Page 111 of Saving Her

I shove to my feet, the blanket falling from my waist to land on the wooden deck. “Not at all.” My tone is harsh. Adamant. “He’s been perfect.”Tooperfect. Especially for a man burdened by my presence.

“Okay. Good.” She nods and indicates my chair with a wave of her hand. “Please sit. I meant no offense. I’m just doing my job.”

“Your job?” It's her duty to question the man who saved me? The person who took a bullet to the head, risking his life to rescue a complete stranger? “And who gave you this job?”

She blinks back at me, those hard features softening. That’s when the puzzle pieces fall into place with a deafening click. She’s not here for me. She’s here for my brother.

“Sebastian,” I whisper. “This interrogation was requested by him.”

“I was asked to keep an eye on you.”

“Well, you can report back and let him know I'm fine. Luca has gone above and beyond to keep me happy.”

Her lips tweak, her grin sly. “To be honest, I think that's what he’s more worried about.”

Again, it takes a second for comprehension to dawn, but when it does my cheeks heat at the innuendo. I glance away, my skin prickling.

“Please,” she repeats. “Sit.”

I don’t want to. I’d love nothing more than to walk away. If only I wasn’t certain it would cause a scene Luca would have to deal with.

“I had no doubt he would do right by you,” she murmurs as I reluctantly slump into my seat. “He’s a great guy. And from the sound of it, you already know that. But your brother is—”

“I don’t want to talk about my brother.” I still can’t go there. Can't picture him remaining in the Greek islands, slaying my demons at the risk of his own safety. I need it all to be over. To fast forward through this chasm filled with worry for people I wish I didn’t love.

“He cares about you.”

I glance back at her in confusion. “Who does? My brother?”

“Yes, Decker,” she clarifies. “But Luca, Hunter, Torian, and Keira, too. You’re family, and we always take care of our own.”

My insides scream at me to deny her. I’m not one of them. I don’t want any association with my torturer’s family.

I also want to make her well aware I can take care of myself. I had for years while in a situation far more dire than this. I’ve lived through the worst life has to give. Yet I can’t honestly say I’m capable of anything anymore. I’ve lost the will to fight. I’m not sure how to find strength.

“So, what’s the plan?” she asks. “When are you going to see your parents?”

I sigh. “Is this another question from my brother? Is there a list I need to get through so you’ll leave me alone?”

“No. The interrogation is actually for your benefit. I assume you don't want to stay with Luca forever.”

She assumes wrong. I have no desire to leave.

“You really do like staying here.” She states as fact. As if she’s finally beginning to understand the truth of my comfort. “If you’re comfortable in your surroundings, why aren’t you opening up to Luca? Let him in. Clearly you don’t want to talk to me, and I get it—I’m an acquired taste. But you need to speak to someone. It isn’t healthy to keep the past bottled.”

How does she know I’ve kept it bottled? Unless Luca told her. Vented to her.

“Believe me,” she continues. “You have to let it out before it eats you alive.”

She has no idea.

There’s no way anyone could understand what I’ve been through. Not a shrink. Not even the other women who accompanied me in Luther’s cage. And definitely not this woman.

“Your thoughts are loud.” She gives a brief smirk. “And yes, you’re right. I have no concept of what you must have gone through. But I know about monumental loss. And utter helplessness. Not to mention the cloying anger and suffocating grief that come afterward.” She holds my gaze, never letting go. “Those types of situations change you irrevocably, no matter how much you want to return to the person you once were. So ask Luca for help. Trust him. You never know—the guy might have something smart to say for once.”

I huff out a laugh. If only the humor could stick around for longer than a heartbeat. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

She inclines her head. “And I'm deeply sorry for yours. My point, though, is that you’re going to get through this. Despite everything I endured at a young age, I found my calling. And I swear on the graves of those I love that you will find yours, too. You only need to be willing to work for it.”

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