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Adonis’ calm presence in front of me helps me shutter the cap on my memories and bring me back to the present moment.

“What happened?”

My face contorts as a familiar pressure burdens my chest. “I just needed pads. I started my period, and it was heavier than usual. I asked him all morning if he could go buy some or give me some money so I could order some on Weston’s phone.”

Adonis wipes a tear I didn’t know had fallen.

“He kept telling me no and I was frustrated. I didn’t mean to kill him that day. It wasn’t supposed to be that messy. But I was so tired, Adonis. So fucking tired of beingthe joke in that house. And the stairs were right there…” My rambling trails as I hike my shoulders.

Adonis sits down, lifting me onto his lap in one fluid motion that would be impressive if my brain wasn’t so scattered trying to figure out how he knows.

“How did you find out?”And what are you going to do to me?

After my father died from the fall, I made one more deal with the devil. Weston would get rid of the proof. He’d destroy the tape in exchange for what my father left me in his will. Or so I thought.

“Alonzo sent it to me. The day your dad died was missing from the footage we had so he went looking for it.”

Alonzohad seen me kill someone.

Adonishad seen me kill someone.

I had dirt on my brother, but by his logic, at least he hadn’t killed anyone. Let alone our father. Anything I told the police would be his word against mine. And for all they knew, I hadn’t existed since my fifth birthday.

Besides, he had the evidence. Not me. I didn’t even know the first thing about trying to destroy the tape. My technology literacy might be bad now, but it was in the fucking toilet back then.

So, I took his word for it. And I let him dangle it over my head whenever he felt like it. That’s the only reason I agreed to go to the auction that night.

I hadn’t worked twenty years to get out of one prison just to be thrown into another.

My sternum burns and my stomach quivers as paranoia wraps me in its ugly embrace.

“Are you going to tell on me?” I ask in a voice that doesn’t sound like mine.

“No, Delilah. I’m not going to tell on you. You have noidea how proud I am of you right now.” His lips graze my jaw in a gentle caress, but I’m still shaking so hard it feels like my bones are trying to evacuate my skin.

“I didn’t want to, but he didn’t give me a choice. I tried to be a good daughter for him. He was the only parent I had.” I gasp out a broken sound. “I tried.”

I repeat those two words over and over. Until they scratch my throat for the last time and I hide my head against Adonis’ chest.

“I know you tried. And you did a damn good job. Nobody in that house deserved you, Delilah. Don’t ever think otherwise.”

My arms wrap around his neck, and I let the few tears I have left dampen his skin.

Adonis holds me through it. He doesn’t let me go. His embrace is the remedy. The anecdote I’ve needed for so long that was just out of reach. There’s still a pang where my heart is, but I tell myself it’s all the cracks trying to mend themselves now that I know it’s safe.

“You’re okay, baby. Nobody is going to fucking lay a hand on you or do anything to you. I already promised you that.” He kisses the corner of my mouth. “You’re safe with me. Nothing’s changed.”

Soft lips go from my jaw to my neck to my forehead. When they finally land on my lips, I breathe a sigh of relief and lose myself in the kiss.

I don’t know why my center has a heartbeat right now, but it’s telling me I’m exactly where I need to be.

On top of Adonis.

I band my arms tighter around his neck and let his tongue lick away my hurt and all my regret.

Adonis’ kisses make me believe it’s okay.

Adonis’ grip on my hips is a quiet refuge. A necessary anchoring so I don’t drown in my own misery.