Page 16 of Light of Christmas

“He had her again.” Logan says quietly. My head snaps up and I see tears slowly rolling down her face.

I don’t move and wait for her to continue.

“H-He had her again but this time I was there too…And so was Mom.”

Shit. This is a bad one.

“He had us all sitting on the couch and was screaming at us so loud I thought my ears were going to burst. One second he was yelling and the next he was slamming Mom into the coffee table. He turned his back to me, and I tried to get him off her, but he threw me off him. And did that stupid laugh. When I got up, he had Mom and Allie by their throats. They were both crying, and I didn’t know anything else to do besides try and tackle him.

“I ran as hard as I could and hit him right in the stomach. He fell and when I tried to get to Mom and Allie they just disappeared. Then I felt him hit me and my back hit the ground. Just as he was about to do his signature fucking move, I woke up.”

Tears flow freely down her face. She sits forward as I open my arms and she climbs into my lap, burying her face in my neck.

Running my hand up and down her back and squeezing her tightly with the other. I feel her body starting to shake and know a panic attack is coming.

I hug her tighter and say, “I’m so sorry, Angel. You’re safe. He can’t get you anymore. I promise I will never let anything happen to you. You are strong. You are beautiful. Go to the waterfall. It’s a nice warm day and the sun is shining off the water…”

With her wrapped in my arms, I go through the routine of talking her down from a panic attack. Luckily, this one doesn’t last long.

Logan leans back and kisses me softly. “Thank you, Bear. I don’t know what I would do without you. You make me feel like the strongest person in the world. I love you so much.”

I kiss her cheek and brush a wet strand of hair off her face. “That’s because you are the strongest person in the world. I love you too, Angel. Are you okay now? Do you need anything?”

Logan hesitates for a second before saying, “I’m okay. But when we get out of the bath, can you text Lan and ask if Allie is okay?”

“Of course. Let me clean you up and get you back into bed and I’ll text him.”

I start washing her, but she stops me. “Can we sit in here for a little longer? I just want to relax in here with you for a while. My muscles are a little sore.” Her face heats up and it’s not from the water temperature.

I chuckle and she hides her face in my neck.

“You asked for it, pretty girl. I was only giving you what you wanted. You think you would be used to me fucking that sweet pu---”

Logan’s head pops up and shoves bubbles in my face. “Nope. Caveman wasn’t invited. I want my sweet teddy bear.”

We both stare at each other and then burst out laughing. I turn Logan in my arms, so she is sitting with her back to my chest, and she relaxes against me.

Resting my chin on her shoulder, with her hand tracing the lines of my tattoo on my arm, my mind drifts.

I still can’t believe how lucky I was that fate helped me find my light.

Chapter Ten

Logan

“Angel.Whatareyouup to?” Grayson asks as I point to the bathroom signaling for him to go get ready.

We only have a few days left at this magical place and it’s my turn to show my big guy he isn’t the only one capable of pulling off surprises.

Last night was…yeah.

I haven’t had that bad of a nightmare in a while. I hate that I still have them. I hate that he still has a hold on me, even though I put an end to his sadistic, demonic life. I hate that he hurt the person that is like my sister, and I can’t do anything to help her. But most of all, I hate that I still feel like a burden to Grayson.

This man has done nothing but show me kindness and love since I met him, but I still feel like we are stuck in this never-ending loop of him taking care of me. I know he says that he wants to, but at the end of the day, it sucks feeling like we are just biding time until my next breakdown.

And I know if Grayson could hear my thoughts right now, he would tell me to stop and that my emotions aren’t a weakness. He tells me to go to my safe place, the waterfall, or have Willow help me. But what he doesn’t understand is that he is my ultimate safe space. He is my home. And most importantly, he is my light.

I know I will get through this, and my hope is that one day, I can somehow repay the endless love and support. Whether that’s with the victims that Grayson and his brothers rescue. Or just showing Grayson that I can be his rock as much as he is mine.