Love's Game (LarssonSiblingSeries#5)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

TRIGGER WARNING - this chapter deals with some difficult topics. I understand if you don't wish to read. 💕

DEXTER

I see Delilah's Range Rover in the distance when we overtake the lorry doing what feels like twenty miles an hour. Levi spots it too as he indicates to the left and swerves in to park behind her car. Jumping out at the same time, we run towards the drivers window to see nobody inside.

"Where is she?" Levi panics, opening the door to look at the back seats.

My heartbeat increases by a thousand. "Is Beau there?"

"No," Levi shouts.

Stepping back, I check around us to see a figure sitting at the top of the grass bank. "Delilah?" I shout, seeing her cradling Beau tight in her arms.

It's worrying when she doesn't look up. I don't even get a glimpse from her when I call out to her again, this time a lot closer as I climb the bank. My foot skids back on the mud and I fall forward so I use my hands to get myself to the top.

I don't ask questions. I simply hold her in my arms. There's no tears. It's as if she's in shock. Beau lays peacefully in her arms, none the wiser to his mothers turmoil. There's no sound but the force of her shaking is loud enough.

"You don't have to say anything," I murmur, stroking her back. "Just know I'm here if you need me."

It's scary how quickly things can escalate. I knew she was upset in the cafe, but never would I think I'd be cradling her on the bank of a motorway moments later. And to think she's been struggling all this time? And hiding it so well.

"Edward is going to leave me."

I frown. "No he isn't."

"Yes, he is. I'm a liability," she responds, voice desperate to get her point across.

"My brother loves you. You think he'd give up on something he loves? No. He'll protect you forever. I promise you that."

There's a moment silence before she answers me. "I haven't been very well since having Beau. I'm not myself and he's been so good. But, there must come a time where you get sick of it and want out. I think that's now. He gets angry at me. Calls me some names. He's had enough."

I glance over at Levi who's metres away, scared by how unemotional she sounds. He notices too as he frowns in our direction, worry very visible in his eyes.

My arms tighten around her. "Come on, Delilah, let's get you back to my place."

Closing her eyes she starts to show us her vulnerability. "I want to jump in front of the cars."

My stomach clenches, "Stop that right now."

"It's true," she lets out a sob, tears trickling down her cheeks. "I'm losing my mind."

Holy shit. This is way worse than I thought. Is this what Edward has had to deal with for the past however many months? Watching the person he loves more than anything and anyone suffering in one of the worst ways?

It's as if she's fading away in front of you.

"We need to get you back to my place. It's safer than being here. Think of Beau. You don't really want him in danger, do you?" I respond watching her shake her head.

Levi jumps in to take Beau from her arms and I help her to her feet, in half a mind to carry her down the slope as her skin is grey. It's her eyes too. They've lost the light that always lit them up.