Page 86 of Cognac Secrets

How he’d done what he’d promised. How he’d come for me.

“Easy, baby.” He whispered into my hair. “Breathe for me.”

…and I swear to God, if he only knew how I pretty much would breathe only for him after what he did today.

I had a bad concussion, a dislocated shoulder, and needed seven stitches above my eye. My knees were scraped and they’d had to rinse gravel and bits of broken auto glass and other debris out of them. I had innumerable pulls, strains, and sprains, but I wasaliveand the doctors up here on this floor were kind in explaining everything to me.

They gave me something for the pain that made me sleepy, and though I struggled to stay awake and just stare at Bennie who sat beside me and held my hand, I couldn’t resist the lure of sleep and I feel like I sleptdeep.

When I woke, it was dark, the machines beeping steadily and nurses bustling back and forth in the hall.

“Bennie?” I asked to the dark and he sat up in the chair beside the bed.

“I’m here,” he said sleepily and I felt my breath rush out in a sigh of relief.

“I thought they’d make you go home,” I said softly and he snorted.

“Fat chance of that happening,” he said dryly and I forced a smile.

“Thank you,” I said and he threaded his fingers through mine on my good hand, careful of the IV in the back of it.

“You don’t have to thank me for anything, baby,” he said.

“No, I do…” I said softly.

He cocked his head and asked, “Just what are you thanking me for, love?”

“I-I was so afraid to tell you about my family and my past,” I swallowed hard. “I thought you would call me too much drama and leave… but you didn’t. You made a plan with me to make me feel better and then…” my voice cracked, “…when something happened, youstuck to the plan… and I feel so guilty for doubting you, but I did and I’m sorry for that part but?—”

“Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh,” he soothed. “It’s okay. Just breathe for me and listen, okay?”

I took a deep shuddering breath and nodded, keeping my mouth shut and somewhat quailing on the inside waiting for the lecture about how I shouldn’t have doubted him and how awful that made him feel, but he surprised me again when he told me; “I am so proud of you.”

“What?” I asked, staring at him.

“You heard me. You’ve had a real bad track record, Sandrine. My gender kind of sucks, not gonna lie. I am one. I see it every day. With your track record it was only natural that you have your doubts. I get that. That’s nothing, baby. If anything, I hope I’ve proven to you that I’m not those guys, that I’m here, and I hope you know I’mgonnastay here.”

“I don’t understand,” I said quietly.

He chuckled a little, “About why I’m proud of you?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I whispered.

He smiled, his teeth white in the frame of his dark, neatly trimmed beard, and he bowed his head, “I’m proud of you fornotwaiting around idly for a rescue you weren’t sure was ever going to come. I’m proud of you for fighting, for staying cool, calm, and collected under fire, and for not giving up for one damn minute. I’m proud of you for being crafty, and resourceful, and for staying chill and playing dead until those assholes had themselves distracted and for making the leap of faith and trusting the world would catch you when it hasn’t really given you a reason to trust for anything.”

He was silent, his dark eyes searching my face, and all I could think to say was: “Oh.”

He smiled and carefully raised our joined hands to kiss the back of my wrist.

“You just tell me what you want done and I’ll do it, baby. They’ll never darken your doorstep again.”

I felt my breath still in my lungs as his expression just sort of… shut down. Became predatory and indifferent, like a magician whisking away the cloth and justpoof!There went Bennie’s amazing disappearing humanity.

It was both terrifying and at the same time, powerful as hell. I swallowed hard and said, “Whatever you do, I don’t want or need to know about it,” I said. “Just please, don’t hurt my momma… I… I like to think she’s just as much a victim of their bullshit as anything.”

“She could have done more to protect you,” Bennie said, and it wasn’t an accusation, just… a statement of fact.

“Maybe,” I said quietly. “Probably… but there was still a lot of years with my daddy before I came along and by the time I did, I think somehow, she was mostly broken. You know?”

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