Tears flow down my cheeks, heavy and unwavering. My entire body shudders as a pained sound rips from my throat. Travis is there in a second, his arms circling around me as he pulls me to him, soft whispers of soothing comfort. “It wasn’t your fault, baby.”
“It was,” I cry. “I teased her, repeatedly until she got in. If I hadn’t done that, she would still be here. She didn’t want to go in, Travis. Don’t you get it? She didn’t fucking want to go in.”
The last word comes out as a shriek, and Travis holds me tighter. “Baby, no amount of teasing can make someone do something they don’t want to do. Lillian was strong, and she wasn’t easily pushed around. You made a mistake, and you’re living with that mistake, but it wasn’t your fault.”
“Nothing you can ever say will make me believe that,” I whisper. “I will never forgive myself for what happened to her, and now her brother...”
My voice trails off.
“What about her brother?”
Travis releases me, pushing me back so he can see my face. He reaches up, swiping away tears with his thumb as he studies me, his expression a little firmer now.
I open my mouth, then close it and shake my head.
“Violet, talk to me. What about her brother?”
I close my eyes. “He blames me for what happened to Lillian. He came into my work a few weeks ago. I guess he waited until he had enough money to fight it because I haven’t heard from him until now. He told me he is going to charge me with manslaughter and put me away.”
Travis’s face is pale beneath the flush of rage. “When the fuck did you plan to mention that?” His words are flat, clipped, ice slicing the air.
“I didn’t want...I don’t...God, I don’t know. I was scared. But, I have a lawyer. A good one. She’s a partner where I work, she’s helping quietly. I’m not helpless.”
He leans in, so close I can smell his cologne. “You’re not helpless, but you’re not alone, either. You might have a good lawyer, but I have better ones. I’ll pay for the best. I’ll make sure that motherfucker never tries you on again. Do you understand?”
I try to protest, but he’s already shaking his head. “Don’t give me that look, Vi. You know I can do it. And if he comes near you again—”
“What are you going to do?” I ask, my voice tight.
“I’ll handle him.” He’s up, pacing the room, vibrating with this dangerous, protect-me energy. “Nobody threatens what’s mine.”
I shiver a little, because it’s insane, but it’s also exactly what I wanted, someone to save me, even if I didn’t ask for it. He plants himself back down in front of me after a few minutes, hands on my face, so gentle it’s almost apologetic. “I let you down once, I won’t do it again. You’re safe now, got it? I’m putting security on you.”
“Travis—”
“No arguments,” he says, fierce and low. “And you’re going to tell me every time that fuckhead even breathes in your direction. I’m not playing.”
The words hit me hard. For a second I think about arguing more, about my precious independence, about how I’ve been surviving all this time without him. But none of those things matter right now. All that matters right now is that he’s here, and he wants to protect me. I have to let him.
I nod. “Okay.”
He sighs, pressing his forehead to mine, the air between us crackling. “Good. Now, we never speak his name in this house again unless it is to say we won and he’s gone forever, deal?”
“Deal,” I whisper, sinking into him, letting my past dissolve against the hard certainty of his chest. “Do you hate me for what happened to Lillian?”
“Not a single thing in this world could ever make me hate you, Mischief. Not a single fucking thing.”
Neither of us moves for a long time, and when we do it’s only to breathe together, heartbeat to heartbeat, in the center of our disaster.
There will never be anything else in this world for me but him.
Only him.
11
“MOM, I’M CRASHING ATReagan’s tonight and tomorrow,” I shout as I shove clothes into my duffel, trying to pack for the weekend. I haven’t told them we are going to Vegas with Travis; I’ve chosen to leave that little detail out. It’s probably for the best.
“Okay, sweetheart,” she answers from the hallway. “Have you told your father you won’t be staying with him this weekend?”