Page 80 of Serpent & Saviors

“Angel?” I closed the distance between us in two strides.

She blinked in confusion. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and the left was more bloodshot than the right.

“Andrew,” she breathed my name as if in a daze. Her voice sounded strange. “I was going to take a bath,” she murmured. Her gaze shifted down to the bathtub.

I shut the faucet off, and the sudden lack of noise broke through her haze. She blinked several times rapidly, clutching the towel with one hand. She appeared surprised by my presence, almost.

“Let me help you,” I offered.

Something akin to fear flashed in her eyes. I reached out. Her body flinched, and mine tensed in response. I lifted her gaze.

“What did he do to my girl?”

Her teeth caught her bottom lip, holding back whatever trembled beneath the surface. Shame flickered across her face before she dropped her gaze. Tangled blonde tresses fell forward like a curtain, hiding her features. The sound she made broke me. It was tiny—barely more than a breath that turned into a sob.

My hands twitched uselessly at my sides. I wanted to pull her close, to tell her it was all over, that he’d never touch her again. But all I could do was see the damage of what he’d done. Of what I hadn’t stopped in time.

“I need a bath or shower or something. I feel dirty and disgusting.”

Did he rape her? Guilt hit first, hot and choking, followed by a fury so sharp it blurred my vision. Beneath it all, tenderness ached in my chest, fierce and unrelenting. I fought my inner demons, trying to quiet them to some extent.

She was here. Hurt, but breathing. Whatever he’d done outside the beating, we could get through it. Whatever she needed, I’d see that she received it.

“Would you close your eyes while I get in? The lights are bright in here.” Her voice sounded tight.

For a heartbeat, the air between us was unbearable. Every instinct warred inside me. The trained parts knew she needed space, to not crowd her pain, but damn if the man in me didn’t want to pull her into my arms and never let go.

My voice was low. “I can close my eyes. Would you prefer for me to wait in the bedroom for you? I can give you all the space you need.” The words fell from my lips and felt so wrong, but it wasn’t my choice to make.

“No Sir,” she cried, reaching out for me. “Please, I do-don’t want to be alone.”

Something inside me broke loose. With an ache in my chest and a sharp exhale, I moved. Relief—pure, dizzying relief—washed through me, leaving my knees weak. On instinct, I gathered her in my arms, and she dissolved into tears, shrinking in on herself.

Fuck, this wasn’t good. I held her for a few minutes.

“You came for me,” she breathed.

“Awe, angel. Of course I did.”

“Please don’t be mad.” Her voice cracked, and she sounded so small. Her hazel eyes searched mine. “I never wanted to go with him. I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to save Jenny, but I couldn’t. I didn’t kill her. I promise I didn’t mean any of the words I said.”

She was all over the place, which made sense for what she had gone through. “Shh, I know. You did what you had to do. I’m not mad. That’s not my style, at least not with my pretty girl.”

She slumped deeper into my arms, and I held her for another minute. The water was going to get cold if she didn’t take advantage of it now. I slowly peeled the towel from her body and helped her into the water. She sank down, her shoulders disappearing below the foam of bubbles.

Settling myself next to the tub, I wrapped my arms around my knees. I needed her to know she was safe from any type of touch she might not want. In a comfortable silence, I studied her as she closed her eyes and laid her head back. The bruises were more prominent in this position.

“Your jaw is clenched Andrew, what is it?”

My eyes met hers. I hadn’t realized I’d looked away. In my mind, I was torturing Cameron.

“I don’t like knowing he hurt you and that I didn’t get there in time to stop him from…from—”

“He didn’t. He couldn’t. At least not until he hurt me good enough. You got there in time.” Her small hand snaked out of the water and reached for mine. “Do you want to join me?” A pretty blush crossed her cheeks.

“I shouldn’t. Not tonight. You’ve probably got some pretty confusing thoughts running around in here.” I traced her forehead lovingly. “We’ll have plenty of time to bathe together,” I said, tucking a wayward piece of hair behind her ear.

“Please?” she begged.