Page 120 of Avenging Azalea

Looking away from his face, I stared at my feet.

“My past,” I said softly. “Dimitri somehow found out about everything that was done to me says he has a file on it. He’ll humiliate me with you and everyone else. He threatened to release the information on social media.”

Titus’s expression was calm, but his eyes were murderous when I risked a glance.

“I didn’t tell you because he said if I did, then the info would go out. I would never see my brother again, and I could kiss everything and everyone I loved goodbye. Besides, you were still marrying Vera at that point, and…ugh, I’m sorry. I should’ve told you.”

Placing my hand on his chest, the tears started to well.

“I never wanted you to find out what was done to me. Never. To see one hint of pity would be more crushing to all the progress I’ve made than even being forced to leave here.”

Titus looked up at the ceiling and closed his eyes.

“I’m sorry, please don’t be angry with me. You’re right…your father is terrifying and very convincing.”

“I’m not angry at you, Fawn. I’m trying to calm down, so I don’t drive to his house and shoot him in the head.”

Titus opened his eyes and locked on mine.

“You don’t have to tell me what happened to you until you’re ready. But there is one thing I’ll demand, and it’s non-negotiable.”

“Okay…what?”

“I want the name of anyone who ever touched you. Don’t argue with me. Don’t ask what I’m going to do. Just give me the names.”

Shame rippled through my body, and I looked away, breaking our stare.

“How do you know there was more than one?”

“I just do. Will you give them to me?”

Sadly, I remembered every name and face. I remembered their smell and how they touched me. How I wanted to vomit and sometimes did. How I had bruises all over my body and still went to school and pretended that I was just like every other student when really…I was being trafficked. Whored out by my stepfather.

Titus tipped my chin up, and my lower lip quivered.

“What if you don’t want me once you know?”

“My precious Little Bird, part of me has always known. Your terror-filled screams in the middle of the night spoke for you even when you had no words. I love you no matter what. I’ll stand by you no matter what. Believe me when I tell you that my father will never touch one hair on your head or your brother’s. That is a promise.”

Titus released my chin, and I wrapped my arms around him, letting myself cry tears of joy and pain that had been twisted inside of me and pushed down for too long. The sobs tore through my body as I clung to the man who had stepped into my life by chance and set me free.

“Thank you,” I said.

“Let it out, Little Bird. Shatter. Scream. Cry. Let every piece of yourself break in my arms. I’ll hold you through it all,” Titus said, his voice dropping low as he kissed the top of my head.

“I was so worried that you would see me as this ruined thing. You kept me on this pedestal and treated me as if I were precious. It was selfish, but I’d never felt so special, and I didn’t want to lose that or you,” I admitted.

“You don’t understand. I want your pain. I want your rage. I want every broken and bleeding part of you because it means I have all of you,” he said, his voice guttural as he held me tighter. “I love you in a way that should scare us both. You’re mine, Fawn, and there isn’t a force in this world or the next that’s going to take you from me. Not without going through me first.”

I exhaled slowly, my entire body surrendering to the trembling. It was as if that one breath had carried the weight of everything, and I’d just let it go. Titus didn’t flinch. He didn’t look away. He held me and told me he loved me no matter what.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I rose to my tiptoes and kissed Titus hard. I had no idea what twist of fate had brought this amazing man into my life, but I was never letting go. My fingers slid gently into his hair, and he groaned into my mouth. I was anchored to him, not out of need and desperation like I’d once been. But by choice. Love.

I chose him, and he chose me.

Breaking the kiss, I soaked in all that was Titus, including the kindness of his soul that was wrapped in a wall of steely muscle.

“I didn’t think anyone would ever look at me like you do…and not turn away with disgust,” I whispered. “You didn’t just take my pain, Titus. You made space for it within you.” I shook my head, trying to find the words that I wanted to say. “You make me feel like I’m not broken…like I never was.”