Page 118 of About Love and Revenge

“Odin . . . I'm so sorry.”

“Don't be sorry. You can't blame yourself for what your father did. Even though I still have a score to settle with him, you rescued me from the darkness that has hung over my head during my entire adult life, and while it won’t be a permanent respite, it was enough to make me breathe again.”

I don't touch her. I need her to take the first step. When she finally does, coming into my arms and becoming a prisoner of my warmth, I allow myself to just feel.

To just live and breathe for a moment.

I leave any feeling that isn't this crazy love locked away.

“How can you love me? I’m his daughter.”

“How could I not love you? You are a part of me. I freaked out when I thought I'd lost you today.”

“I was terrified for you. I wasn't worried about me, but about him hurting you.”

“Nothing could stop me from coming back to you. I love you, Elina. I have no right to love you, but I love you.”

We spend over an hour in the bathtub.

She doesn't ask me what happened to the sheik, and despite what she started to say when I arrived, she hasn’t fully explained what Naim's threats were about. However, I'm sure it was something related to her dyslexia.

God, what would have happened to her if I hadn't stopped that sick man's attack that day in Greece? He would probably have subjected her to unspeakable things.

While I don't intend to bring up the sheik's death, mainly to protect her, we need to talk about other matters.

Day is already dawning, and we’ve spent a lot of time just feeling, lying in bed, but reality is right around the corner, waiting for us, and there is no escape anymore.

“We have to talk.”

Her face tenses instantly. “About what?”

“Everything,” I say. “First, I want you to know that your mother was dropped off at your sister's house yesterday afternoon. I had confirmation earlier today.”

"What do you mean ‘dropped off?’ Which of my sisters?”

“Larissa. Someone left Cinthya there. I don't know any more details, but I believe it was ordered by your father.”

“Why would he do something like that?”

“Because it's easier to run alone.”

“I'll look for her.”

I expected her to say that, and though I think she'll be disappointed, I can’t keep her in a gilded cage. To grow, Elina has to face her own problems.

“I'd like you to tell me about your past. Mainly about the dyslexia.”

“I already told you?—”

“You didn't tell me everything. You can trust me. You can always trust me. I will never let anybody hurt or use you again.”

“It's not easy to talk about it. Zoe knows everything because she was with me at the appointment, but I feel so ashamed.”

“Tell me.”

She averts her eyes. “I read very poorly, hardly at all in fact, and I write very little as well. The doctor said he thinks my type of dyslexia is visual, not auditory, because I have a good vocabulary. I explained that it's because I learned words from movies and cartoons, but I stopped studying when I was eight.”

“Why did you stop?”

---