Page 14 of Chasing the Flame (The Sacred Flames Of Ruin #1)
I’m fucking livid. It’s obvious to everyone around me, but I can’t seem to get a grip on my emotions. I finally listened to my instincts this morning, following Averie inside after her walk, and now I know why she’s been giving us the cold shoulder for the last five days.
She still won’t answer the question burning at the forefront of my mind.
No, Averie is playing dumb, pretending she didn’t hear the question at all.
It’s fucking infuriating. Even more infuriating, I have the distinct impression that Luke is responsible.
I can’t explain it, but my gut screams he’s the cause.
Averie is seated at the island counter, still dressed in leggings and a thick sports bra. She doesn’t seem like she’s okay. She looks despondent, and I’m not sure I can pull her out of it.
I want to help, god, I do. I just don’t know her situation, and I certainly shouldn’t be the one trying to console her right now.
Fuck, I should’ve left it alone, but I couldn’t stand to see her hurting.
The shades she’s wearing do nothing to hide the vicious bruise at her temple.
My gaze trails lower, to her luscious lips that appear cracked and split.
Then, even lower, noting how her hands are clenched so tightly that her knuckles are white. “Leave it alone, Jettson. ”
The words are soft, edged with a bitterness that feels hollow.
“No,” I say, before invading her space. The flinch is what breaks me, has me second guessing my decisions, and equally pisses me off in the same breath.
She doesn’t move, she doesn’t even look at me, she only trembles.
Averie’s chin wobbles, and I don’t miss the tears falling down her face.
My breath hitches, and I swallow hard. Before I can stop myself, my thumb catches the stray tears, wiping them away.
Averie sucks in a breath, then leans into my touch. “What happened?” I repeat, refusing to let my question go. I cup the side of her face, caressing her cheek and pour every bit of calm I can into my touch.
She shudders, her bottom lip quivering again, before exhaling slowly.
It’s like she’s trying to calm herself, and I wonder if she suffers from anxiety.
“Breathe.” The command leaves my lips, and Averie sucks in another shallow breath.
“No, deeply . I need you to take a deep breath, hold it for three seconds, and then release.” She does exactly what I say, taking a deeper breath, holding it, and then releasing slowly.
“Now, repeat,” I say quietly, counting with her for two more breaths, watching with shaking hands as she works to calm down.
“Thank you,” she murmurs, moving away from my touch before sliding the sunglasses off her face. She stares at me head-on, her bottom lip still trembling, and the intense desire to claim her mouth in a kiss courses through me. I nearly groan until I hear the following words from her mouth.
“I took a tumble down the front steps and cracked my head on the bottom step. Clumsy me,” she says with a sad smile, avoiding my gaze. I don't know why she’s lying to me. We both know it wasn’t a fall that did this .
She rises from her spot at the island counter, moving toward the fridge, grabbing two water bottles, and setting one in front of me before sliding back onto her stool.
Averie takes a sip from her bottle, eyeing me like she knows I don’t believe her for a second.
“Do you mind checking the railing on the left side? I think it’s a little loose from my fall. ”
Leaning toward her, I narrow my eyes. “You and I both know that you didn’t fall. It depends on how truthful you want to be with me. I can get you help—”
“I don’t need your help. I need you to do your fucking job ,” Averie says, her eyes flashing in warning.
Damnit if she isn’t breathtakingly angry.
“Let’s go,” I say, gently tugging her up from her seat at the island. Her gaze turns suspicious, the heat instantly dissipating, but it’s of no matter. She’ll learn to trust me. I wouldn’t ever lay a finger on her, and I think she knows it.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” I don’t explain further, instead wrapping an arm around her waist, ushering her toward the front door.
The sun is shining brightly, the landscape equally picturesque, and I need to get her out of that goddamn house.
I lead her gently down the steps, taking her small hand in mine as we make our way to the lake.
Wind blows gently, swaying the boughs of the trees, fluttering through the grass like an eel through water.
I pause, taking my boots and socks off, and gesturing for her to do the same.
