18. Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

Skyla

A door is thrown open, startling me awake, which I'm extremely unhappy about because, holy fucking shit, I forgot how much pain I was in for a moment. I groan in agony as a comforting voice, that isn't all that comforting, shouts into the car.

"What the fuck happened!" Ronan snarls, as his hands come to my legs.

Before Asher can respond, I turn my head to see Vincent push his way into the doorway. His eyes roam my body, memorizing each lash mark before a fury like I've never seen passes over him. He takes several steps away, his body vibrating with anger, before he digs his hands into his hair and screams.

"FUCKKKKK!"

I watch him pick up rocks that are more like boulders, throwing them anywhere and everywhere, windows smash, fountains, even his car. He doesn't seem to care though; he's on a warpath. As much as I want to comfort him, I can't do much of anything but survive right now.

Liam pops his head in next, a devastated look on his face as he takes in my injuries. I watch him slowly sink to his knees, his head shaking numbly.

"Babygirl," he whispers.

I try to give him a smile; at least it feels like one. Then again, I'm sure it looks more like a grimace.

"Everyone get the fuck back," Wesley says as he shoves Ronan and Liam to the side, crouching down to pick me up.

"I'm gonna try to be as careful as possible, okay?" he says.

I nod, clinging to Asher's hand as Wesley scoops his arms under my stomach and chest, doing his best not to touch my back as he lifts me. Ronan is right there, stabilizing my legs so that my back doesn't bend. I feel my body being pulled away from Asher as he watches me with a heavy look.

Unexplained panic rises in me at being separated from Asher, and I buck against their hold.

"No! Stop! Asher!"

He sees my panic and quickly climbs out of the car, impressively so, considering his injuries have to be worse than mine.

"I'm here, Princess. I'm here," he says as he reaches down and holds my hand again, intertwining our fingers before giving it a gentle squeeze. It's like that single squeeze calmed every nerve and smothered the flames of my anxiety.

Blowing out a soft breath, I nod, as the guys around us share confused looks before continuing to carry me inside. I feel a set of eyes on me and look to see Vincent watching us closely, his eyes flicking between me and my hand, that links me with Asher.

As disappointing as it is, Vincent doesn't come to me. Instead, he stays outside, fuming.

"The doctor is upstairs, babygirl. She will get you all patched up," Liam says as he walks beside us, gently moving a piece of my hair out of my face.

"Asher first, his are worse."

"No," they all say at once, before Asher speaks.

"I'm fine, Princess. Really, you are priority. Please," he says, enough emotion choking his voice to have me looking up at him.

So much pain and devastation is playing in those brown eyes. There are too many words unspoken between the two of us in this moment, and I don't have the energy to find them.

The stairs suck. I watch as Asher takes his time with each step, not falling too far behind that he isn't near me, but his jaw is clenched so tight I'm worried it's about to break. When we make it to the top, I breathe out a sigh of relief before we file into my bedroom.

I feel the guys slowly lower me to the plush mattress before they step back. Well, they all try to. I refuse to let go of Asher's hand, digging my nails into his in an attempt to keep my hold on him.

"Just let her take care of you," Asher says, as he gestures to the doctor in the corner sifting through her bags.

I shake my head, not allowing him to pull away.

"S-stay, please," I beg, a single tear falling down the side of my face.

"Ash, why don't you lay down beside her. You need some help too," Liam says.

Asher turns to look at him, hesitating for a moment before he nods. He pulls out of my grasp, and just like that, anxiety flares inside my chest. My head whips around so I can track his movements as he walks to the other side of the bed. This feeling is overwhelming, suffocating and it doesn't stop until I feel Asher's body sink beside mine before grabbing my hand.

I turn my head to face him, relief washing through me as his thumb rubs soft circles against the back of my hand. We are both laying on our stomachs, our torn flesh on full display, and when the doctor begins cleaning my back, I can't help but scream.

The sound of several footsteps slip out the door as I groan, doing my best to bite back the pain. Asher scoots closer to me, tilting his head as he beckons me closer.

"Scream, Princess. It's okay. Let the pain out."

I lean into him, burying my head against his neck as I scream while the doctor works quickly. She apologizes profusely, and Asher keeps telling her it's fine, to make it fast. I'm somewhere between reality and a hazy middle area. I'm not sure which I prefer in this moment, so I do my best to float in between both.

I don't know how long we lie there for. It feels like hours, but maybe it's just minutes. Eventually, the searing pain stops, and bandages start being applied to my back. It's still uncomfortable, but after Asher begged the doctor to give me a shot of morphine, things feel a little fuzzy now.

Asher was next; he hardly made a sound as she cleaned his back. He just closed his eyes and gritted his teeth together. Until I reached my hand up to his face, gently running my fingers through his hair. His eyes flew open at that, and they stayed on me the entire time, like I was his life raft out of this hell we were trapped in. Like I was his only saving grace.

Eventually, the doctor leaves, and I watch as Asher pushes up to rest on his side. He squints and grimaces a few times before lifting his left arm silently, an open invitation that I take without hesitation.

Sliding on my stomach, I curl into his hold. I don't feel a thing as he wraps his arm around me, taking care not to touch my back. With the morphine officially setting in though, I'm not sure I could feel it even if he did.

We sit there for several seconds, just basking in each other's comfort before he speaks.

"Why did you do it? Why did you get involved?"

I don't look up at him Instead, I keep my eyes on his chest.

"I don't know," I mumble.

"Princess," he chastises.

"I don't know," I defend.

He's silent for several seconds before I feel his forefinger hook beneath my chin, tilting my face up to his. Those brown eyes are drenched in sadness, his three golden flecks practically drowning behind the shimmering sheen.

"Tell me."

