party, and even worse for having a fight break out in someone else’s home.
“Roman.” Ivan’s deep voice fills the air as he shoves from his chair. He starts walking over to us as if his presence will make everything better. I’m standing as well now, attempting to hold Roman back, but there’s no point. He is stronger than me, and like a bull seconds away from charging. I don’t blame him for getting mad. I just don’t want him to get hurt…or hurt anyone else in the process.
“Stop…” I whisper.
Hero shakes his head, a sinister grin on his lips. “I know where Elyse came from...which means I know where Sophie came from, and I can tell you now they didn’t escape one abusive shit storm just to be placed in another.”
“Hero,” Elyse gasps in shock, but Hero shakes his head, gazing down at her as if to say shut up. He’s pouring salt into a bloody wound and I’m not going to have it.
“He didn’t mean to hurt me. It was an accident,” I growl, feeling overly protective of Roman. Hero doesn’t even look at me, he keeps his eyes on Roman, who’s more than seething with rage right now.
“That’s what they all say...I would know. I killed both, my step father, and biological father for hurting people I love.” I shake my head, feeling the tears sting my eyes. So much death, mayhem, chaos. I feel Hero’s eyes on mine, and when I gaze into them I see sympathy, and compassion swirling together.
He understands what Elyse and I have gone through, but so does Roman. Roman sees my fears, my sadness, my anger, he knows what it was like for me, and what happened was nothing more than an accident.
“Look at her one more fucking time and I’ll gouge your eyes out of your fucking head.” Roman’s voice is dark, and I don’t doubt one bit that he will follow through with his threat.
Hero laughs, “Right, because you’re such a big bad man now. Why don’t you step around the table and put your hands on someone your own size?”
And that was the straw that broke the camel's back. Roman is rounding the table in a second flat, Ivan hot on his heels, pulling Roman backwards stopping him dead in his tracks. Roman just shrugs from his brother’s hold, landing a closed fist against his cheek.
“Enough.” Xander stands, oozing power and control. Clearly he had enough of the bullshit taking place in front of him. “Roman go calm the fuck down. Hero, sit down and shut the fuck up.” Hero eyes Roman one last time before listening to Xander and taking his seat.
Roman grits his teeth, slamming his fists onto the table once more before walking out of the room. I start to move toward him, when Ivan’s hand clamps down on my shoulder halting my movements.
“Maybe let him be alone for a while? He’s kind of out of control. I don’t think he would hurt you, but he hasn’t been himself lately.” Red hot rage surges through my veins, and pulses in my ears. How could he be so rude? This was his fault…I shrug his hand off my shoulder.
“Your brother’s not abusive Ivan. I know abuse. I lived it, breathed it, and watched it happen every single day of my life. Yes, he scared the hell out of me, but he’s never hit me or physically hurt me in any other way. He made a bad choice. There’s a difference, and I won’t let you make him think so badly of himself over it.”
Ivan doesn’t say anything, and even if he did I wouldn’t stand around and listen. My body is already moving, my feet running across the floor. I don’t care what anyone in that room thinks of him. The only thing that matters to me is him. I’ve seen him in his weakest, darkest moments. Even when he was high on those pills he was still worried about me, he still wanted me and cared for me. I run up the huge staircase and down the long hallway until I reach the door to our room. It’s partly ajar, and nervous anxiety washes over me as I push it open the rest of the way and walk inside. I don’t know what state I’ll find Roman in, but I know whatever it is, it’s one he’ll need me to get through.
All I hear are Roman’s heavy breaths and I shut the door, letting it click