Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
“Rhys, you’re still bleeding,” I gasped, stepping close. “Let’s go sit down somewhere so I can patch you up.” I gently touched his hand and motioned for him to follow me.
I walked out and sat on one of the lounge chairs by the pool. Rhys sat next to me, and I quickly opened the dark green box. I searched for some bandages and something to clean his cuts with. My stomach twisted all the while.
“Whoever did this to you,” I began, my throat thickening with emotion. “I hope—”
“It was my dad,” Rhys blurted, and my eyes flashed to his. They were endlessly blue and full of shame. I wished to say so many things, make him see the shame was his father’s to carry, not his. But I didn’t say it because he was leaking tension, and I didn’t want to upset him. I needed to check his injuries.
I swallowed past the painful lump to ask, “Where is he now?”
“Gone. He won’t be bothering me again.”
“How do you know?” My voice was soft, quiet. I felt like if I spoke at a normal volume, I might spook him. He’d close himself off when everything inside me was begging to be let in.
Rhys looked away for a moment. I poured some antiseptic liquid onto a cotton ball and dabbed at the blood on his temple. The sharp, medical smell stung my nose, but Rhys barely flinched when I gently pressed it to his wound. His eyes returned to mine, and suddenly, gone was the shame. Now they were full of determination.
“I let him hurt me. I didn’t fight back because he came at me right in front of the hotel’s CCTV cameras, and I wanted it recorded.”
Hearing this, tears welled behind my eyes. I wanted to cry for him because I cared about him a lot, and the idea of him letting himself be beaten … It didn’t bear thinking about.
Finally, he continued, “I wanted it on camera so I’d have leverage. My dad has a record, and if I go to the Guards with the footage, he’ll do time. I told him that was exactly what I’d do if he didn’t sign the divorce papers and agree to all of Mam’s terms.”
“Rhys, my goodness,” I breathed, my heart swelling. He let himself be beaten to a pulp so his mother could get her divorce? It was a dangerous thing to do, not to mention risky. If his dad was the sort of man I imagined he was, then he might not respond well to blackmail.
“That was very brave of you, Rhys, but please don’t ever do anything like that again. These injuries will heal, but they could’ve been worse. He could’ve put you in the hospital or …” I didn’t finish the sentence because I honestly couldn’t bear the thought of Rhys dying. I’d only known him a short time, but he meant so much to me already.
“Hey,” he breathed, moving closer and lifting his palm to my cheek. “Don’t upset yourself. I’m okay. A week or two and my face will heal.”
“It just makes me so … angry. I really hate seeing you hurt, Rhys. I hate it so much.”
His eyes flashed to mine, flaring a little like my concern for him was surprising, which only pained me more because he obviously wasn’t used to being worried over. He didn’t respond, and silence fell. I sniffled and finished cleaning the cut on his forehead before covering it with a small bandage. The cut on his lip wasn’t as bad, but I knew it had to sting.
“How long has he been like this?” I asked, and the suffering in Rhys’ gaze was almost palpable. As soon as I saw his look, he didn’t even need to answer. I felt powerless. I wanted to go back in time and save him from all he’d been through.
That night in the kitchen when I’d asked him about his bruised jaw, it was clearly his dad who’d hurt him then, too. I thought back to the night I arrived when I had the bump on my forehead from the plane journey. Rhys had been unusually concerned, and it all suddenly made sense. When he saw someone had been hurt, his mind immediately went to a dark place.
“A long time,” he answered finally.
“What about your mom?” I asked, my eyes flickering to his. “Does he—”
Rhys nodded, and a sickness rolled in. I inhaled sharply and pressed my lips together. “In that case, I’m glad she’s divorcing him. I hope that once it’s final, you both don’t ever have to deal with him again.”
Rhys’ gaze searched mine. There was worry there, a worry that maybe even the leverage he had wouldn’t be enough to control his father.
“I need to speak to Padraig,” he said when I sat back. I’d done the best I could with his face though I sensed from the way he was holding his middle that he was hurting in other places, too.