Page 106 of Gamble with Me
“And that scary man?” she whispered, moving closer, and I enveloped her in a loving embrace.
“He’s a friend,” I replied, deciding to tell her about Zyon right away. She deserved to know, and if they should meet in the morning, I could prepare her. “His brother, on the other hand, is the man who owns this house.”
“Is he a vampire?” Zara uttered with wide eyes, staring deep into my soul when I burst out laughing.
“No.” I smiled, shaking my head. “He just likes dark colors.”
“Okay,” she exhaled, looking at the closed door. “Can I stay here with you?”
“Of course.”
I removed the cushions and helped her under the cover. I climbed in beside her, stroking her hair and holding her hand while my mind worked overtime to devise how to tell her that the house’s owner was also the man I loved.
“Mommy?” she addressed me quietly, snuggling closer. “Will Dad come here?”
“No, sweetheart.” I kissed her forehead, my heart clenching painfully. I couldn’t imagine what was going through her head.
“That’s great,” she whispered. “He won’t hurt us anymore.”
“No, he won’t,” I confirmed, tears burning my eyes. But then, another thought appeared. “Did he ever hit you?”
My heart missed a beat when she didn’t answer right away. I pulled away, cupping her face with my palms. It forced her to hold my look.
“Zara,” I said gently but firmly. “I need you to tell me the truth. Did your father ever hit you?”
“Only once,” she admitted, barely audible. “I yelled at him to stop beating my grandmother. He hit me, too, and left.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, horrified that Lisa hid this from me. She had no right to keep it a secret.
“You would’ve argued with him,” Zara sobbed, waterfalls of tears falling down her cheeks. “Then he would have beat you, too.”
“It doesn’t matter what would have happened, sweetheart,” I said, wiping her tears. “You don’t need to protect me. I’m your mom. It’s my job to protect you against anyone.”
“I just wanted him gone.” She burst into loud crying, her every sob breaking my heart a little more. I pressed her face against my chest and kissed her head as she shook in my arms.
“He’s gone, Zara,” I whispered, overcoming the urge to cry with her. I let it go too far. “He won’t ever come near you again.”
We stayed like that for almost half an hour. Zara fell asleep in my embrace almost immediately after she stopped crying, but I didn’t want to let go. My baby girl had gone through so much, and I didn’t even know about it.
Chester was much worse than I ever thought. In my stupid head, I persuaded myself he would never physically hurt his own child, but I couldn’t be more wrong. His actions were outrageous, yet my fear and naivety allowed them to happen. I was as guilty as him.
“Valeria.” Alice’s hushed voice cut through the fog that enveloped my brain as she stuck her head inside the room. I pressed my index finger against my lips and gently placed Zara on the cushion. I covered her neck to toe with a soft duvet and exited the bed, leaving the door open on my way out.
“She wanted to stay with me,” I explained when I joined Alice in the hall and leanedagainst the wall.
“That's understandable. Are you okay?” She came closer to me, still dressed in her costume. That was when I realized I was still wearing my mask, too.
“I don’t know,” I whispered, looking at the closed door. “Do you think these rooms have en-suite bathrooms?”
“Let’s find out,” she suggested, opening the closest door.
We entered another spacious bedroom, furnished similarly to the one I left Zara sleeping in. Thankfully, we quickly found the bathroom, and I could finally wash away the remains of last night from my face.
“Are you okay, Valeria?” Alice asked again, looking at my smeared makeup. “Tonight was crazy. It’s completely fine to feel conflicted and upset.”
“Chester hit Zara,” I disclosed, a lump forming in my throat as I stared at myself in the mirror. “He beat Lisa and hit her, too.”
“What?” Alice gasped, placing her hand on my shoulder. “That bastard.”
