Hurting You (Blackthorn Elite 3)

He touched her, broke her… and he deserves to die for that. As I’m thinking of all the way I want to hurt him, she’s shaking in my arms.

“It’s okay, baby,” I assure her. “Everything is going to be okay…” I trail off, forcing myself to sound calm when really, I’m ready to explode.

The driver’s side door opens, and Cam slips into the car. His fists are bloody, and when he looks at me over his shoulder, I can see the disconnect in his eyes.

Did he kill him? I would’ve.

“He’s still alive, but you don’t have to worry about him. He is going to jail for a really long time. Our parents are taking care of him. We got to go, they are already on the way here, and we don’t want to be here when they arrive.”

“What about Katie?” I ask.

There is a darkness in Cam’s eyes, and I know he said or did something to ensure that she doesn’t open her mouth, I just kind of wish it was me that got to deliver that message to her.

“She won’t open her mouth, not unless she wants to spend the rest of her days in prison. I can have James’ death pinned on her in a second flat.”

“Good, she stepped out of line once, and that got Stella hurt…” My jaw aches as I clench it.

“Relax, no one is going to hurt her ever again,” Cam reassures me. I look down at Stella, who has her eyes squeezed shut. Gently, I stroke her face, willing her to open her eyes. I need to see her, feel connected to her; otherwise, I’ll get out of this car and murder Paul for touching her.

“Stella, baby, I need you to look at me. I need to see your eyes, because right now I really want to go kill that fucker for touching you, for hurting you.” The irony of my words is not lost on me. I hurt her too, we hurt her.

In a flash, her eyes flutter open, and she grips onto my shirt so tightly her knuckles turn white. Her lips wobble as she speaks, “Please, please don’t. I-I…need you.”

“I love you,” I reply, shocking the hell out of both of us.

Cam must not have heard me because he doesn’t say anything and instead starts the car. Stella stares up at me with awe in her eyes, and I wish I had told her sooner. Wish I had let myself feel these emotions weeks ago because then maybe this wouldn’t have happened.

Stella is quiet the entire way back to the house, but she doesn’t let her gaze fall from my own. She stares at me, almost like she doesn’t believe what I’ve told her.

As soon as we arrive at the house, I carry her inside and start to strip off her dirty clothing, looking her over for any injuries. She has a few bruises along her throat and what looks to be a bruise forming on her cheek, but aside from that, she doesn’t seem to be injured at all.

“Did he…” I can’t even finish the thought. If he touched her there, I will get back in the car, go find him, and kill him. There won’t be anything to stop me from doing it either. Damn the consequences, nothing but Stella matters.

Stella sucks her bottom lip into her mouth and gently shakes her head. I sigh outwardly, feeling as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

“Hey, let me give her a shower, and then we can talk afterward about what happens going forward.” Cam places a hand on my shoulder, grounding me, and I know I need to get my wicked thoughts together. I knew I was obsessive over her, but I didn’t think it could ever feel like this. My heart thunders inside my chest, and I nod my head before running my fingers through my hair.

Breathe. I keep telling myself, but all I want to do is murder Paul. Ruin him, but instead, I force myself to sit on the edge of the bed and watch as Cam takes Stella into the bathroom.

The sound of the shower turning on fills my ears, but I’m still stuck inside my head. We can’t continue down this road. We can’t let her think she’s no one to us, that we’re just using her body. It’s time to become all or nothing.

When Stella comes walking out of the bathroom, a white towel wrapped around her, all I can do is stare in awe. She is ours, and we’re hers, and no matter what happened today, there isn’t any way I’m letting her walk out that door. Breaking from the trance, I turn and head to the dresser. I pull out a gray T-shirt and a pair of boxers and turn around and extend them out to her.