I look between his expressive eyes and his full lips. Lips that are only inches from my own. I don't know why I did it. Logically, it was the stupidest thing I could have done, and I have a feeling the physical result of my stupidity is only the beginning. If I could go back in time though, I'd do it again.

"It hurt," I say, my eyes flicking across his face. "It hurt to see you like that, to see you defenseless, in pain, alone."

More emotion than I ever thought Asher Putnam was capable of passes across his face.

"Not as much as it hurt me knowing you were bearing the brunt of a punishment meant for me. Not as much as me knowing that you were in pain, bleeding…. because of me," he says, with a rough swallow.

"You didn't hit me, Asher. You are not the enemy here."

"Then what am I, princess? What am I, to you?"

I open my mouth to respond, all words seeming to fade away and rendering me speechless. He doesn't let it go, though, his face inches towards mine.

"What am I?" he asks again.

Still, I don't answer. He leans in a little more, so close our lips accidentally bump against one another for a second before he speaks again. He draws out his words slowly, so his lips drag against mine.

"What. Am. I?"

"Mine," I whisper shakily, fearing what this is, what it means, and the impending rejection I'll feel, again.

"That's right, princess," he says, his words like a whispered prayer. "I'm all fucking yours."

My heart flips in my chest, but I don't have time to process it before his lips are on mine. Butterflies race through me, and the feeling of coming home washes over me. His lips move gently against mine, his tongue softly teasing my own as he deepens the kiss. He pulls away from the kiss, peppering my face with gentle, loving kisses as he begins speaking.

"I'm so sorry this happened," he whispers. "I promise I'll never let it happen again. I can't live through seeing you like that ever again."

He pulls away for a moment, looking into my eyes.

"You're everything to me, Skyla. Fucking everything."

His promises and declarations of adoration pluck at the buried hurt inside caused by none other than the man himself. I shouldn't be so stupid as to forgive him, just like that, and I'm not. All I know is that I need him, and right now, he needs me too.

A few hours go by before a knock comes from the door. Slowly, Ronan, Liam, and Vincent file into the room. Each pausing when they see Asher and I wrapped up together. I turn my head, so I'm fully facing them, but am still on my stomach as I look at them.

I'm not sure what I expect them to say or how they should react, but I definitely wasn't expecting this.

"Oh, for fucks sake! You've got to be shitting me!" Vincent practically snarls.

"Vincent," Ronan says with a shake of his head.

His gray eyes fly over to Ronan before he shakes his head.

"No! Fuck this. This is all his fucking fault. Why are we even allowing him to be in the same room as her, let alone fucking touching her!"

"It's not his fault," I say. "It was mine. He was getting whipped, and I jumped on top of him. He didn't force me. He didn't ask me. I did it. It was my decision."

The gray in his eyes turns to granite as he grits his jaw and shakes his head.

"Please don't tell me you forgive him. Do you remember what that piece of shit did to you?" Vincent snarls, like Asher isn't in the room. Or maybe he just doesn't care.

"I remember but…" I trail off, turning to catch Asher's impassive gaze. Or at least, he's trying to appear impassive. I know him better than that by now, though.

"Things change," I say as I turn to face Vincent again. He looks seconds away from detonating as I continue. "I love you, and I know you might not like it, but I…I need him. I want him around, and I'm sorry if that upsets you."

I feel Asher's arm that's around me tighten softly, like a hidden message just for the two of us. Vincent continues staring at me, not moving or speaking as Liam takes up the spotlight.

"So, are you two together now or?"

"No," I say while Asher says, "Yes."

The guys stare at me for several seconds before Ronan speaks.

"It's been a long day; let's not dig into this. We have food for you guys, and I need to go run an errand. I'll be back," he says.

Something is off about Ronan's demeanor; it's rigid and unyielding. I watch as his hand twitches near his hip, but his posture remains motionless. He's wearing a pair of dress pants and a polo shirt with the school's crest on it, so it's pretty impossible to miss the bulge of a gun on his hip beneath his shirt.

"Where are you going?" I ask.

He pauses, blinking slowly.

"Out."

"Where are you going, Ronan?" I repeat.

He grinds his teeth together, working his jaw from side to side before he speaks.

"I'm going to take care of my brother. He will never hurt you again."

My eyes widen as panic floods me.

"You can't! He could kill you!"

"Not if I kill him first. I'm fine, baby. Rest, I'll be back," he says as he moves forward, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

I scramble for his arm, digging my hands into it as I hold onto him for dear life.

"No! Please, Ronan. Please, don't do this. I can't lose you. It's not worth it!" I spiral, slowly descending into a suffocating panic attack.

My chest heaves, desperate for a breath I can't catch as the room begins to spin. I won't survive if I lose him. I won't survive if I lose any of them. Oh my god. He can't go. He can't.

"Hey! Hey, hey, hey," Ronan says, dropping to his knees as he puts his face in front of my own. "I need to, baby. I can't let him have the chance to hurt you again. If I have to see you like this again, I…I'm the one who can't."

"Think, Ronan," Asher chimes in. "My father's security team would have you gunned down before you could even reach for your gun."

"Your father has security too?" I ask over my shoulder.

"Of course."

"I've never seen them before?"

"That's the point, Princess," he says before turning back to his uncle. "No one wants him dead more than me, but…this is not how we do it," he says, as he gestures towards Ronan's weapon.

Ronan's jaw works from side to side, knowing we are right.

"I can't just sit here. I have to do something," he says.

"Stay with me?" I ask softly, causing his eyes to drop to mine and soften.

He watches me for several seconds, and for a moment, I think he is going to deny me. Then, he blows out a shaky breath, setting his gun on the bedside table as he nods.

"Always."