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After Cyrus helped me to the bathroom, he wouldn’t leave and give me any privacy.

“I can do this next part myself,” I grumbled.

He chuckled. “I know you can but I’m still not leaving you.”

I huffed again, went about my business and was washing my hands when I glanced at Cyrus in the reflection of the mirror.

His jaw was clenched, that familiar tick by his ear, beating in tune with my heart.

“What is it?” I asked, my stomach flipping at the mere intensity rolling off of him.

His eyes snapped to mine. “I wish I would have killed him myself.”

“I wish you wouldn’t have stopped me and letmekill him,” I blurted, my eyes widening at my confession.

“Thank you,” Cyrus said gently.

“For what?” I dried my hands, unsure as to where this conversation was about to go.

“For not making me feel like a monster.”

My heart stuttered at Cyrus’s soft words.

I finished drying my hands and went up to him. Wrapping my arms around his middle, I leaned my head against his chest. “Thank you for not making me feel like one too.”

“Never.” He cupped my nape, kissed the top of my head, and led me out of the bathroom.

As he was helping me back into the bed, a male cop and a woman dressed in a suit, entered the room.

“We’re sorry for interrupting,” the woman said. “I’m Detective Baldwin and this is Officer Jaxon. We’ll make this quick, so you can get your rest.”

Cyrus looked down at me. “I can translate.”

I took a deep breath, shaking my head. “I’m fine.”

He kissed my cheek. “I’m so fucking proud of you.”

Little did he know, it was all him. He helped me find this strength to speak again. “Please,” I said softly. “Ask whatever it is you need to.”

Cyrus

Listening to AinsleytellOfficer Jaxon and Detective Baldwin everything that had happened, was surreal. The fact that she was actually speaking and not signing, hit a part of me that had never been reached. I was beyond proud of her and her growth over these past few months. Our relationship came on strong and fast, but I fell in love with her even more in that single moment. As each word left her lips, I wanted to kiss her and swallow each and every syllable, keeping it safe within my clutches.

“Cyrus.”

My head snapped up, finding three pairs of eyes staring back at me. “Sorry, what did you say?”

Ainsley only smiled, her cheeks turning a beautiful light shade of pink.

“I had asked if you saw what happened to...” Detective Baldwin looked down at her notepad. “Mr. Smith.” She frowned. “Why do I feel like that’s a fake name?”

“Because it probably is,” Officer Jaxon said, coming up beside her and grabbing the notepad from her hands. “Looks like you’ve been busy.”

“Give that back to me, ass—I mean...” She cleared her throat. “Sorry.” She ripped it from his clutches and glared at him.

He chuckled. “It’s been a long week.” He looked between us two, the humor no longer there. “So, Cyrus. Did you see what happened to him?”

“Nope. I was waiting for Ainsley to come out of her second surgery,” I told him, the lie slipping easily off my tongue.