Page 15 of Surrender

"Serenity. I can't help you if I don't know anything about you. You're safe here."

I raise an eyebrow skeptically at him. Am I safe? He was shouting at me an hour ago. But he apologized and said that he was afraid. I guess I get that. Being so scared, you get angry? And he was scared because he couldn't find me. He wasn't angry that I slept in the pantry, but scared.

Subconsciously, I squeeze his hand, only for him to thread his fingers between mine, fully holding my hand now. I know it's supposed to be comforting, reassuring, but it makes my heart rate speed up and my brain take off - wondering what it means.

He squeezes it again, dragging me back to the present.

"Oh, um. I felt safe there."

He's quiet as he watches me work through what I want to say. His face is still stormy, but his energy is calmer. "We didn't have a lot of money. So food was always scarce. I couldn't sleep last night after we got home, even though I was exhausted. But when I saw your pantry full of food, it felt... comforting. Safe." I swallow again, sure I'm not making any sense.

"There's something else, though...isn't there?"

I nod.

"A mental health thing?" He encourages.

"I have ADHD and generalized anxiety disorder. It makes a lot of things hard."

He nods thoughtfully. "Hence the pen and pad last night."

I nod. "Funny, isn't it?"

"Funny?"

"My name's Serenity... and I'm anything but serene."

"Do you take medication for it? Did you leave it at your house when you left? We can get you more." I appreciate how his brain went immediately to fix-it mode.

I shake my head. "No. I have a script but my parents fill it for themselves. They're..." I trail off. They're a lot of things, but talking about them is still hard. He frowns, and I add quickly, "I didn't like them anyway. One was a stimulant for my ADHD, but then the benzos were downers for my anxiety. On a good day they balanced each other out, on bad days I would pass out."

He nods. "I'd still like you to talk to someone, though. Dealing with both of those sounds miserable." I start to get choked up. No one in my life cared enough to try to help me. No one cared ifliving this way was miserable or not. No one cared to get me help or encourage me to seek help myself.

I let out a weary sigh before closing my eyes and resting my forehead against his shoulder.

"I need you to do something for me, though. Can you do that?"

I look up at him, eager to do anything I can for him. But lifting my head up from his shoulder means our faces are inches apart. His warm breath coasts against my cheek, causing me to shudder. I lean back to a safe distance as I watch his eyes drop to my lips.

My eyes widen in alarm. He clears his throat and leans back as well. "If you need something... if you can't sleep, I need you to come to me. No more running, no more hiding."

I shift uncomfortably on my seat and bite my lip. But he's given me a job, a place to stay, and seems to be really invested in my wellbeing. Why? I'm not sure I'll ever know.

"Thank you," I whisper. My very soul feels heavy and tired. Last night I was considering ending it all. Today, I have at least one person in my corner.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

Chapter ten

Serenity

An hour later, I'm sitting on the bench in his office while he texts and works on his computer. I'm still only wearing his undershirt and boxers, but apparently, we're waiting for someone to arrive.

There's a commotion by the front door as Magda greets a man.

Declan pushes his chair back. "Ah, there he is."

A tall, lithe man wearing what I think is a tan linen suit with a baby-blue handkerchief strides into the office. The air seems to mold itself to his presence and he takes up more space than he physically should. He's clearly Middle Eastern, thin, but gorgeous with impeccable taste in clothing.

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