Page 83 of The Moral Dilemma

Before she left the facility, she put in an order for his room to be refurnished as well as have a doctor look at his injuries again. Though she knew that might flag something for Sergio, she couldn’t sit by and do nothing—not when his well being was at stake.

After she got home, she took a shower and slept a little. Yet all too soon she had to wake up and start her day anew. Despite focusing all her attention on Raf, there were still things she needed to do to keep up the pretense that she was working at the facility.

Lucero hadn’t commented more on the situation, but Noelle noticed it wasn’t for lack of want—she was simply as stumped by the unusual situation as Noelle was. But she’d said her piece, and she was aware that nothing more she could say would have an effect on Noelle.

twenty

Noelle worked all day,sifting through business proposals and market research, only clocking out late in the afternoon. But as she checked once more on Raf, she noted it was his day off the drug. Although she usually went to see him as Lucero on all his sober days, that day she felt a pang in her chest at the thought of lying to him again.

How could she do it when she knew what it was like for him to call outhername? When she knew what it was like to have him love her for the real her? How could she ever go back to that?

But her treacherous heart won again. She was too selfish tonotgo to him just as she was too greedy for his company. Maybe they couldn’t be physical, but his voice alone was like a warm blanket on a winter day, giving her all the comfort she needed.

“Raf? How are you?” she asked as she settled comfortably against the wall with a small container of food. She’d had the same delivered to him earlier and she’d like to think she was sharing a meal with him.

“You’re here,” he said as he shuffled closer to the wall. “I thought you weren’t coming.”

“I heard you weren’t very well yesterday. I wanted you to get some rest.”

“Yeah… I don’t know what happened,” he sighed. “I woke up to a trashed room and the next thing I know is that some people are coming in to clean everything. A doctor came to see me, too, for an exam. He said I’d been more violent than usual and he needed to monitor me.”

“Do you know why?”

“No.” He let out a harsh breath. “ I can vaguely remember feeling angry but I don’t know why. But it must have been bad enough for me to hurt myself. I banged my head pretty badly.” He tried to laugh it off.

Noelle, however, wasn’t smiling. She knew exactly how he’d gotten that injury and she felt ashamed for lying to him and pretending she had no idea what he was talking about.

“Did the doctor look at it? How is it?”

“He did. It’s not too bad. He told me they’re going to change my drug schedule soon.”

Noelle frowned. She hadn’t heard of that.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m not entirely sure. He only told me from now on they’re going to administer it to me every two or three days. Maybe they want to see how I react to it when it’s not daily? I have no idea.”

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, her heart breaking for him. “But it won’t be for long, Raf. I’ve already figured out the details of our escape. It’s at the end of the month.”

“What?”

“I’ll give you more details closer to the date, but I want you to know I haven’t forgotten about you. We’re going to get out of here—together.”

“Lucero…” he trailed off, emotion evident in his voice. “You humble me with your words.”

“I promised you I’ll get you out of here, Raf, and I’ll keep that promise. No matter what. I’m not letting you waste away here.”

“Just… Please don’t take any unnecessary risks.”

“I won’t. I’m being very careful,” she assured him. “Although… I have one question. When you see me in person. Please don’t freak out.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just…” She bit her lip, unsure how much she should reveal. “Promise me you won’t freak out and you’ll hear me out first.”

He didn’t reply for a moment as he mulled over her words.

“I trust you,” he eventually said. “I promise I won’t freak out,” he told her, thinking she was having second-thoughts about her appearance.

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