Page 34 of Rami

And now, now he’d be gone. Just like that.

She forced her head to nod. “Okay,” she whispered.

He winked and backed toward the open front door, stepped into the sunshine, and was gone. Panic assailed her, but her feet were rooted to the hardwood floor, preventing her from running to the door and begging him not to leave.

To stay and protect her.

“Ivy?” Gigi called from the doorway, an understanding smile on her lips. “Come. Let’s get you settled and you can take a bath.”

Ivy dashed away her tears and took her sister’s hand. “Sorry. I don’t know why I’m emotional. It’s all just—”

“Don’t be sorry,” Gigi said admonishingly. “Ever. The police want to come and take a statement from you. But you should leave Rami out of the details of your rescue.”

They reached the guest room down the hallway from the kitchen. The bright space forced some of the darkness from Ivy’s heart. A fluffy white comforter covered the bed along with a dozen lilac-and-navy-colored pillows—Gigi the pillow whore had probably just bought them.

A bright painting of a garden hung above the bed, and a wooden desk sat near the double doors that opened onto the patio, where the pool and hot tub took up a chunk of the half-acre lot.

“If you’re not comfortable being on the ground level, we can move you. But this room is my favorite. It has a huge soaker tub and is more private than being upstairs with me and Todd. Plus, it’s close to the kitchen,” she said with a wink. “I stocked up on all your favorite snacks.” She gestured to a small basket on the bed loaded with several varieties of Ivy’s favorite dark chocolate. “See?”

Ivy sank onto the mattress and pulled her sister down beside her. “Thank you”—she spread her arm wide—“for all this. I won’t stay long. Just enough to get my feet under me again, and as soon as I’m ready to return to work, I’ll move back to my apartment.”

Gigi’s eyebrows snapped together over her hazel eyes, which were an exact copy of Ivy’s. “Don’t be ridiculous. I want you to stay as long as you can—forever, actually.” She waved that off. “We’ll talk more later. For right now, you need rest before the police start asking you questions.”

“What am I supposed to say?”

“Just that you woke up in an alleyway, found a phone, and called me. That’s all you remember.”

“Why can’t I tell them about Rami?”

She shrugged. “I think they just want to lie low.” She rolled in her lips. “I also paid them under the table and, well, that could pose a problem for them. Plus, I didn’t tell Todd about the money.” She grimaced sheepishly. “I know he wouldn’t care, but with August and I having a”—she cleared her throat—“past, it’s just better this way.”

Ivy’s stomach tangled into knots. She hated lying, but at the end of the day she was home and what did it matter? “Okay.”

Gigi let out a heavy sigh, probably sensing Ivy’s hesitation. “I was desperate to find you. I took money from the safe. It was money he’s saved for emergencies over the years and, well, this was an emergency. Can you stick to the story?”

Ivy nodded slowly. “Yeah, of course.”

Gigi relaxed. “Good. Rest up and I’ll make you lunch.”

Three hours later she’d had a bath, eaten stir-fry, and drunk a green smoothie that tasted like grass, no doubt packed with the most nutritious things in Gigi’s pantry. Given that her sister was a chef and professional food blogger, Ivy was always happy to eat anything Gigi made.

Talking to the detective after lunch had been a little less pleasant. But under the policewoman’s sympathetic, watchful eyes, Ivy had been somewhat comfortable.

With little else to go on or question, the police had taken her story and left. Then her parents had arrived. Their tearful reunion had warmed Ivy’s heart. Her mom’s green eyes searched Ivy’s for answers, but she hadn’t pushed for information. Which Ivy was grateful for. She knew that as time went on, she’d find it easier to disclose more about her imprisonment and rescue, but for now she just wanted to hug her family.

She’d seen her dad cry only once before, when his mother died, ten years ago. But he hadn’t hidden his relief when he held her, thanking God over and over for her safe return.

Now, hours later, the house was finally quiet and exhaustion had Ivy curled up on the couch, a blanket wrapped around her and a cup of tea warming her hands. An untouched chocolate bar waited for her on the coffee table. She hadn’t found an appetite for the sugary treat.

“Where’s Todd?” Ivy asked Gigi, as her sister sat next to her with a mug in hand. Todd had welcomed the police and sat for a few minutes during her questioning and then left to take a business call in his office. He hadn’t come down the whole time her parents had been at the house, but according to Gigi, he was always busy with work.

“Oh, probably working still. It’s been a rough couple of weeks. He’s been so distracted—we all have.” Gigi quickly placed a hand on Ivy’s lap. “God. I’m sorry. Listen to me act like we had things bad when you were going through all that.” Gigi’s eyes turned glassy.

Ivy knew her sister better than she knew herself. All day she’d been peppier than a cheerleader who’d had too much caffeine. Gigi didn’t do well with showing emotion and often resorted to plastering on a smile and powering through rather than breaking down.

“You’re allowed to say you struggled,” said Ivy firmly. “I would’ve been a wreck if the roles had been reversed. I’m glad Todd put work aside and focused on you.” Todd was sometimes a workaholic, but by the sounds of it, he’d been a rock for Gigi.

“He really did,” Gigi admitted. “I’m grateful for his support because I was a basket case.”

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