Page 48 of Bratva Wolf

SCARLET

We arrive home from the hospital. Thane took me and two of the other women. They each promised not to include Thane and his group as part of their story if anyone asked.

I’m dozing in and out. The doctor checked the baby, and he’s good. He’s a boy. Thane is ecstatic about the baby and hovering around me like a mother hen. Amazingly enough my shoulder didn’t have any tendon or ligament damage. I’ll need to follow up with an ortho when we get back home. The door opens and I jerk upright.

“Shh. Red. It’s just Wystan.”

I move my sore arm and cry out. My shoulder is killing me.

Wystan is lit up from the hall light. Thane brought the two of us to a different room in the large man’s house so I could rest.“Anatoly got clothes for the women, and he’s taking them all to the bus station. Are you feeling okay?”

I use my good arm to push off Thane. “Yes.”

“Thank you for taking care of the women, Wystan.” He nods as he closes the door. Thane murmurs. “We run a charity now. Each of them have some cash and tickets to get home.”

“You know it’s the right thing to do.”

“Yeah. It is. I’m just glad to have you safe in my arms.”

THANE

We’ve been back in New Jersey for a week, and I can’t keep myself away from Red. The OB/GYN gave her and the baby a clean bill of health. The ortho agreed with the ER doctor’s assessment and told Red to wear a sling and start physical therapy in another week. I run my hand through my hair. I’m a mess. Red doesn’t want to leave the penthouse, and I can’t argue, even though I understand she needs to get out and live again.

Red steps into my den. “Thoughts on dinner?”

I stand up and stalk to the door. She’s beautiful. The bruises on her face are fading, and she seems to be moving easier. I pull her gently into my body. “Let’s have dinner out.”

She stiffens. “I… I’d rather eat here.”

“I know, but I’d like to take you out. The quiet Italian place you like?”

She pushes off my body and walks away. She has these moments when she wants distance between us. I suggested she see a professional for her trauma, and she’s continued to decline. She turns and speaks over her shoulder. “I’ll go, but I want Chinese.”

I beam. She’s trying and I’m ecstatic.

THREE WEEKS LATER

THANE

I startle awake. “What?”

I reach for Red. She’s curled up on the edge of the bed, hugging the side.

“Red?”

She screams and my head explodes. I touch the light on the nightstand to turn it on, illuminating the room as her voice raises in pitch.

“Red!” She reaches for me, sobbing, as I wrap my arms around her. “This can’t go on. You have to see someone.” Red pushes against me, and I hold her in place. “You will agree.”

She squirms out of my arms and stands, staring from beside the bed. “Fuck you.”

“Whenever you’re ready.”

The realization that we haven’t had sex since she was abducted four weeks before slams into her face. Her hand covers her mouth. Shit. I shouldn’t have said that. “I know you aren’t ready. You’re more important than my dick.”

She drops her hand. “It’s been a month. You can’t live without sex and I…”

I slide my legs over off the bed and stand. “I have lived without sex for longer than that.”

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