Once we’re situated, I lace my fingers in hers and pull her toward the water's edge. I’ve always loved the feeling of sand against my feet and how the water seems to calm the storm raging in my mind.
When our feet hit the water, I turn to her, taking both of her hands in mine.
I don’t know why this matters so fucking much, why it’s so goddamn important for me to tell her that it’s not her fault. I don’t know, and I don’t fucking care. I can’t keep pretending I don’t see what’s happening right in front of me.
It’s obvious to me that she’s being abused.
And no matter what I keep telling Averie, I can’t seem to fucking stay away.
“It’s not your fault,” the words slip from my lips quicker than I’d intended.
Averie stares at me, tears brimming at the corners of her eyes, and despite it, defiance in the way she tilts her chin up, refusing to lower her gaze.
“It’s not your fucking fault,” I repeat, grabbing hold of her chin, holding her captive with my eyes.
“You did nothing to deserve this type of treatment.”
She glowers at me, jerking her chin out of my hand.
A cry wrenches from her chest, and she balls her fists up.
I have a pretty good idea of where her head is, and I refuse to let some asshole diminish the light I saw growing inside her over the last couple of weeks.
So, I do the only thing I can think of. I pull her into a hug.
Averie is stiff initially, but she melts in my arms after a few moments.
Her head rests in the perfect spot against my chest, her arms resting along my back.
That same sweet smell of jasmine, rose, and citrus hits my nostrils, the scent so tantalizing that I’m having difficulty keeping this simply a “friendly” hug.
Then, the tears start. They’re soft at first, a wet trail sliding down my shirt. I’m not sure when it shifted, but I feel it, that first sharp intake of breath when the dam breaks. Averie’s sobs cut through me, squeezing my heart so tightly it becomes hard to breathe.
My heart thumps rapidly in my chest, my grip on Averie tightening a fraction when she shudders. Fingers move of their own accord, trailing in her curls, running down the length of her hair and back. Something in my chest clenches, and I know a decision has been made.
So, I let her get it out—all of the anger, the heartbreak, the disgust. I give her all the time she needs, fuck the consequences be damned.
After sending Averie back inside the house with strict instructions to rest for the remainder of the day, I piddle around finding something to do even if it doesn’t fall under my scope of job duties.
We finished the siding and shutters this morning and have even begun painting the white columns a daring shade of black.
Cosmetic things will come next, requiring a lot more hands-on from Averie—a fact I’m sure that my asshole cousin won’t particularly care for.
Doesn’t matter, I’m not leaving this fucking house until he gets here.
I have nowhere else to be today, and I don’t mind some landscaping in my spare time.
Heading out back to the old garage, I set out to find a lawn mower, thinking I’d seen one there the other day.
The structure has seen better days, and I’m sure Luke will end up replacing the entire thing.
For now, I simply need a mower to get to work.
When I find what I’m looking for, a black Armada comes rushing down the long driveway.
I glance down at my smart watch, quickly checking the time.
Quarter after five, good. At least he’s fucking earlier tonight, though I’m not sure that bodes well for Averie.
So, I stride out of the garage and rush toward the front of the house.
“ Luke !” I holler, not bothering to curb the bite in my voice.
Luke nods in my direction, raising an arm in greeting, before heading to the back of the car.
The trunk is popped open before I reach him, and I notice that Luke seems to have several items, all seemingly intended for Averie.
A vase of roses, a bag from one of those fancy makeup stores, and I even spy a silky-looking robe in one of the more oversized shopping bags.
“What, did you buy the whole mall?” I ask, not bothering to hide my disgust.
He whips his head around, his glacial eyes narrowing at the sight of me. “What are you still doing here anyway? I thought you’d be gone by now,” he says before returning to the bags.
“Actually, I was waiting for you.” The words are smooth falling from my lips, tinged with a bite of poison. He turns toward me, all suspicion now as he shrewdly sizes me up.
“What did you need, cousin?” Luke sneers, and I let the mask drop just a fraction.
The one that I’ve carefully crafted all these years to keep people from getting too close to me.
It’s a look that screams predator, that I have zero fucks left to give and will not hesitate to tear you limb from limb.