Page 29 of Love Me Gently

She handed me a card with an address. A time. Nothing else. “What’s this?”

“Meet us there. You have a hotel room? I’d offer you a bed at our house, but if Jonathan finds out…”

“I’ll sleep in my truck if I have to.” I packed for days considering I had no idea what I was walking into, but I’d try to get a hotel for the night.

“Okay then. Tomorrow.”

“Give me a minute with her.”

“If Jonathan comes…”

“Then you’ll have to handle that. One minute. Alone.”

“Okay.” She walked toward me and set her trembling hand on my shoulder. “Please. Ineedher safe from him, and I don’t think she has the fight left in her to do it herself. Please tell me she’ll be safe with you.”

“She lets me take her home, and I can guarantee she’ll be in the safest place in the world for her.”

Valerie must have seen the truth flaring in my eyes because she nodded once, squeezed my shoulder, and let go. Once the door clicked shut behind her, I turned back to Trina and got close to her ear.

“You told me you didn’t go by Trina anymore, but I don’t care because that’s who you are and who you’ve always been. I don’t know who that monster has made you into, but we’re going to get you safe. Get you someplace warm so you can heal. You have my word, Trina. I’ll take care of you.”

My hand had drifted to hers and her fingers flinched. I glanced down, squeezed her hand back and her fingers tightened around mine.

“You can hear me, I know you can, honey, but right now you gotta pretend I wasn’t here. Valerie and I will get you safe. We’ll get you back to all the people who love you and can help you, okay?”

Her head fell to the side, so she was facing me. Her eyes fluttered like she was trying to open them, but I didn’t want her to wake and see me.

Hearing me could be bad enough if she mumbled something while Jonathan was there.

“I love you, Trina.” I leaned down and gave the softest lip brush to her forehead. It was one of the few areas of her face that hadn’t been destroyed. “Swear to God, I kept my word. I don’t hate you, couldn’t keep doing it, and I still love you. We’ll get you through this.”

Me. My parents. Hers when she was ready.

She was never going to be alone again with that monster.

I’d make sure of it.

The door opened and I twisted to see Valerie peeking her head in. “Just saw the elevators open. Get out.”

“Tomorrow.” I dropped Trina’s hand and hurried to the door.

“Tomorrow,” Valerie promised.

I turned left down the hall instead of right and ducked into an alcove where there were snack machines and hospital coffee machines. Other items lined the shelves, like a pantry for those who were visiting.

But I didn’t stay hidden.

As soon as I heard a masculine rumble, I peeked my head around the corner. Jonathan’s back was to me as he handed his coffee to Valerie. She flashed me wide eyes as Jonathan entered Trina’s room.

“Go,” she mouthed, eyes flicking from the door that was still open to me.

I went. I did it quickly, wishing things could be different.

I did it with a heaviness in my soul.

That man had beaten my Trina beyond recognition, and that was only the damage I could see.

What else had he done to her?

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