“We’re going to kill you, you fucking cunt,” I bark, following Oak on his search with Elliot and Theo right on our heels.
“Olivia,” Oak sobs when he swings the next door open and his eyes land on her.
Dale is still climbing from the floor, his hands at his waistband. My heart sinks into my fucking feet, and before I even get a chance to glance at Olivia. I fly at him, the beast inside me taking over.
“Motherfucker,” I bark, colliding with him and slamming my fist into his stomach, forcing him to stumble back. “Don’t you fucking run from us, you coward.”
My fists rain fury down on him, fucking up his face in a couple of solid punches before Oak joins me, landing a few brutal blows of his own that send Starling crashing to the floor.
But that doesn’t stop us.
And it’s not until Olivia’s sobs crack through the red haze that has descended over both of us that we pause.
“Oakley, stop, please.”
He falls deathly still beside me, hanging his head and squeezing his eyes closed.
Turning around, I finally look at Olivia. Tears stream down her cheeks, her bottom lip trembling as she wraps her arms around herself as if she’ll fall apart without them.
“P-please, Oak. I need you.”
All the air rushes from his lungs and he spins, rushing toward her and gathering her up in his arms.
Her sob rips through the air as she clings to him as if the world is going to crumble around her without him.
He might be her brother, her twin brother, but jealousy surges through me as she cries into the crook of his neck.
“We’ve got you, Liv.”
Elliot and Theo step forward, both placing their hands on her in support.
“You’re safe, Olivia,” Elliot breathes as I stand there like an outsider once more.
Pain carves through my chest as I watch, but it’s nothing compared to the moment Olivia lifts her head from Oak’s shoulder and her eyes collide with mine.
3
OLIVIA
“Get her inside,” Fiona says, ushering Oakley into the house as he carries my trembling body in his arms.
“Maybe we should call—”
“N-no,” I croak, clinging to my brother. “I’m okay. You can put me down now.”
But Oak doesn’t loosen his grip, marching straight through the house and up the stairs as Dad, Reese, and the guys stay downstairs.
“What the hell happened?” Fiona asks as we arrive at my bedroom door.
“Dale fucking Starling.”
Just the mention of his name sends a violent shudder through me.
“Shh, I got you.” Oak lowers me gently on the bed and perches beside me. “I’ll kill him,” he breathes. “I’ll fucking kill—”
“I’m fine.” The lie spills out because Oak needs to calm down, and I need to pull myself together. But Dale’s touch is imprinted on my skin, and his cruel, vile words are ingrained on my mind. Not to mention the fact that I’m covered in his—
Vomit rushes up my throat, and I dart off the bed into my bathroom, making it in time to shove my head into the toilet.