Page 74 of Redemption
It’s strange to think, but I’m thankful she at least had someone to help her cope, even if it’s all in her mind. I guess, in the same instance, I should be grateful she met those guys as well. In my absence, they’ve kept her safe, taught her how to survive, gave her a reason to continue living.
I creep up to the bedroom, pushing open the door slightly to see the angel still fast asleep on the bed. Her cheeks are rosy and full. Her hair is strong and longer than I remember. Her luscious curves are visible even from where she lies beneath the blanket. With the lack of resources and the amount of foot travel I’m sure she’s endured over the past year, she should be skin and bones. But she doesn’t look much different than she did the last time I saw her. Sure, her hair is longer and her facial features have aged slightly—as expected—but her body’s silhouette is remarkably similar. Which can only mean one thing: they’ve made sure she’s taken care of. They’ve kept her fed, even when food is scarce. Kept her healthy. Body and soul.
Regardless of what I think of their relationship, I have the utmost respect for the men they are. They’ve taken my placein her eyes, but rightfully so. If what I suspect is true, they’ve earned the heart of the fiercest woman I’ve ever known.
Ever will know.
Alessandra stirs in her sleep. The movement draws her dog closer until she’s settled against her chest, her weight and soft fur soothing the worry lines between her brows until she exhales contentedly and drifts back into her dream with a soft smile on her lips.
A similar smile graces my own mouth as I watch over her, knowing what I’m doing for her is the right choice. That finding and reuniting her with her guys is the right choice. Keeping that smile on her face, regardless of my own happiness, is the right choice.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Aly
Soft whines vibrate against my stomach. Midmorning sunlight beams in through a nearby window, the broken yet bright streaks trailing across my closed eyelids. A heavy pressure lingers at my back, offering the reassurance I need to know that I’m not waking up alone in a strange place. But none of those sensations pull at my awareness like the echoed malevolence growling against the outer walls.
I jerk awake, eyes wide and heart pounding at the familiar, bone-chilling noise as I turn to Darius seated on the edge of the bed. He lifts a hand, his open palm facing me with asteadyindication. His other hand lifts to his lips, one finger poised against his mouth as he studies the horrors that await just outside.
Bending over me, he brushes his lips near my ear and, in hushed tones, whispers, “We must have left a trail. They’ve been here for over an hour now. Dozens of them surround the place, so try not to make any abrupt sounds.”
A trail.
A fucking blood trail.
My blood.
Shit.
I glance around the room, noting the two mostly darkened windows. Darius, at some point while I was sleeping, quietly secured the room, placing dressers and tables against the fragile glass. From what I gather, it’s been sufficient enough to keep the threat from crashing in. But with the house surrounded, that also means we can’t get out.
We’re trapped.
I gasp as our eyes meet, but I don’t have to say anything for Darius to know exactly what I need.
He lifts my hand and places it between his two much larger ones. The heat radiating off his palms is enough to soothe my overexerted mind, but he takes it another step further. “It’s going to be ok, Mi Alma. Nothing is going to happen to you. I’ll make sure of it.” He’s so calm when he says it, the words rolling off his tongue as if he just knows it to be true. And, as I gaze into his eyes, I know it as well.
Trust is vital and isn’t something easily gained once it’s lost.
But, with Darius, I know in my heart he would never let anything bad happen to me. Back in the woods, and when we arrived here, I admit I might not have reacted as such. His allegiance, or lack thereof as he indicated, to the Phoenix Rising cult left too much to chance. Deep down, however, I think I knew I had nothing to worry about. Even after hearing about his association with the community, I still followed him to this safe house. Still trusted him enough to keep my best interests in his heart. To keep me safe.
A walking red flag on the surface when all I see is green.
I know I shouldn’t cave to his whims so easily, but even now, he’s showing the Darius I knew from all that time ago. The one I would have walked to the edge of the earth to find. He let me sleep undisturbed while he took the time to quietly barricade the windows and doors, protecting me all while sticking to my side to ensure it.
He squeezes my hand between his before letting go to stand up. With silent steps, he goes to the corner where his pack is and opens it, searching for something inside. When he returns, he smiles and places a stiff honey-oat granola bar in my hand, retaking his seat on the bed with one of his own. Together, we sit and eat. Well, Darius sits. I stay right where I am, curled up in the fetal position with Sadie still pressed against my chest and stomach. I make sure to place little tidbits of my bar down on the blanket for her to nibble on, and, before long, our meager breakfast is finished all too soon.
Eager to figure out what the hell we’re going to do, I start to sit up but stop as blinding pain rips through my abdomen. My brows furrow as I wince, trying to force the ache away only to have to wait until the torment decides it’s through with me. “Shit,” I whimper breathlessly.
“Alessandra?” Darius asks, concern coating my name as it rolls off his tongue.
“I’m fine,” I say in return, but the questionable look on his face shows he doesn’t believe me at all. “It’s nothing,” I continue, willing it to be true. But I know it’s beyond my efforts. No matter how much I want to find the guys, no matter how much I need to know they’re safe, no matter how much it’s killing me to have to remain here and make no forward progress towards helping them escape whatever hell they’re going through, I can’t get to them like this. Sure, I could probably infiltrate the town, butwhat use would I be if I needed to put up any sort of fight when I can’t even properly sit upright in a fucking bed?
Not to mention...
The ominous presence lingering just outside that refuses to leave.
“Fuck...,” I curse to myself, miserable with the fact there’s nothing to be done even if I did push through the pain.
