Peace and Joy, Broken

Summary

Damian Blackwood, the troubled heir of a powerful family, was terrified of thunderstorms. His autism made the sound unbearable.

Usually, at times like this, he would be curled up in my arms, trembling, listening to me read to him through a pair of custom-made noise-canceling headphones.

But tonight, the door to his bedroom was slightly ajar.

I stood outside with a glass of warm milk and saw Lily Miller, her clothes half-off, draped over him like a serpent.

A deafening clap of thunder split the sky. Damian arched his neck, a strangled scream tearing from his throat as cold sweat beaded on…