Beautifully Destroyed (Beautifully Broken)

Fucking fucker.

“No birthmarks?”

“None that I could see.”

“Could you estimate his height?”

Finlay starts to shake her head, then pauses. “Maybe a head taller than me?”

“His age? Can you guess from his voice or build?”

“Twenties? Thirties? I can’t be sure.”

“His build. Was he slender, muscled, or large?”

“Normal?” She shakes her head again. “I can’t remember.”

There’s a moment’s silence, then I ask, “Done?” The word sounds more like a warning than a question.

“Yes. You have my number. Call if you remember anything else. I’ll have my men patrol the area, and we’ll question the neighbors.”

“Okay.”

I rub my palm up and down her back, wishing the sheriff would move faster. I know he’s doing his job, and this is important, but Finlay’s breaking, and I’m right behind her. We need to be alone.

Finally, he gets up, and when the door shuts behind him, Finlay starts to jerk so fucking hard it feels like she’s having a seizure. Bringing my hands up, I frame her face and press my forehead to hers. “I’m so fucking sorry.” My voice is hoarse, breaking under the raw heartache.

Her eyes lock on mine, and when I see the horror alive and eating at her, my own tears come. There are no words between us in this heartbreaking moment, our tears silently speaking to each other.

Her pain becomes mine, and I would take it all if it meant she would never feel it again. I’d take her memories and have them haunt me so she could find peace.

“Breathe,” she whispers, her cheeks wet.

I suck in a desperate breath, my chest on fire. I start to shake my head, not knowing what to do with all the pain.

This is not about you. Pull it together.

I don’t know where the strength comes from, but it pours through my veins and coats the destructive emotions raging in me in steel.

My body stills, and all I see is Finlay, knowing she needs me more than ever.

I press a kiss to her forehead, then pull her tightly to my chest. “It’s okay, baby. I’ve got you. You can break.”

She jerks once… twice… and then she fucking shatters to pieces, her cries and tears filling my veins with the need for vengeance and the most intense hatred I’ve ever felt.

I’m going to fucking kill him. I promise you, I’m going to kill him for you.

Chapter 22

FINLAY

Ethan holds me, a strong force somehow keeping my pieces from scattering into the wind, as I empty myself of all the horrible emotions dug up while giving my statement.

When I have no more tears to cry, I whimper, “It hurt so much.”

“I’m so sorry,” Ethan whispers, all my pain brimming in his voice.

“I feel black and blue as if everyone can see what happened.”

He shakes his head. “No, they can’t.” He lifts his hand to my cheek, the touch comforting and cool on my heated skin. “All people see is a beautiful, strong girl. You’re so brave, Fin.”

“Really?” My face distorts, my eyes burning from all the crying.

Pressing his forehead to mine, he says, “What he did to you doesn’t define who you are. He’s the monster.” Ethan’s arms tighten around me. “What happened doesn’t make you weaker. It only makes you stronger. Fuck, baby, you are so strong.”

Pulling back, Ethan gives me an encouraging smile. “My dad once told me when life gets hard, you need to force yourself to focus on the beautiful things. Things you’d usually take for granted. A cool breeze. Watching the stars. The taste of food. Your music, focus on it, and let it carry you through the darkness.”

That’s what I did while Dad was home, and he’s right, it helped a lot.

“And when it gets hard, talk to me,” Ethan adds. “It’s okay to break down, Finlay. You need to cry and if you feel like screaming, then scream. Let the emotions out, so they don’t fester inside you.”

I nod, my tongue darting out to wet my dry lips.

The way Ethan reacted to my pain shifted something inside me. It’s as if knowing I can share the trauma with him makes it easier to carry the burden.

It feels like he took my pain and made it his own.

We stare at each other and wanting him to take my last secret, I whisper, “I was a virgin.”

A heartbreaking look tightens his features until his face looks like it’s been chiseled from granite. Then he nods as if he already knew.

Leaning back against his chest, I let out an exhausted sigh.

Ethan presses a kiss to my hair. “You’re going to stay with me until your Dad comes back. Okay?”

I nod, relief flowing through me.

“I’m not going to leave you alone.”

“Thank you.”

I feel him shake his head. “Don’t thank me, Fin. Taking care of you is my responsibility.”

I hear the front door opening, but I can’t bring myself to move away from Ethan, and I don’t care if it makes me look needy and weak.