Page 118 of Back Room Host

I didn’t remember that, but it sounded somehow just like me.

“I also kept your underwear. It was blood-stained. It never crossed my mind to wash or throw it away.”

I felt sick.

Nauseous.

Staggering, I pressed my hand to my mouth. Luca emerged beside me, guiding me to the couch. Turmoil was brewing inside me, causing my emotions to rise. I didn’t know what was happening to me, but my breath hitched, my heart raced, and I felt hot.

“What’s going on here?” Noé asked, just coming out of the shower. He was wearing only sweatpants, exposing his nearly fully tattooed upper body. He rubbed his long hair with a towel, stopping next to the dining table.

“Luca knows a lawyer,” Alex replied. “He wants to ask him for advice, about … you know.”

I gasped for air, feeling agitated.

“That’s Juri’s decision,” Noé stated firmly.

I didn’t know what to think anymore, just grateful that Noé wasn’t putting pressure on me. My memories gathered into a storm, with flashes of light illuminating the darkness for split seconds.

“But if he remembers the guys,” Luca pointed out.

“You remember?” Noé asked, surprised.

I nodded, as if confessing to a crime. “Just fragments. There’s this one guy I know from before. Frank. He hit on me at a danse macabre and almost threw me down the stairs.”

“You threw him down the stairs,” Noé accused Luca.

I couldn’t help but smile. Luca raised his hands in appeasement.

“That was before. I was there. I saw it. The guy was furious because Juri turned him down.”

“Then you’d even be a witness,” Alex said with confidence.

“Please, Juri,” Luca pleaded, kneeling in front of me and taking my hand. “Let me ask Hector. Just casually. Just to hearwhat he says. Whether you’d have a chance at all. After that, we’ll see. You’re not alone anymore. We’ll help you. I’ll help you.”

My gaze shifted to Noé.

“It’s your decision, Rock. Don’t feel pressured. We’ve got your back—no matter what you decide. But wouldn't it be great to get back at these guys? Who knows how many times they’ve done this shit and gotten away with it.”

Luca squeezed my hand. “We’ve got your back.”

I didn’t feel pressured. Instead, I felt paralyzed, because here were three men who wanted to help me. And that scared the hell out of me.

“Okay,” I said with a hoarse voice. “Ask him what he thinks about the situation. But please, not today.”

Luca stroked my cheek. “Of course. I’ll call him when I’m alone. Everything will be okay.”

I nodded and felt a weight lift off me. As long as Luca was with me, I felt hopeful.

“Are you guys hungry?” Alex asked. “There’s ravioli.”

Noé laughed. “If I were you, I wouldn’t say no.”

His grin was infectious, and I was just glad to be here.

“Then we definitely won’t say no,” Luca replied.

Now it was me squeezing his hand.

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