Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Aaron's Honor (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Men of Mercy Book 8) by Lindsay Cross

never know for sure, not unless...unless...she ended up pregnant. Please, don't let it be true. Somehow being violated and not knowing it was worse than if they'd done it while she was awake. To be so defenseless…
    XXX
     
    Celine was literally falling apart right before his eyes and he didn’t have a damn clue what to do to stop it. She’d gone completely white when she looked under the sheet. Was he supposed to hold her? Or would having a man touch her make her worse? Did he need to call the Sister back in here?
    She shuddered and silent tears flowed from her closed eyes. Fuck, his chest felt like someone had stuck a blade in it and left it there to rust. He’d never felt so helpless. What was going through her mind? If only he could ask her without invoking more nightmares.
    She moaned and bent forward, the first sob breaking free and suddenly he knew what he had to do. His arms went around her, as natural as if they’d been molded for her, and he held her against his chest. Bleeding and sobbing with only a stained sheet between them, he held her.
    He’d never let her go.
    Her knees gave out, Aaron scooped her fluidly, sensing when she no longer had the strength to stand on her own. He didn’t care about anything or anyone else right now except the woman in his arms.
    He knew girls needed to cry sometimes, he’d learned that lesson from his sisters. Sometimes they cried for no reason whatsoever than a need to cleanse. Celine cried for a reason more real than she could handle on her own.
    Her sobs filled the room, each one ripping a little piece from his heart.
    He’d handle whatever she’d been through and he’d be here for her; hold her up so she wouldn’t fall to her demons. He had no clue about recovering from rape or captivity, but he’d do his damn best to do what he could for her and right now he did what felt right. He held her.
    Sister Mary Catherine eased open the door, saw them together and slowly closed it.
    Celine clutched his shirt, holding on to him like a life line. He embraced the fierce surge of protectiveness and eased onto the bed, settling her in his lap. Eventually, her sobs turned to soft sniffles and then to even softer pants as she strove for control.
    He remained silent, letting her figure her own way through. When she was ready, he’d be here.
    At least for now. The need for vengeance took a back seat to Celine’s anguish. He would avenge her. He had to. 
    But that couldn’t begin until Celine started her recovery.
    As gently as he could manage, he eased her from him and brushed back the hair that had stuck to her wet cheeks. He pulled the sheet tighter around her chest, making sure she felt safe and covered. Her arm had quit bleeding and now curled up around his neck, stained with dry red blood. “Talk to me.”
    He knew he couldn’t fix her problems for her, but he could listen, even if he was terrified of what she would say.
    She'd been held in captivity for over two weeks, there was no telling what type of nightmare she'd lived through. Sister Mary Catherine had seen no recent trauma with her exam, but that didn't mean she hadn't suffered in the beginning.
    “I don't know what to say.”
    He threaded his fingers through her left hand and eased her head down to rest on his shoulder. “You can say anything you want.”
    Her breath caught again as she fought for control, twisting his heart into all kinds of knots he didn't know if he could ever untangle. His job demanded he go to the worst places in the world to deal with the scum that infested the human race. He'd seen women more beaten than Celine, got up close and personal with all kinds of scary shit, but he'd never had it hit so close to home.
    God help him if she had been violated – he honestly wasn't sure if he'd be able to keep his shit under wraps.
    Celine drew in a ragged breath and Aaron squeezed her to him, trying to make her feel how he was here for her. “It's okay sweetheart. You don't have to talk about