry and jaded, you’re just this sweet little thing… It blows my mind. You’re amazing, Mina,” Ben finishes.

“Now, we don’t want to hear you ever say negative words like that about yourself again. Do you hear me?” Dom says, his tone firm.

I nod, unsure if I can actually do that, but wanting to agree with him.

“I don’t even want you thinking about them. If you do, I want you to let us know so we can distract you. Can you do that for me?”

I nod again and hope I can actually do that.

Dom picks up the phone and unlocks the screen for me so I can type.

“Where is she now?”I watch as they exchange nervous glances until finally Gideon answers my question.

“We saw her leave your house right before we arrived, and that’s the last anyone has seen of her. Nobody has been able to find her.”

Am I surprised she attacked me and took off? No, not really. But she made it sound like she was coming back. Maybe she saw the guys at the house and knows I’m not there and assumes she’ll get arrested if she comes back.

“Mina, I know you have more to tell us, but before we go into that, we need to confirm your real identity, to get CPA off our case,” Ben says, changing the subject. He was right. There’s a lot more I need to tell them, I’ve barely scratched the surface. But I definitely don’t want to see anyone from CPA ever again. “Do you have a different name? Or do you know your real birthday? The city you were born in? Anything? I haven’t been able to find anything on you so far.”

How was he searching for information on me? I realize I still don’t know what he does for a living, but I’m starting to think it’s something to do with computers or technology.

Dom picks up the phone and unlocks the screen for me so I can type.

“Mina Stevens, Waco, May 13, 2004.”

Ben gives me a huge smile and squeezes my hand. “Thank you, Princess. I’m going to find out who you are, so we can make sure nobody can legally take you again, understand?” I nod at him in thanks.

Dom starts to rub my arms gently as my eyelids grow heavy.

“I think she’s getting tired,” someone says, and I nod, agreeing with them. Dom helps to turn me sideways against him and I lean my cheek against his chest, closing my eyes and sighing in contentment.I feel so warm and protected in his arms, I wish I could sleep like this every night.

Chapter 7