Forgiving Nancy (Last Hangman MC, #5)(30)

We’ve been cuddling on the couch for an hour now and I’m pretty sure I should speak, but I have no idea what to say. Nothing I could say will help ease or erase the past. What surprises me the most is her positive attitude. Either she’s made peace with what happened and knows that nothing can change it or she’s hiding something more from me.

“You’re awfully quiet, Bennett.” The sound of Nancy’s voice brings me out of my thoughts.

“Sorry, got lost in my brain.” I look down at her and brush the hair from her beautiful face so I can see her.

“What were they about?” She asks as she nuzzles my hand.

“Nothing interesting.” I try to act nonchalant, but clearly I’m not the Oscar winning actor I thought I was.

“I’m not stupid, Bennett. You’re acting as if nothing’s happened, besides getting angry at first you haven’t shown me any emotion. Either you don’t care or you’re full of shit.” She glares at me with such intensity and I know I’m busted.

“I took a shit this morning so I’m good at the moment.” I grin messing with her.

“Don’t play with me.” She sits up and maneuvers herself until she’s straddling my thighs.

“I’m not but now that you’re sitting on my dick I’m getting all kinds of good thoughts.” I smirk and trail my fingers up her thighs.

“Stop it.” She reprimands me and slaps my hands away.

“Spoilsport.”

“Speak, now.” She folds her arms over her chest probably to make herself look tougher but really it’s just making her boobs look bigger. “Eyes up here, Pervert.” She groans.

“Alright, alright, I was just thinking about what you were forced to do and how unaffected you are about it all.”

“I have no idea how to explain this without sounding like a crazy person.” She sighs.

“Try me.” I sit us both up and wait for her to continue.

“When I refused to be the victim again, I had to change my view on it all, I had to just accept it and move on. If I didn’t then I would be a broken mess. I wouldn’t say that I’ve come out of it unscathed, I’m terrified of people taking advantage of me, I have trust issues, I have no friends or family, I have no on-”

“What about me?” I ask. If I’m being honest her words cut deep and I’m a little hurt.

“It’s not the same.”

“How is it not the same? I’m your friend, I was your boyfriend once. I’ll always be here for you. The MC welcomed you with open arms and the girls probably adore you already, so tell me how you have no one?” I say matter of factly.

“I…I don’t know, I mean before running into you I had no plan other than escaping or die trying. I have no idea what to do with myself, I’m a huge f*cked up mess of emotions.”

“Do you trust me?”

“Of course I do, Bennett.”

“Then let me take care of the bastards who took you. Let me help you feel safe, protected and loved. Tell me what you need and I’ll do it.” I stumble over my words slightly in my rush to get her to stay which earns me the sound of her beautiful laugh.

“Stop getting so excited. I’m not going anywhere, it’s not like I have anywhere to go.” She shrugs.

“You know what to say to hurt me, don’t you?” I sigh and rub my face.

“What do you mean?” she asks whilst resembling a deer caught in headlights.

“First by saying that you have no family and no friends, and now by telling me that you have nowhere to go.”

“Don’t be like that.”

“Don’t be like what? I’m offering you everything you’re asking for but it doesn’t seem good enough.”

“Oh my God, I forgot how stubborn and annoying you can be.” She huffs.

“You’re the only annoyingly hot person here, not me.” I chuckle messing with her, wanting the old times back. I missed our banter.

“Well that’s debatable.” She smirks.

“Fuck off.” I joke whilst shaking my head at her. “I just want to help and protect you, is that too much to ask?”

“I guess not? I’m not used to this anymore, Bennett.”

“I can understand that, but it’s not a good enough reason to be stubborn and say that you have no one in the world.” I squeeze her thigh and hope that she’ll get my point.

“I know, it’s just hard to go from having no one for five years and then suddenly have a large group of people all wanting to help. My trust issues are going crazy at the minute.”

“I know, but we’re the good guys. You don’t have to worry about anything, we’ll take care of it, including finding the person responsible and making them pay. You won’t be used anymore, my Gorgeous Girl, I’ll make sure of that.”

“What are you going to do?” she asks and I can hear the worry in her voice.

“Find those f*ckers and kill them all with my bare hands,” I tell her. I try to calm the rage and hatred I can hear in my tone but fail miserably.

“You can’t do that.”

“Why the f*ck not?” I look at her feeling shocked by her lack of faith in me.

“They are dangerous people, Bennett, you can’t fight them. Please.” She begs me and I hate saying no to her but this is too important.