I'm not okay

Chapter thirty-eight

He looks at the sleeping Ace and Alessia, cuddled up together as a small smile raises on his lips before darkness takes over him.

————

Ace's POV.

When I awake for the second time Alessia is still sleeping soundly in my arms.

I stroke her back up and down as she snuggles further into me.

I smile a little.

My little Al.

I'm glad she didn't get hurt physically.

Really glad.

Asher got his bed moved closer to mine before we'd even woken up which is good.

I won't be able to go without him for a while after what happened.

Him leaving will only result in him getting hurt or kidnapped again.

I can't live without Asher.

He's my twin, he's a part of me.

Even though he can annoy me a lot, I love the guy more than anything.

The little girl in my arms starts to stir a little.

Even in her sleep she doesn't look at peace.

Something happened to her while we were gone.

"What happened?" I ask Nick.

He looks at me confused, "what do you mean?" He asks.

"Something happened to Alessia, she doesn't...she looks so scared and sad, more then before." I tell him.

He looks at me as realization starts to kick in.

"She blames herself for what has happened because she wanted that ice cream. The guilt is eating her alive. She had a flashback before you woke up as well." He informs me.

I look down at her in sadness.

Why would she blame herself.

"There's something else" I observe, "there's something you aren't telling me" I tell him.

He stays quiet for a few seconds before talking, "there is but..I don't know if she wants the rest of our brothers to know so I'll talk to her when she wakes up" he tells me.

I nod my head as I run Alessia's back up and down.

Her eyes flutter open and when she sees my face, a lot of different emotions start to appear on her eyes.

Confusion, sadness, anger upon seeing my bruises and....fear.

Fear directed towards me.

What?

"Hey Al" I greet her.

She looks at me hesitantly, "are you mad at me?" She asks.