Page 12 of Desolation

“No, I’m sorry. Dr. Rice said you can’t get your face wet right now. But I can run you a bath, if you want,” says Drake. “He will be back in a little bit to check you out again and is going to clean your face up with medical supplies. He’s worried about infections.”

Um, I don’t know about that. What if I can’t undress myself? The last thing I want is Drake helping me undress. Things are already weird enough. Also I didn’t even think about infections, but I guess they really did a number on me this time, so he’s probably right to be worried about that.

“I guess the bath will have to work, but if I can’t undress myself I’m going to wait till Reba gets back,” I say.

Drake looks a little disappointed but nods his head in agreement. Yeah, no way José. We are not going there.

He stands and goes into the bathroom. I hear him start the water and rummage around in the cabinet. After a few minutes, I smell a lavender scent coming from the bathroom and I assume that he has put some stuff in the water, bubbles maybe, or a bath bomb.

Coming back out, he strides over to the bed and then gently helps me to my feet. He wraps his arm around my waist and helps me into the bathroom, sitting me on the edge of the biggest bathtub I have ever seen in my life. Really it’s more like a small bathroom sized hot tub, with jets and steps to get in.

I’m never going to want to get out of this tub.

Drake lifts my feet and goes to pull off my sock. Jerking my foot out of his hand, I ask, “What are you doing?”

“Don’t worry, I’m just taking off your socks so you don’t have to bend down. I’ve had my fair share of face and head wounds so I know it hurts to bend down when you have them,” he says, reaching for my foot again.

This is so embarrassing. Internally groaning, I let him have the foot even though I don’t really want him to. He has a good point though. It does hurt to bend over when you are hurt like this. All the blood rushing to your head makes it pound so hard that it hurts even worse.

He stands after taking off both of my socks and brings a towel and washcloth over within reach, along with the fluffiest bathrobe I have ever seen. He sets everything down and says, “If you need anything, I’ll be right out here. Just yell.”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine. I’ve always done this alone before,” I say.

He growls. Literally growls. There has been a lot of growling in the last twelve hours.

“The fact that this has happened enough that you can take care of yourself when you are so hurt, makes me want to go kill them right now,” he says angrily. “You don’t have to do this alone anymore.”

Turning, he closes the door softly behind him.

Sitting on the side of the tub for a moment, I try to get my bearings. For one thing, I’m not used to someone actively trying to help me like this. Not to mention, I’ve never experienced this level of luxury or comfort. The robe, the massive bathtub, it’s very overwhelming. I don’t need Drake to wait on me hand and foot. Rolling my eyes to myself, I think,quite literally my foot.

I stand slowly and undo my pants, letting them and my panties slide down my legs. Halfway there. Sitting back down on the sideof the tub, I reach for the collar of my shirt, stretching the opening enough that I can pull my shirt over my face without touching it. My bra goes next.

Standing again, I slowly walk over to the mirror. Gasping when I see my reflection, I stare at the mess my face is. Tears start forming in my eyes. I look like I got jumped by at least five people. My face is swollen and a mass of blue and purple bruises.

My right side is much worse than the left and I see a gash just under where the socket is clearly broken. Ah, that’s why the doctor is worried about infection. My body isn’t any better. Bruises litter my arms, stomach, and legs, and the bruising on my ribs is killing me.

Slowly turning, I head back to the tub and carefully climb in, the hot water instantly soothing some of the worst spots on my body. Too bad I can’t just spend the next few days in this tub. Letting the water soothe my tired and battered body, I feel myself slowly drift off.

CHAPTER 9

DRAKE

The anger I feel when I look at Elodie’s face is almost more than I can handle. I don’t understand why her parents don’t see how precious and special she is. Drugs really mess people up. Something I’ve always been glad about is that our Familia doesn’t have anything to do with drugs. Pretty sure it’s only weapons. Well, we have casinos and a few other ventures too. Though no one has specificallysaid.

One thing my dad has always said though, is that we will never have anything to do with drugs. He doesn’t want to be responsible for things like what happened with Elodie because of some dealer. We don’t have anything to do with the skin trade either.

Unfortunately, other Families don’t feel the same and there’s good money in the drug and sex trafficking businesses. Now that I know Elodie’s parents are getting their drugs directly from Dominic himself, I’m going to have to have a meeting with my dad.

A knock on the door has me walking over to open it. One of the maids hands me several boxes of stuff that I ordered for Elodie. I probably went a little overboard. I didn’t have anything else to do when I was watching Elodie sleep last night and I felt like a creeper.

Clothes, hygiene products, a couple pairs of shoes, some house slippers shaped like teddy bears, and a couple of soft blankets for comfort. I also got a tablet for her and an Amazon gift card so she could order some books or whatever else she may want, along with a stand and page turner so she didn’t have to hold it up with her injuries.

She’s been in the bath a while, and I haven’t really heard any splashing. Should I go check on her? Should I wait until Reba comes back?

Walking over to the door, I knock. No answer. Fuck, did something happen to her? Reaching for the door handle, I realize that it isn’t locked. I thought she would have locked it behind me when I left but I guess not. Cracking it open I peer in and see that she has fallen asleep in the tub.

Shit. I’m going to have to wake her so she doesn’t drown but she isn’t going to be happy about it. Reba still hasn’t made it back yeteither. Walking all the way in, I can’t help but see her body since the bubbles are all gone. It’s a mass of black and blue bruises.

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