Page 37 of Rivals
I lean on Lachlan’s door for a minute, gasping for breath as I struggle to pull in enough oxygen. The adrenaline is starting to fade, but the fear that he will find me is still potent. I knock on the door rapidly, choking on my tears, knowing I left Lachlan asleep.
I don’t hear any movement. The adrenaline reignites in my veins, and I start to beat on it. Still no answer, this time I don’t stop, and the panic seeps deeper as I continue to pound on the door.
Chapter 27
Lachlan
Apoundingonthedoor wakes me, and I sit up from the couch. I look around and realize Revna isn’t here. The paint and board I was working on clatter to the ground. My heart is in my throat, and I run to the door, throwing it open.
I find Revna with a knife in her shaking hands and tears streaming down her face. Her clothes are all messed up, and I spot purple bruising on her neck and face. I quickly pull her in and stick my head out in the hallway to see if someone is out there, but it’s empty and quiet.
Locking the door behind me, I get another look at Revna, and my control slips. “What happened? Where did you go? Why did you leave?” I yell. She jumps at my tone and cries harder. My heart shatters in my chest, and I chastise myself for falling asleep. I take a step towards her, and she takes one back.
My stomach twists, and I take a deep breath to push away the fear pulsing through my veins. She was attacked, and I need to know who it was because I will kill them for touching her.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to yell. You just scared me. I’m sorry,” I say again. A whimper bubbles from her lips while she still holds the knife in a death grip. I take a tentative step toward her, and I swear I feel a bead of sweat fall down my spine.
My large hand clasps around her small one. “It’s ok, Revna. You’re safe. Let it go,” I say gently. Her eyes finally meet mine, and she loosens her hold long enough for me to take the knife from her. I start sliding it back into place, and then I notice the blood almost coating the blade. “Baby, are you bleeding? Revna?”
Her eyes have this empty, glassy look to them, and the protector in me is screaming to hold her to me, to shield her. “Are you bleeding?” I ask her again and start to search her hands and face. She shakes her head.
“No, but he is,” she says in a watery voice.
I want to go out there and find that piece of shit. To tear him apart and finish the job, but she needs me more. “Good girl.” She loses a sob. I toss the knife off to the side so she can’t reach it and use it on me. Then I sit next to her and pull her into my lap.
Every muscle in her body feels like it’s about to snap as I pull her closer. “How did this happen?” I ask. She snuck out. I understand that, but why? She said she would stay.
“I wanted to go back to my place,” she mutters into my shoulder. I hold her tighter as she shakes in my arms. I want to yell, tell her I told you so. But the last thing I want to do is hurt her more. Not like this; it would kill me.
I’m still trying to understand the why behind that, despite that it doesn’t negate the fact that I feel an inescapable connection to Revna. I want to hold on for as long as she will let me.
She mumbles something to herself like she’s talking to someone. I frown and lift her chin, her eyes meet mine and I see her pupils are larger than they should be. She’s coming down from a high. She was attacked and high. She’s lucky something worse didn’t happen. I would have never forgiven myself for it. I didn’t protect her the way she needs to be protected.
“Revna, are you high?” Her eyes water again, and she shoves her face back into my shirt. “Little bird, why are you high? What did you take?”
“I didn’t want to feel everything,” she says into my shirt. Feel what? Does she feel the same things that I feel?
“Will you stay with me now? Will you believe me that I really meant that it was safer?”
“Just for tonight. I’m not going to live with you, Lachlan, that’s… I’ll just stay here tonight,” she sniffles.
“Revna,” I growl. She doesn’t respond, and I take a deep breath to even my tone. “I want you safe, and walking home alone at two in the morning is not safe. Please, Revna. Just stay with me for a while.” She tips her head back, and my throat tightens at the site of her bruises.
“Fine,” she whispers. Good, she belongs with me.
“Alright, let’s get you cleaned up and into bed.” I start to take her off my lap, and she sobs a little more. I spring to my feet, then pull her to her own. She sways in my light hold, so I pick her up instead, carrying her to the bed.
“Do you want to take a shower?” She doesn’t answer, so I get a wet washcloth and wipe her face off. Her bruised cheek is starting to turn a deeper purple, and her split lip drips blood. I gently dab it, and she hisses at the sting.
“I’m sorry, little bird, I’m sorry.” Silent tears fall down her face, and I wipe them away as they fall. Her jeans are ripped and dirty from the nasty New York City ground. “Let’s get you changed. Do you want me to get you clothes from your bag?” She’s silent as she stares off into space. She’s left me. She’s here, but she’s nothere.
I go through her bag and find a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt for her. She doesn’t seem to mind when I take off her hoodie or her socks and shoes. I hesitate to do anything more. I don’t want her to think I’m doing something that I’m not.
“Revna?” I gently grab her chin so I can look at her. She whimpers, and I drop my hand from her face.
“Here are some clothes. Go change.” I angle towards the bathroom. She doesn’t seem to care as she pulls the hem of her shirt over her head and flips the button of her pants, undressing in front of me. Her bra goes, and I turn around before I see anything else.
I keep my back to her and stare at my large sketchbook paper on the easel. I want to draw or paint. I need to get this increasing pressure in my body out. The energy and the feelings need to come out before I do something stupid and go looking for the man who did this. Fingers touch my hand and bring me back to the present. I turn around, and Revna is in fresh clothes, with her dirty ones strewn on the floor next to us. I pull the covers back to my bed and tuck her in. She’s fading fast from the adrenaline, and her eyes are beginning to droop. “Let me get you some ice and water.”
