Page 85 of Unwrapped

“It’s okay, Chloe. He’s helped me before.” I love my hand from within the safety of Roque’s jacket and take Chloe’s. Roque ushers us out of the ratty building and into the back of a warm SUV.

“Sit. Stay.” He commands, shutting the door as he goes back inside.

“I think we should run.”

“How?”

“I don’t know. But he’s the most dangerous man in the world.”

“I know. And he’s also my friend.”

“Men like him don’t have friends,” Chloe whispers.

“He does. He has Dare and … me.”

“Well, I guess he can’t be worse than where I’ve come from. He dates models, actresses and super stars. The house I was in, the woman there had all these gossip magazines. Roque was in about every one. The movie star, celebrity gangster that the Feds can’t catch getting dirty.”

I don’t know what to say, so I shrink further into his warm jacket. It wraps me like a hug. The kind I’ve always needed. But never had.

Light spills onto the dirty snow, showing its gray grit as the front door slams open and Roque jogs out. The driver waiting outside opens the door for him. He slides into the seat next to me.

“Did any of them touch you? You know how I mean?”

“They didn’t. Not to me…but Chloe…?”

“They wanted to but didn’t.”

He breathes in deeply. “He knocks on the window, indicating the driver to pull away.”

“Wait! Please. I need…my doll that Dare gave me. It’s the only thing of value I have and my…” I swallow hard trying not to cry. “My stuffed doggie, a nurse in the hospital gave him to me. He’s the only thing I’ve had my whole life.” Fat tears roll, my shoulders shake.

Roque tells the driver to stop. “I’ll get them myself. Just tell me where they are. Chloe? Do you need anything?”

“I’ll come with you.”

“No. Neither of you are ever stepping foot back inside. Ever. Again.”

“I thought you were the devil. But you’re not are you?”

“That Chloe depends on who you ask…but the two of you have nothing to fear from me. I’m going to kill Brooks and any child predator breathing in this city. You hear me?”

Chloe nods, letting her tears fall free. “Thank you.”

He nods once and opens the door to get our things.

“Maybe you were right, Freddie. Maybe Christmas miracles exist.”

I squeeze her hand. “If anyone can help us, it’s him and Dare.” Roque comes back minutes later carrying my doll and my well-worn stuffed dog. He also has Chloe’s backpack.

“There wasn’t much.”

“We know,” I reply.

The smooth SUV glides through the slush-covered streets. My eyes go wide as we leave the slums and head toward the Lake. I rarely go to this part of town. The car enters an underground garage, passes security and rolls to a stop.

We’re led into an elevator that keeps going up and up, until it dings, and the doors open inside the most luxurious place I’ve ever seen. It’s sleek and dark like the man who lives here. No color. No light. But everything is rich, nonetheless.

“Follow me.”

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