Page 42 of Montana Silence

Standing, I caught her in her rush to me. “What—wh—” Her words ended in breathless nothing. Too much. It was too much.

“It’s all right,” I said. “I’m okay. Some bruises and this thing on my face.”

“But…”

I wrapped my arms fully around her, guiding her face into my chest, where she relaxed. “I went to get us breakfast. They jumped me on the way back and didn’t get far.”

“Who?”

“I’m not sure,” I said. “But I need to call the police and report it. Then we need to get to the airport. No way in hell we’re staying here longer than we have to.”

She nodded, holding me tighter.

Guilt flowed through me. This was the last thing she needed. “I’ll call the police while you get dressed and pack,” I said quietly before I pulled her away from me, solely so I could kiss her.

It wasn’t lost on me that she was only in a towel, and despite it being the worst timing in the world, I was only so strong. Her eyes were glassy when we broke apart. “I promise I’m okay, sweetheart. I promise.”

She pointed at herself, and there was a question in her eyes. Was this because of her?

“Do I think it was random? No. Malcolm had some people with him in court yesterday that were giving me nasty looks. But no matter what, it has absolutely nothing to do with you.” She was already shaking her head, and I didn’t let her, cupping her face with my hands. “You are never responsible for someone else’s choice of violence, okay?”

“Okay.” I hated how small she sounded, so I kissed her one more time the way I really wanted to, until I felt her relax once more.

She didn’t want to step away from me, and I didn’t want to let her go. As soon as I could, I would have her in my arms again.

I dialed the police.

“Nine-one-one, what is your emergency?”

“I was just attacked,” I told the dispatcher. “Jumped by some masked men on the street.”

“Are you currently safe?”

Was I safe? Werewesafe? I didn’t know. But that wasn’t what she was asking. “Yes. I managed to get away and return to my hotel.”

“What is your current location?”

I gave her the hotel’s address and more details about the attack. When I ended the call, the police were on their way. The front desk needed to know as well. Otherwise, they were going to freak out when police came into the hotel. They agreed to bring up a first aid kit after I called.

Not even ten minutes later, Mara was dressed and packed. I put our suitcases by the door and double-checked before opening the door to the hotel employee with the first aid kit. Mara grabbed it and grabbed me, sitting me down on the bed.

The kit was open, and she was going through it with hands that were way too skilled with the bare-bones supplies.

She reached for me, holding my face still as she cleaned the cut so gently I barely felt it. “Mara?”

No response. All of her was wrapped up in the singular focus of fixing me. A bandage she placeddidmake the wound feel better.

But while she was putting everything back into the box, Mara was distinctly avoiding my eyes.

“Sweetheart, will you look at me?”

Finally, she did, and I didn’t like what I saw there. Sadness and insecurity. Thankfully, I knew none of those emotions had to do with me. “You helped other people with injuries like this?”

She nodded.

“Thank you for helping me.”

I pulled her closer and savored the feeling of her while we waited, and the knock came far too soon.

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