Page 26 of Beautiful Trauma

“No, I’m not.”

Mya’s eyes searched mine. “You hurt him just for me?” she asked incredulously.

“Aye, I did.”

“Why?”

I blinked at her in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“Why would you put yourself into danger for me?”

“How could I not?”

“Most men wouldn’t.”

“Then they aren’t really men.” A ragged sigh escaped my lips. “Real men protect those who can’t protect themselves. They sure as hell shouldn’t willingly emotionally or physically abuse them.”

“Sadly, that hasn’t been my experience,” she replied with regret.

“Neither has it been mine.” At her curious look, I jerked a hand through my hair. “I grew up with a monster for a father. He didn’t just beat me and my brothers, but he beat my mother and sister as well.”

As those haunting memories swirled around me, a mirthless laugh escaped my lips. “Like all men who beat women, my father was a coward. As soon as my older brothers got big enough, they stopped him from hurting my mother and sister.”

“And you did the same when you got old enough,” she stated as if she already knew me so well.

I nodded. “Thankfully, he came to Boston with my three older brothers while my mother and sister stayed back in Ireland with me and our youngest brother.”

At the realization of what all I had just told her, I shot to my feet. As regret and embarrassment crashed over me, I swept a hand over my face.

“Don’t do that,” Mya said softly.

“What do you mean?”

“Beat yourself up because you shared something so personal.”

“That’s easier said than done.”

“Then why don’t I even the playing field?”

“How?”

She pulled herself into a sitting position. Leaning forward, she grabbed my hand. “Men hurting me didn’t start with Anthony.” Cocking her head at me, she asked, “But you already guessed that, didn’t you?”

“I did.”

A regretful sigh escaped her lips. “My father is a monster like yours. He always went after me more than my sisters. My brother would tell you it was because I goaded him, which is true. I refused to take his bullshit.”

I grinned at her. “I’m not surprised by that.”

She returned my smile. “It’s probably a little bit surprising that someone as tough as me allowed myself to get involved with someone like Anthony.”

“People often wear masks to hide who they really are. It probably took a while for him to reveal his true self.”

“It did,” she whispered.

“My brother’s girlfriend just went through the same thing as you with an ex who became a stalker. Like you, she’s a very strong woman.”

“I feel her pain.”