Page 44 of Some Saviors Can Break You

Had she been sicker than he’d realized?

Was she lying passed out in there?

“Florence?” he called out as he knocked on the door.

There was no response, and as the door swung further open he saw a body lying on the floor half obscured by the sofa.

“Florence,” he said again, a little more panicked this time as he quickly surveyed the apartment.

When he didn't see anyone else he ran across to her, dropping to his knees at her side. She was lying sprawled on her stomach, wearing only a tank top and a pair of purple fuzzy pajama pants and he could see bruises on her wrist and blood streaking her blonde hair.

With a trembling hand, he reached out and touched her neck, searching for a pulse. He’d never done that before, and at first, he couldn’t find one. “Stop it, calm down,” he ordered himself as he pressed a little harder and was rewarded with the steady beating of her pulse.

“Florence, wake up. It’s Eli,” he added, not wanting her to panic when she regained consciousness to find a man looming over her.

She didn't respond, and knowing he was way out of his element here he pulled out his cell phone and dialed 911 as he stood and grabbed a throw from the back of the couch and tucked it around her.

“911 what's your emergency?”

“I just arrived at my girlfriend’s apartment to find her unconscious, she’s been attacked. Her name is Florence Harris, she’s a homicide detective.”

“Is she breathing?”

“Yes, but I see blood on her head and…” he trailed off as Florence stirred beneath him. “She’s waking up.”

“Please remain on the line, sir,” the 911 operator requested.

“I’ll keep the line open, but I'm putting the phone down,” he said, his attention focused on Florence. “Princess, it’s Eli, can you hear me?”

“Eli?” she said, her voice weak as she groggily tried to turn over.

“I don’t think you should be moving until the paramedics get here,” he told her, a hand on her shoulder gently holding her still.

“I'm okay,” she insisted.

Since he knew arguing with her was going to be futile, Eli slipped an arm around her shoulders and one under her knees and lifted her up. Carrying her to the couch, he sat down and set her on his lap, tucking her closely against his chest as he made sure the throw was wrapped around her.

“What happened?” she asked.

“I was hoping you were going to tell me that,” he replied as he brushed a lock of hair that had gotten stuck in the drying blood off her cheek and tucked it behind her ear.

“There was a man,” she said slowly, lifting a hand to press it to her forehead. “My head hurts.”

“It’s a little banged up,” he attempted a joke to calm both of them. His heart was racing a million miles a minute, and he wanted to get up and pace but didn't want to let Florence go and knew that with a killer headache the motion would probably make her nauseous.

“He…he…he said something important…but I can't remember…” Florence said haltingly, becoming agitated.

“Shh, princess,” he soothed, kissing the top of her head. Florence needed him calm right now, so he’d better pull it together. “It’s going to be okay. It will come back to you, I'm just glad that you're okay. When I walked in here and saw you lying there, and the blood…” He had to pause to drag in a ragged breath. “You scared the life out of me. I don’t want to lose you.”

Florence snuggled closer, resting her cheek on his chest as her hands curled into his sweater. “You were here again when I needed you.”

“I told you, you weren't alone anymore. I’llalwaysbe here when you need me.”

“My savior,” she whispered.

“Always, princess.” He pressed his lips to the top of her head again and held them there, drawing in her sweet scent and savoring it because he knew he’d come very close to losing her. “Always.”

2:09 P.M.

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