“I got you, Kerry. I’m here,” he declares, pulling me into his arms. “I’ll always be here, baby.”

And for the first time tonight, for the first time in a long time, I let myself be small, vulnerable, and saved because with him right now, I’m safe.

Vic effortlessly lifts me, cradling me against his chest, and making me feel weightless, and for just a moment, the pain I’ve carried for so long doesn’t exist.

Cory, still on the ground, spits blood. “You won’t get away with this. My dad’s gonna come after you.” He mumbles.

Vic turns around, his voice low and deadly calm. “Good. We’ll beat his ass too.”

The restaurant manager quietly ushers us through the back door, shielding us from prying eyes.

Gary pulls up fast, his face falling the moment he sees us.

“Vic? Ms. Kind?” Panic laces his voice.

“Gary, just drive us home.”

With my body aching, exhausted, and raw, I sink into my seat. I close my eyes, but I can still feel him. He’s still here, in my bones, in my bruises, in the way my heart still pounds.

“I ruined the night.” I whisper, my self-loathing creeping in like poison squeezing the air from my lungs.

“No,” he says firmly, “he ruined a part of our night. You were perfect. You always are.” He leans in, his thumb hovering over my busted lip, jaw flexing and hands shaking as he forces himself to stay in control. “I can’t believe he did this to you.”

Vic pulls me into his lap, holding me like he’s afraid I might slip through his fingers. But Vic needs to know something. Though he can’t believe Cory did this to me, I can.

He presses his lips against my forehead, and when our eyes meet, my words spill out, raw, broken, and filled with emotion.

“You remember when you asked me how I liked to be touched? I genuinely didn’t know because these are the only touches I’ve ever felt. The pain from these bruises is the only sensation I’ve ever experienced through my body.” My voice breaks.

More tears spill over, and my voice drops to a whisper so fragile, so hopeless. ‘“I’ll never escape him, Vic. He’ll always be in my life, and now he’s in yours, too. I should just give him what he wants. I don’t want to put you or the girls in danger. I don’t want to bring my mess into your lives.”

His hold on me tightens. Then, he grips my chin, gently but firmly, forcing me to look at him.