Shadow’s Heart (Devil’s Inferno MC #3)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Shadow

I ’ve managed to push what Wrath said out of my mind for the rest of the day; keeping myself busy has really helped. Even if all I did was clean around my home. Now though, I can’t do anything but think. There’s no way for me to distract myself from my thoughts while lying in bed with Wreck asleep next to me.

I guess that’s the first thing that I should have taken notice of. How easy it is to share a bed with him. How right it feels to fall asleep and wake up next to him. How much easier it is to sleep with him within touching distance. There’s only one other set of best friends I know that’s this way, and well, we all know the story about Wrath and Flame. Fucking hell, I really am an idiot.

How the fuck did I manage to miss the obvious? The longer I sit here and go over my memories, the more of an idiot I feel. Hindsight is definitely coming into play with each and every memory I look back on. Even most recently, with finding out Wreck had been taken, I’m realizing I felt a fuck more than I acknowledged at the time. My reaction wasn’t that of someone worried about their best friend; it was of someone finding out the person they love’s in danger. I was heartbroken at the thought I’d never see him again. I was sick with worry for the person who means everything to me.

Looking at his sleeping form, I notice something isn’t right. His face is tight with pain, and his body is shaking, causing his long black hair to flop around on the pillow around him. Fucking hell, is he having a nightmare? Is this the first one? I can’t let him stay experiencing whatever is going on inside his head right now. I couldn’t live with myself knowing I didn’t help him when he needed me.

“Avery. Wake up. Whatever you’re seeing isn’t real; your home with me.” I repeat the same words over and over until I see his eyelids start to open.

The look in his beautiful green eyes is heartbreaking; all I want to do is wrap him in my arms, so that’s what I do. As carefully as I can, I pull him into my chest and hold him there. I can feel his tears soaking my bare chest, and seeing him this way makes me want to destroy every demon currently chasing him.

I’ve been waiting for this moment since we came home; he’s been far too put together. Pushing back everything he felt and trying to move forward. It was never going to work; he needs to acknowledge everything before he can move past it. And whether he needs to rage out or cry, I don’t care. I’ll be here next to him the entire time, because that’s what you do for the person who means more to you than anything in this world. Actually, scrap that; he doesn’t just mean more to me than anything in this world; he is my fucking world.

“I’ve got you.” I whisper into the room.

As soon as he hears my words, his sobs increase. Hearing him like this is crushing, but I know it’s what he needs. So I’ll stay like this, offering him the safety of my embrace for as long as I need to. Whatever he needs, whenever he needs it, if I can, I’ll give it to him.

After about ten minutes of releasing all the emotions and stress he’s been bottling up, his cries slowly come to a stop, and he lifts his head up to look at me. Even with red eyes from crying, he’s the most beautiful person I’ve ever laid eyes on. God, how did I never realize this before now? It’s taking all my self-control to not lean forward and kiss him, but I know that’s not what he needs right now. Right now he needs me to listen and just be here for him.

“Sorry.” He starts to apologize.

“Nope, you don’t need to apologize for what you’re feeling.” I say, cutting off his apology.

“I didn’t want to worry you more.”

“So this isn’t the first time I take it? Avery, you don’t need to hide it from me; I want to be here for you.”

“I think talking about it might be a good idea. Keeping everything to myself isn’t helping.” He admits.

“When you’re ready, I’ll be here and ready to listen.” I tell him gently.

I’m not surprised when he lays his head back on my chest and starts talking. He needs to get everything out; bottling it all away isn’t healthy or helping. I can’t stop myself from becoming emotional as I listen to all the horrific things Rex did to try and get him to confess to what Megan had accused him of. God, I can’t even imagine the headspace Wreck must have been in knowing that he couldn’t confess to anything because he was innocent, and the torture was going to be never-ending. I thought I hated Megan before, but learning all the details of what Wreck was put through increases my hatred for the woman to a level I didn’t think was possible.

Two hours he spends telling me everything, and by the time he’s finished, he looks lighter. Like sharing the burden helped. He’s exhausted now though; his eyes keep dropping closed before he jolts slightly to keep himself awake.

“Sleep. I’ve got you, and you’re safe.”

He cuddles himself closer, his entire body pressed up against me, leaving no space between us. I wrap my arms around him tight, closing my own eyes to try and get some more sleep. The morning will be here before we know it, but hopefully it will be a better day for Wreck now he’s finally shared his burden.