Dominate Me

Chapter 26

*Trigger warning: The following two chapters have mature themes and mentions of loss, human trafficking, and attempted sexual assault.*

~ Liam's POV ~

"I killed my family."

Ava gasped slightly, but she didn't run like I expected her to. Like she should've.

Stubborn.

I couldn't face her. I couldn't turn and see her wear a look of disgust towards me. I wasn't strong enough. So instead, my fingers played at the soft fabric of the curtains, screams echoing in my head as my memories, my real-life nightmares, raced through my mind.

Miles shifted slightly to my right, his face almost peaceful as he stared at me, reminding me he was there.

Clenching my jaw, I balled the curtain in my fist, holding onto it for dear life and taking my next breath.

"My parents are dead because of me. My little brother, too. My baby brother."

I couldn't blink, couldn't breathe. I felt frozen, knowing my next breath would rip through me, tearing at my last semblance of control that I was viciously gripping onto.

"Liam..."

"It's my fault. They're dead and it's on me. I killed them."

Her following silence said it all. She hated me. She was afraid of me.

Good. I can't lose her to that psychopath, too. Tell her everything so she'll stay away for good. Scare her into leaving forever.

Forever.

The word jolted me, a sharp pain in my chest nearly had my knees collapsing, but I had to keep going. I had to tell her everything. It was the only way to save her.

The only way to save her from my past. From me.

"My parents weren't bad people. They loved me, gave me everything they could. We never had much, but things were okay." I smiled softly, my grip on the curtain loosening marginally. "We were always okay. When Luke was born, I remember being so excited to be a big brother. I knew I wanted to protect him, dote on him, show him the best places to hide when we all played hide and seek. Obviously, I had to tease him like big brothers do."

My grin was quickly wiped clean as I shook, clamping my eyes shut, Luke's voice replaying in my head.

"Come on, Liam! Mommy said hide!" He chuckled, running down the hall towards the bookshelf we all knew he always hid in.

I couldn't help but laugh as his little feet somehow created thunderous steps, the sound a dead giveaway of his hiding place.

Thinking quickly, I unclipped the panel from the wall behind the bathroom, hiding in the little alcove that hid the plumbing fixtures.

"Daniel, we only have a few minutes. The kids just went to hide." My mother's voice floated through the living room and over to me. Curious, I put my ear to the back of the panel.

"No, that's too much!"

"Kat, just do it. Liam's old enough to take care of himself and Luke even if we do lose it again anyway. Hurry up. You're gonna piss me off."

"Mommy? Daddy?"

"Dammit, Luke! Your mother told you to hide, boy! Go! Get out!"

I shook my head, forcing myself back to the present.