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)
Looking into Charli’s honest hazel eyes—the effect she had on me and how I felt for her—had me forgetting all those worries. Her hand caught mine, instilling peace and stillness into my very bones. It was hard to fathom that this beautiful, captivating, funny, smart, and empathic girl who somehow managed to both soothe and excite me wanted me. She saw everything, knew it all, and still, she invited me to her bed.
Nodding, I let her lead me to her room.
The house was quiet, and we didn’t bump into anyone on our way. When she closed her bedroom door. I stood near her bed, feeling lost for a second before she came to me. She laced her fingers through mine just as she’d done downstairs. We lowered onto the covers, both fully clothed. Charli stretched out next to me, resting her head on my shoulder but not touching me anywhere else. I suspected she was worried about putting pressure on my injuries.
I hadn’t been lying when I’d told her I didn’t need a hospital. I’d suffered worse from dad in the past and managed to get better without medical intervention. It was why I had so many nasty scars, ones that were years old. Sometimes, Mam would tend to me, and I’d tend to her, but her fear and anxiety prevented her from seeing a doctor as often as she’d needed. She’d gone to her GP a few times and managed to explain things away, but I suspected they hadn’t believed her. Still, there wasn’t much they could do back then because she wasn’t prepared to press charges. She’d still believed Dad could change, and the relief she’d finally been broken out of that spell was immeasurable.
Charli lightly stroked my arm, the gentle motion and her soothing presence lulling me to sleep. Just being with her, her warmth next to me, her scent, I felt like the luckiest bastard in the world.
I woke up a few hours later. It was almost midnight, and Charli was sleeping soundly next to me, her breathing deep and even. My body ached, my senses full of her coconut shampoo and subtle, flowery perfume.
I couldn’t stay. Not only would it be disrespectful to Padraig and Jo when they’d put me up in their house, but Derek would likely start blowing up my phone wanting to know where I was if I didn’t turn up soon.
Soaking in the sight of Charli’s pretty features serene in slumber, I smoothed some of her thick, silky hair away from her face then eased slowly out of bed. Leaving her room, I gently closed the door, trying to make as little noise as possible.
I’d just reached Derek’s room when his door flew open, “And what time do you call—” His words fell off when he saw me, his eyebrows drawing together, mouth forming a stiff line. “Bloody hell, Rhys, what happened to you?”
Instead of answering, I replied, “Do you think your dad will still be up?”
“He’s probably in his office, yeah, but what the fuck? Tell me how this happened.”
I glanced at the floor, my expression tense. “My dad.” I was unable to say more than that. Derek cursed and ran a hand over his jaw.
“Come on, then,” he said at last, and I followed him to see his father.
***
Padraig and I didn’t see eye to eye when it came to the CCTV footage. He took one look at me and wanted to have my father arrested on the spot. I explained to him about the divorce, how I needed Dad to sign the papers and not contest it, but this didn’t change his mind. Derek agreed with his father, so it was two against one, but I held firm.
“How about a compromise, then,” Padraig suggested. “I’ll hold off on showing the footage to the Guards until the papers are signed.”
I rubbed my chin. “I’m not sure.”
“Listen, son, you need to think clearly on this. Your father is a dangerous man. The state you’re in right now … if it was my decision, I’d say lock him up and throw away the key. It would be immoral to let him get away with tonight’s attack because no doubt he’ll do it again. Even if he’s out of yours and your mother’s lives, that doesn’t mean he won’t hurt someone else. And I refuse to let that happen. Not only will I not allow it to weigh on my conscience, I won’t allow it to weigh on yours either. I care about you, Rhys, and I want to you to live a good life with peace of mind.”
Emotion I wasn’t equipped to handle seized me, but I was still unsure. It felt underhanded to lie to Dad, let him imagine I’d never share the footage so long as he complied with the divorce. But it wasn’t like he deserved my honesty. He’d made my life so fucking needlessly dark and depressing, destroyed my mam’s confidence, a gentle woman who never so much as raised her voice in anger.