Page 83 of Cavern of Silence

I drink several mouthfuls of beer then hold the cold bottle to the side of my nose. "They are going to take care of each other. They were in a dirt pit together for months. You can't get upset with Julieta for wanting to protect her friend. It's just like how we take care of each other."

Hunter shifts in his seat then focuses on the slider door. "I'll apologize to Julieta. I won't disrespect her again. You have my word."

"Thank you. I'll tell Vanessa I'm sorry for beating you up, too."

He snorts. "You didn't beat me."

"Your face looks like I did."

"Maybe you should look in the mirror. From where I'm sitting, my fists did more damage than yours."

I chuckle then sigh. "I don't want to lose her, and I think I might have."

"I think Julieta will forgive you."

"You don't know her history. I traumatized her tonight."

"I'll make sure she knows it's my fault."

"Thanks, but it wasn't. I crossed the line by throwing the first punch."

"You were protecting your woman. I would have punched you if you yelled at Vanessa."

"We've really blown it, haven't we?"

Hunter nods. "Yep. And there's no way to get a redo."

We finish our beer in silence. When we go upstairs, the girls' bedroom door is shut, and I almost knock, but Hunter grabs my hand. "Not tonight. Wait until tomorrow."

"But I need to make sure she's okay."

"Not tonight," he reiterates. "You need to trust me on this."

Since I have no clue what I'm doing anymore, I go into the bedroom. We clean the blood off our bodies and get ready for bed, but we lay next to each other awake, lost in our thoughts.

I only have two questions. After my actions and knowing her history, how can Julieta ever forgive me? And how do I not lose her? The pain I feel about possibly not having her in my life is far worse than any punch or kick Hunter could have delivered.

13

Julieta

Most of the night,I toss and turn. Vanessa does the same. At some point, I finally doze off. When I open my eyes, Vanessa is sleeping next to me.

Where is Ryker?

The images of his beautiful face, bloody and swollen, fly into my mind, and my heart drops. On replay, the memories of him and Hunter fighting only make me sadder.

I don't understand how he could have done it. I can't even be mad at Hunter. Ryker threw the first punch. One minute we were kissing, and the next, blood was everywhere.

Watching them brutalize each other was horrible enough, but I thought one of them was going to die. If Tinker hadn't broken them up, one of them would have. And now, so much pain is coursing through me, I don't know what to do. I've seen enough violence for a lifetime. Ryker is aware of the night terrors I have, and I saw the regret in his eyes. But how can I condone what he did?

The debate in my head only breaks my heart. There is no answer. Losing Ryker feels worse than when I lost Miguel, and I don't understand how it's possible. I've known Miguel almost my entire life. We grew up in the same village. He's the only man I ever loved. Miguel was my first and only. I never even kissed another man until Ryker.

Everything with Ryker is more intense. He's honest and vulnerable. When we're together, I'm his priority. Sex and the way he kisses me are a truth bomb about how it should have been with Miguel.

I can't even explain the emotions that spiral all day long in my heart. I don't recall them ever consuming me in the past, and I don't know how to define them. I only just met Ryker, and I've never felt safer than in his arms.

It makes zero sense based on our timeline, but the notion of not having him in my life crushes my soul.