Deeper Healing

08| I'm A Mess

Nikolai Coleman

When I realised Leilani was neither with Blake Edwards nor anywhere in sight, my instincts alarmed me that she could be in danger.

Of course, in a place in full swing of a wide range of activities like this, she could be anywhere, probably wandering around alone, or she could have found company. The next logical question was whose company exactly?

The amount of attention she had initially gathered and the preying eyes undressing her were what kept me searching around for her with my heart pounding in my chest. I had brought her to this place and foolishly left her alone. If anything were to happen to her, especially if it brought her any amount of pain, guilt would deeply gnaw me.

My fears were confirmed after frantic efforts of searching and I burst open a door on the second floor which was basically my last hope of finding her in this place.

My heart dropped from my chest into the pit of my stomach when I saw her standing there, her wobbling legs pinned together, hands tightly fisted and eyes glowing with unshed tears she was struggling to hold back.

She glared furiously at her captor, a muscular man who grasped her roughly by her shoulders, staring down at her as he mumbled incoherent things, pressing his body into hers forcefully with his lips inches away from her skin.

The deep red bruises on her neck and exposed shoulder propelled a surge of panic, pain and anger bursting into my veins at full pelt.

Fuck. She was hurt.

The second I took one stride in with my fist tightly balled, hell-bent on gouging someone's eyes out, I realised I wasn't the only one charging towards someone with the intent to vehemently inflict pain.

The man holding Leilani cast her aside so harshly that she stumbled and nearly fell, his rage now directed at me. That only fuelled my anger. How could a man treat any woman so recklessly?

His nostrils flared, and his face was deep red with hot fury. "The audacity," he seethed, pouncing at me.

What could have instantly turned into a fierce fight was prevented by Leilani as she bolted between us, her supple body the only thing stopping us both from tearing each other apart. I only stopped, fearing I'd end up hurting her instead.

Leilani pressed her hands to the other man's broad chest, pushing him backwards forcefully. "Goddamnit, Bryce. Grow the fuck up," she yelled. Her voice was cracking, hysteria threatening to dissolve her shaky calm.

So they knew each other after all. Who the hell was this Bryce person?

His eyes opened wide. "You're defending him, Leilani. Is this what the fuck we're doing now?"

"There is no we with a man who'd shamelessly try to force himself on me like that so please, keep my name out of your dirty mouth."

He laughed bitterly in response, stealthily moving towards Leilani. I couldn't just stand still and watch him attack her like this. I was going to step forward, but Leilani extended her arm in front of me as if signalling me that she had the situation under control. I obeyed, but with my guard on high.

"Here's the thing, Lani," he started, his lips curling into a cynical smile. "Both you and I know he just wants to fuck you hard, use you like the dirty slut you can be and after that dump your ass. Not everyone will love you for both your body and personality like me so wake up. You're not this stupid."

"I've been stupid for six bloody months," she whispered as if fearing her voice would break, "And I'm exhausted."

I could feel her pain seeping from every pore in her body. I could hear the tremendous pain in her voice when she spoke and the emotional exhaustion in her body language. She turned around as if to leave and when her eyes met mine, I felt a knot twist in my chest.