Page 32 of Dangerous Deception

“Adelina. It’s okay. You’re okay. You’re safe now. I’m right here. I’m here. You’re okay. I’ve got you now, you hear me? I’ve got you.”

Every warning in my mind screams at me not to touch her until she’s been looked over by a doctor, but her sobs of pain carve right through me. Nothing in the world can stop me from wrapping my arms around her bare torso and pulling her tight against my chest.

Adelina doesn’t struggle. She winds her fists into the front of my shirt and pulls herself closer, sobbing brokenly against my shoulder. Her entire body quakes like a leaf. I keep one arm firm around her body while the other wraps around her head,as if by holding her against me, I can somehow protect her from everything that’s around her.

Not that it will help.

I got here too late.

I should have been faster.

I never should have left her alone in the first place.

“It’s okay,” I say softly, rocking back and forth while she curls her legs up against me and shoves herself so hard against me it’s like she’s trying to crawl to safety inside my rib cage. “I’ve got you. I’m right here. It’s over. You’re safe now, Adelina. You’re safe.” My voice cracks sharply, and while rage still stews underneath my skin, pain rises up.

Guilt.

“My…” Adelina chokes, her voice muffled against my shoulders. “My friend, Marie! We were… I don’t know where… Is she okay? We were just drinking, I don’t know where she is. Where is she? Where is she? I don’t know. I don’t understand, I don’t understand!”

She trips over her words, struggling to get them out past her gasps for air, and as her concern for her friend brings her voice to alarming volumes, she chokes and starts to hyperventilate.

“Adelina!”

Her body goes rigid against me and she pushes away from me, her mouth open as she gasps, but no air makes it past the tightness that’s consumed her.

“Hey! Breathe, Adelina. It’s okay, we’ll find your friend. You’re okay. You’re safe, okay? You see me? Look at me, Adelina. I’m right here. I’m right here. You’re safe.” It takes every ounce of strength I didn’t know I had to keep my voice as calm and as level as I can. I don’t know if it’s my voice that helps or the way I grasp her shoulders and bring her back against my chest, but she eventually gasps raggedly.

“Slowly,” I whisper against her head. “Breathe slowly. I’m here, sweetheart. I’m right here.”

As she dissolves back into sobs against me, I gather her up into my arms and stand from the soiled mattress. Turning, Vito is there with his jacket, which he drapes over Adelina’s naked body. She quivers in my arms, huddling into my chest and latching onto my shirt with her balled-up fists.

Vito and I don’t speak.

We don’t need to.

He’ll find the other girl, and he’ll take care of this.

Carrying Adelina out of the apartment, I use the jacket and my body to shield her from any stray eyes that dare wander in our direction while I hurry down the steps to where we messily parked the cars. This abandoned housing estate is a haven for drugs and crime.

Now I want to burn the whole fucking dump to the ground.

Adelina’s sobs don’t fade even when we get into the car. She curls up in my lap and cries while I hold her as tightly as I dare, tenderly stroking her hair.

“You’re safe now, sweetheart,” I murmur repeatedly.

I’m never letting her out of my sight again.

Adelina fallsquiet on the trip home. Her sobs turn into noiseless gasps of air, and then shock seems to consume her and she becomes utterly silent. She allows me to carry her into the estate and up to our bedroom, but when I mention letting the doctor take a look at her, she desperately shakes her head. Unwilling to leave her, I speak to the family doctor through the door, and she informs that me she’ll be back tomorrow but will remain on call if Adelina changes her mind.

She leaves some medication to aid with sleep, just in case.

As much as I want her to be checked over, I won’t pressure her into doing anything she isn’t willing to do.

After the doctor leaves, Adelina stands in the middle of the room with Vito’s jacket clutched around her shoulders. Her hair hangs in dirtied strands around her face, her makeup is all but cried off, and what skin I can see is stained with the dried blood of her attacker.

I have to help her.

“Adelina?” I say softly, approaching her slowly.

---