Page 17 of Save Me

“Of course,” I respond, taking her hand and leading her down the hallway toward the bathroom. However, as we approach the bathroom door, she freezes, her gaze fixated on it as if anticipating something dreadful to emerge. A frown creases my forehead as I observe the fear wash over her.

“You want me to go in with you?” I softly ask, I reach out and place my hand on her shoulder, causing her to flinch. Immediately, I retract my touch, lowering my hand to my side. Without uttering a word, she shakes her head, mustering the courage to step into the bathroom. Just as I reach for the door handle, preparing to close it for privacy, she whirls around and stops me.

“Leave it open, please,” she requests, her voice carrying a hint of vulnerability. I withdraw my hand,nodding understandingly, offering her a faint smile before turning and making my way to the kitchen.

My mind races with a whirlwind of thoughts. What happened to her? What the hell did he do to her? As anger begins to simmer within me, thoughts of revenge consume my mind.

I reach for a tumbler glass and pour a generous amount of bourbon, its rich aroma wafting up to my nose as I take a satisfying sip. I am going to find him and ensure he suffers, inch by painful inch.

Chapter 13

STARLET

Looking around the dimlylit bathroom, I do my best to avoid the mirror hanging on the wall. The sight of my reflection has been unbearable since the last time I saw myself. Pushing aside thoughts of that traumatic incident, I hastily turn on the shower, the sound of rushing water filling the room. Steam quickly rises, creating a hazy atmosphere.

Desperate to rid myself of any reminders of the past, I hurriedly strip off my clothes, the fabric falling to the cold tile floor. I can’t believe I managed to escape. It still feels like a surreal dream, as if I’ll wake up any moment.

My hands tremble as I grasp the bottle of shampoo, its familiar scent providing a small sense of comfort. Imassage the lather onto my scalp, feeling a sigh of relief escape my lips.

Yep, this is a dream.

After thoroughly washing my hair and scrubbing my body with intensity, almost to the point of pain, I cautiously step out of the shower, reaching for the nearest towel. The softness of the fabric wraps around me, offering a momentary solace. But then it hits me—I don’t have any other clothes to wear.

Inhaling deeply, summoning my courage, I call out, my voice hoarse and weak, “A-Argent?” Within seconds, his imposing figure appears in the doorway.

“You okay?” Concern etched on his face, causing a faint smile to tug at my lips.

I brace myself for his eyes to wander over me, reminiscent of our first encounter. Back then, I also only had a towel wrapped around me, but this time—nothing. His gaze remains locked with mine, unwavering. The fear that he may never look at me the same way again creeps into my mind, tying knots in my stomach.

“Um, yes, I just... I don’t have anything to wear,” I softly admit, averting my gaze and staring at the floor.

“I’ll find you something,” he replies, his voice steady, before disappearing from my sight. While I wait for him to return, I steal a glance at the mirror, and my heart shatters all over again.

No wonder he doesn’t look at me—I’m hideous. Tears well up in my eyes as I take in the reflection before me. Zavier ruined me—he ruined everything. As I tear my gaze away, a gasp escapes my lips as Argent silently appears in the doorway, the creaking of the wooden floor under his weight reaches my ears. He is holding a shirt and what seem to be boxer shorts.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” he softly apologizes, his voice barely above a whisper. A frown slowly forms on his face, deepening the lines of worry. With gentle steps, he approaches me, his warmth radiating as his hand brushes against my cheek, wiping away a stray tear. The sensation of his touch against my skin is both comforting and electric.

“Don’t cry, little star,” he murmurs, his words like a gentle melody that soothes my shattered heart.

Unable to contain my emotions, I find solace in his embrace, wrapping my arms around his waist as sobswrack through my body. The sound of my muffled cries fills the room, drowning out the silence.

“I thought you were dead,” I manage to choke out, my voice trembling with fear and relief. His eyebrows knit together in confusion.

“What—why would you think that?” His tone carries a hint of concern as his eyes lock onto mine. Searching for answers, I gaze up at him, taking in the intricate details of his face—the worry lines etched on his forehead, the intensity in his emerald green eyes.

“Your accident.” Is all I manage to say before he slowly breaks free, placing both hands on my shoulders.

“How do you know about that?” His tone is more serious as his eyes fixate on mine.

“Zavier—h-he said you're not l-looking for me because y-you were killed in the accident,” I stammer between sobs, the words tumbling out incoherently. Anger flashes in his eyes, momentarily clouding the warm glow. He closes his eyes, inhaling deeply, before meeting my gaze once again.

“I’m right here, baby. I never stopped looking for you,” he reassures me, his voice a gentle caress. Pulling me closer, he envelops me in his strong arms.

The realization that I’m free from that miserable place still hasn’t fully sunk in. As I sink into Argent’s warm embrace, tears uncontrollably stream down my face, mingling with the comforting scent of mint and a faint trace of alcohol. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be than with him.

Chapter 14

ARGENT

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