“I didn’t want it,” I sobbed. “I didn’t, I swear. I’m so fucked up, Rafe.” Humiliation, swift and debilitating, washed over me, and I gagged, close to vomiting. I struggled with the belt holding my hands at my back. “Let me free! Please, I need free!”

As he worked at releasing my hands, I nestled my cheek against his chest and took deep breaths to stem another episode of hyperventilation.

“How did it happen?” He spoke in a perilous tone, and when he inched back, I wanted to recoil at the unyielding set of his jaw. “How did I get brought into it?”

“I-I had an abortion.” I wiped my eyes, palms digging in as that horrible day flooded back. “Someone from the clinic leaked it. Dad found out and kept the story from spreading, but he was so furious—” My voice broke, and I stared at his bunched shoulders, my face flaming even hotter. “He flipped, demanded to know who I’d slept with. That’s when Zach pointed the finger at you.” I squeezed my eyes shut. “He said you raped me. Said he couldn’t keep quiet about it anymore.”

Rafe’s silence was too disturbing, and when I opened my eyes to face his reaction, utter betrayal blanketed his expression.

“You went along with the lie.” No question, no inflection in his words. Just cold, hard truth.

“I’m sorry,” I said, a sob constricting my throat. “I didn’t know what else to do.”

“How about tell the fucking truth?”

I jerked back as his rage thundered over me. “I c-couldn’t.”

“Couldn’t, or wouldn’t?” He leaned over the mattress, arms supporting his weight as he dripped water all over the bed and me.

“Couldn’t.” Our gazes collided. “He said he’d kill you if I didn’t keep quiet.”

Closing his eyes, he dropped his head and let out a breath. The admission seemed to burrow beneath his rage. His body pressed into mine, and we stayed that way for a few seconds until he suddenly bolted and let out a roar I was sure reached every crevice of the cabin. He whirled around and all but flew into the wall, his fist slamming into it, again and again, until his knuckles dripped with blood.

18. Destroyed - Rafe

18. DESTROYED - RAFE

She cried for me to stop, but I continued to beat my fist against solid log as memories flickered behind my eyes in red-hazed horror. Instead of me taking the abuse, it was her. Zach holding her down, violating her, smothering her cries as he rammed into her.