Mark held Kendra for what felt like forever. Her small, shaking frame against his made his chest ache in a way he couldn’t describe. He had never felt this level of helplessness before. He was a man who fixed things, handled problems, took control. But this? This was something he couldn’t fix with his fists.
Kendra’s sobs had softened, but she still clung to him, as if letting go would shatter her completely. Mark ran his hand over her hair, slow, soothing, trying to ground her, trying to remind her that she was safe now.
Finally, her breathing evened out, and she shifted slightly, her head still resting against his chest. “You weren’t answering your phone,” she whispered, her voice hoarse, barely audible.
Mark swallowed the lump in his throat. He had seen her texts too late, ignored hi
