Page 54 of The Dark Obsession

I lie there, watching him from my end of the bed. I struggle to focus as the room spins around me. I feel miles from him, even though if I am to just reach out, I could touch him.

He regards me for a long time. He seems perplexed, his eyebrows furrowed unevenly. “Rosalie,” he whispers, watching my lips in the dull light.

I nod in acknowledgement.

He props himself on his elbow, turning his whole body to face me. “You’re so brave.” Awe and amazement fill his eyes.

I can’t stop my eyebrow from rising so high in confusion.

“Just … Everything you’re going through and you’re still so strong.”

“This isn’t easy for me.”

“I know.”

“You know, I don’t think I’d cope with this half as well if I didn’t have you here.”

A look of grief crosses his face as a silent tear builds in the corner of my eye. He slides closer to me in the bed, and his cool arm slithers under my back and heats up within seconds. “I like it when you cry,” he murmurs.

The tears stream faster down my cheeks, and I turn my face against Rafael’s chest.

“It reminds me that you’re only human,” he whispers, and his lips brush my hair, “like the rest of us.”

I cry silently on his chest for a few minutes more, his hand carefully rubbing my back. “Sorry …”

Rafael’s thumb runs across my face to wipe away what’s left of my tears, and he kisses my head once more. “Sleep, Rosalie. Tomorrow is a new day,” he says gently, almost as if he is singing a soft lullaby.

“Wait,” I whisper, my eyes barely open.

“Yes?”

His chest still nestles my face, and I kiss his warming body once and let my dizzy eyes close.

Chapter 20

Iopen my eyes, the room a blur. I hear the quiet singing of the early birds and feel a cool breeze coming from the balcony. I snap my eyes shut again, pretending to sleep, when I hear a voice chattering quietly on the balcony.

“Yes, it’s not right. The police still won’t do much about what Rosalie is saying,” I hear Adriel say.

“Dale has done more than enough to warrant arrest,” Rafael replies in a strained voice.

“Dale is a well-respected man and rich. Money talks, Rafael.”

“I’m worried he will come for her again,” Rafael says quieter.

“Then, be ready. I agree with the possibility of Dale being involved in Eliza’s case. Now the police will call him in for questioning today, although I really can’t imagine them having enough evidence to keep him past questioning,” Adriel says a bit louder now. “Does she know about …?”

“Don’t be daft. I can’t …” Rafael’s voice turns into a whisper.

My heart throbs uncomfortably, and I jump up fast, focusing on the balcony door. I tumble dizzily to the floor. The world spins as my head bounces on the hardwood. I get up again, and the room spins worse now than it was last night. I ignore it as much as possible and stumble to a very shocked Rafael.

Adriel stares at me, his eyebrows raised comically high.

“What did you say?” I point at Adriel.

“W-what?” He turns to Rafael.

“What did you hear?” Rafael answers instead of Adriel.

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