Beautifully Destroyed (Beautifully Broken)

She clings to me like a life raft, her breaths nothing but panicked whisps of air while her body trembles hard.

“What happened?” I ask, my eyes searching for whatever scared her. My heart’s racing as if I was the one running.

“He’s here,” she cries against my shirt, the terror in her voice tensing every muscle in my body. Then she fucking breaks down in my arms, and it rips a hole right through my soul.

Christ.

My actions are automatic, and as if I’ve done it many times before, I bend down and pick Finlay up. I carry her up the stairs and into my place, and it feels as if she’s trying to burrow her way inside me to get away from the fucker.

Not wanting to leave her alone, I head down the hallway and set her down on my bed. Opening my closet, I key in the code to my safe and take my gun out. With my fingers flexing around the handle, I turn to Finlay. “Tell me what happened.”

“H-he… left roses…” she hiccups through the sobs, pointing down the hallway, “he texted… asking if I g-got them.”

Motherfucking bastard. I swear to God I’m going to kill him.

Her lips part and her face crumbles under a fresh wave of panic and something so dark, it makes my skin crawl. She looks as fragile as a broken shell tossed around by waves.

Crouching in front of her, I lift my hand and cup her cheek. “You’re safe with me. Okay? I won’t let him hurt you again.”

She nods quickly, her sobs turning to shivering gasps as if she’s going into shock.

I move to sit next to her, and taking my phone out, I dial Dad’s number.

“Hey,” he answers.

“I need you.”

“Where are you?” Dad asks, and I hear him moving.

“My place.”

“You in danger?”

“I don’t know. I have my gun out. Someone’s threatening Finlay,” I explain as best I can without betraying Finlay’s trust.

“I’ll call the sheriff on my way over to your place. Lock the doors until I get there,” Dad says, his breathing picking up, which tells me he’s running.

We end the call, and the moment I get up, Finlay grabs hold of my arm, letting out a desperate cry, “Don’t leave me.”

Fuck, this is grinding my heart to dust. I can’t stand seeing her like this.

“I’m just going to lock the door.”

She darts up, plastering herself to my side. I tuck my gun behind my back and wrap an arm around her trembling shoulders.

I’m on high alert as we walk down the hallway, every muscle in my body wound tight and ready. I quickly lock the door, my gaze darting everywhere, searching for the man that’s put the fear of God in Finlay.

Finlay burrows closer to me, and I quickly wrap both my arms around her, holding her tightly. I press a kiss to her hair. “Try to take deep breaths,” I whisper, rubbing a hand up and down her back. She does as I say and slowly starts to calm her sobs.

I lean my head lower, my body almost swallowing hers whole. “Better?”

She nods against my chest, then she whimpers, “Just d-don’t leave me.”

“Never, Fin.” There’s nothing on this planet that will tear me away from her.

A knock at the door has us both flinching, and Finlay presses so hard against me it feels like she’s a second away from climbing me like a tree.

“It’s me,” Dad calls.

I reach for the door, unlocking and opening it.

Dad takes a step closer, his eyes flying over Finlay and me. “Anyone hurt?”

I shake my head.

“Harry’s on his way. Catch me up on what’s happening.” Dad keeps his distance as if he instinctively knows not to come closer to Finlay.

“There’s a man… that left flowers at her house and asked if she got them,” I tell Dad, hoping he can read between the lines.

Dad’s features soften as he looks at Finlay. “Is he a stalker?” I’ve never heard Dad’s tone so gentle before.

Finlay nods quickly.

“From Chicago?” Dad asks.

She nods again.

“I’m going to call your father. Okay?” he says.

Again, she just nods, still pressed tightly to me.

Dad steps out onto the porch to make the call. “David, it’s Alex.” He pauses for a moment. “I’m with Finlay. She says there’s a stalker? He left flowers at the house.”

Dad listens for a couple of minutes, then says, “The sheriff will be here any second… I’ll make sure she’s safe… I promise he won’t get close to her… I understand…” Dad glances at me through the window. “Ethan’s with her... we won’t leave her alone.”

Dad steps into the doorway holding the device out to her. “Your dad.”

Finlay still sticks to me like glue, only reaching a hand out to take the phone.

While she talks with her father, Dad slowly comes closer, placing his hand on my shoulder. “You did good, son. We’ll handle this fucker.”