Page 44 of Born to Scar

“He’s been staying with me off and on for years. When I told you he was like family, like a brother, I meant it with my whole heart. He’s family I never intended on having. He was my only real friend for a long time.”

While she was always nice and loving toward everyone who came to the bar and especially those in the club, she has always kept her distance from making true friends.

I kiss her temple again. Our whispered conversation stops her trembling. She’s still white-knuckling my shirt, but she is calming down. Soothing her right now is my only priority, talking her through her panic attack, while the rest of the world continues around us, keeping her focused on being present, in the now with me.

Ray has backed off, giving her some space or maybe giving me a chance to take care of her.

“Are you feeling better?”

“Yeah. I’m listening to your heart. It changed,” she whispers.

“What do you mean?”

“When you first got to me, it was hammering so fast. It sounded like how I felt. As yours slowed, so did mine. It gave me something real to focus on.”

I need her to overcome this. I don’t think she’s ever been to therapy for it. No, she hasn’t. She doesn’t have the money for it. But seeing her like this, I can tell that it’s too easy for her to lose herself. And her father will be the one to push her over the edge. She fights so hard, but she needs help.

I’ve never seen her crumble the way she did when he walked through that door. I’ve never wanted to help someone so much in my life. I’ve never needed to. But I need her. I’ve never needed a single person’s presence more than I need hers.

Now.

Forever.

My dad got me the help I needed as a teen. I know the benefit of therapy firsthand. I still have moments, but I don’t have to hide behind a mask all the time. She must be exhausted from all the weight she carries.

“I love you, sweet girl. You’re my world. You know that, don’t you?”

She gently nods her head on my chest, sinking further into my body.

CHAPTER 19

CAM

I’m about to climb the fucking walls. I have so many people reminding me not to. But…it’s not enough. Seeing her fold because of that man broke me. When she told me who he was, it made it too real, not that seeing her scarred body didn’t. But when I laid eyes on the man who hurt her, I saw red. I was so blinded by rage that I damn near punched Jared to get him off me.

Why was he here? What set him off to look again? Trying to figure out how he managed to find her, I pace the floor of the backroom in the silence that has settled—apart from Jay’s whispered words to Indy.

It hits me so hard, my head spins, and I feel sick. This is my fault. The fucking insurance. The police report. He would have access to that. Fuck. What did I do? She tried to tell us in her own way that she couldn’t do it. That it was dangerous.

“The police report,” I spit. Jared’s eyes snap to mine. “He would have access to the report from the accident. No one would question it when he looked.” I look at Indy. “You’ve flown under the radar all this time?”

She nods. “What am I going to do? I work here. He’ll be back.” She sobs for the first time since Jay calmed her down. “Th-this isn’t o-over,” she stutters between sobs.

Fuck, I’d like to wrap my hand around that prick’s throat. Can I make it look like an accident? There isn’t a world that I live in where she isn’t safe. “If he continues to come here, you can get a restraining order against him for harassment.”

Both Lainy and Indy scoff.

“That’s just a piece of paper,” Lainy mutters.

“And how will that look? Can I even do that to a cop?” Indy whispers.

“Yes, if you have a pre-existing relationship with the officer, you can have one drawn up.”

Indy is silent for a while, then abruptly stands. “Of course.” Everyone looks at her as her tears still drip from her face. “I should have faced him.” Her laugh comes out as a crazy, deranged sound.

“The fuck?” Jay barks. She shakes off his hold on her hand and paces.

“He can’t hurt me. I’m not the same person I was then. He killed the best of me a long time ago. There’s nothing left for him to take.”