Chapter 6 Zoe
ZOE
Ican’t believe they have sent me this angel called Mateo. He’s the shining light in the darkness that is my mind. Every day he visited me in hospital, keeping me company. I don’t know where the hell I would be if he hadn’t been there for me.
Well, I do, I would be dead.
I hate that my mind is this dark, empty abyss I’m trying to sift through. Little bits of information are seeping in at the weirdest times, like that I love strawberries but hate watermelon.
Tomas didn’t look so happy when he walked in on me giving Mateo a hug.
I know little about him as he doesn’t hang around as much as Mateo does.
Plus, he always has his phone stuck to his ear—I guess he has an important job.
I’ve noticed the way the nurses look at them, especially Mateo; they practically swoon over him.
I get it, the man is one of the most handsome men I think I have ever seen in my life, plus he is super funny.
It’s amazing how quickly a nurse comes to my room when he is around, which is all the time, he never goes home.
The only time he leaves me is at night, and even then, he is reluctant.
It’s only when Tomas is pulling him out the door that he does.
He always reassures me that he will be back in the morning.
“Miss, here’s your hospital release paperwork. I understand you can’t sign your name. But if you could put an X here that will be good enough,” he points to the signature section.
Just then a name flashes through my mind.
I scream.
Tomas and Mateo come rushing in from the corridor.
“My name—my name’s Zoe.”
Unfortunately, that is all that comes to me.
“Zoe?” Mateo says as he stares at me in bewilderment, with Tomas beside him. “I like it,” he says, rushing over to me. He sits on the side of the bed and gives me a blinding smile that warms my cheeks.
It’s hard to not want to crumple under the weight of Mateo’s smile or attention, the man is hot.
Facts.
My life is already one massive mess, adding falling for your savior to it is not going to help me get any better.
I can certainly look at and admire him in my head that is all.
Looking up, I see Tomas with a scowl as he stares at Mateo sitting on the bed.
Are they together? Hadn’t even thought about it but maybe they are.
Tomas’s stare meets me over Mateo’s head, and he gives me a tight smile.
“Zoe, it’s nice to meet you,” he says rather formally.
“Guessing you wouldn’t happen to know your last name then?” the doctor asks.
I shake my head because that is all I remember. What happens if that isn’t my name? And it’s just a name I remember. It could be someone else’s. Then you’re going to be called Zoe for the foreseeable future.
“This is a great start, Miss Zoe. Mateo has all the details regarding your care. I wish you well, young lady, and I hope you get all the answers you need,” the doctor says before wishing me well and moving on to his next patient.
“Zoe. Zoe. Zoe.” Mateo says my name excitedly. “It feels nice having something to call you.”
“Might not be long till you remember more,” Tomas adds.
“Now that I know my name, I don’t have to come home with you both. Point me in the direction of a hotel or hostel, and I’ll work it out.”
“No. I won’t hear of it,” Mateo states.
“Just go with it. Once he’s made up his mind there’s no way of changing it,” Tomas explains.
“Are you sure you’re okay with me coming home with you?” I ask Tomas.
“It’s what Mateo wants.”
I didn’t miss the way he said it’s what Mateo wants not what he does. I will stay one night and then tomorrow I will say my goodbyes and try and find my way home. Mateo is too nice of a human for me to come in and upset his relationship.
“Come on, let’s get you home.” Mateo grins.
“I’m excited for you to see our house,” Mateo tells me as he pushes me through the hospital in the wheelchair while Tomas brings the car around to the front.
“I bet it’s gorgeous. You seem to me to have great taste. I’m just happy to get some fresh air.”
“We have plenty of that. We also have a pool that overlooks the ocean.”
Sounds like paradise, one that I would happily give anything to enjoy in any other life.
We roll through the exit doors of the hospital and toward a slick, black Mercedes.
Tomas is standing beside it, looking like he’s a model in a car ad.
Dressed in dark jeans and a white collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up showing off his tanned olive skin and corded muscles, dark Aviators hide his curious hazel eyes.
His light brown hair is the only thing rumpled about him.
He seems very strait-laced and serious compared to Mateo, who is like an excitable puppy, wearing his emotions on his sleeve.
“Are you ready?” Tomas asks, holding out his hand to me.
I smile, taking it in my own. This is the first physical contact we’ve had with each other.
He helps me into the plush car, making sure I don’t overdo it.
Mateo is fussing over me also. I’m dressed in a white sundress and sandals, something Mateo brought in for me to get changed into.
My clothes had been taken by the police for DNA testing to see if they could work out who had attacked me.
They cleaned under my fingernails, they even tested me for rape and any sexual diseases, and thank God that came back negative.
“Thanks,” I say to him as I take my seat. Tomas stares at me for a couple of moments as he holds my hand, something is on his mind, but he shakes it away and drops my hand quickly as if it burned him to touch it.
Maybe leaving tomorrow isn’t quick enough for him.
It isn’t long until we’re pulling up in front of a gorgeous white mansion.
“Home, sweet, home,” Mateo says, jumping out of the car and opening my door.
My jaw hangs open. “You live here?” I can’t believe it.
“Yes,” Tomas answers seriously.
“Come on, let me show you around.” Mateo links our arms together, and we enter through a large wooden door. Everything is white, sleek, glass, and designer. Who are these two men that they can afford something as beautiful as this?
“Let me show you the best bit.” Mateo pulls me through the living room and toward a wall of glass. In front of me is a turquoise pool, the dark blue ocean, and the medieval rooftops of Ibiza.
“It’s beautiful.” I gasp before I wobble on my feet.
“Come, come, you need to have a rest, that drive has taken its toll on you,” Mateo says, gesturing toward a large, double cocoon-style day bed.
He fluffs a couple of pillows for me then tells me to sit before he joins me, his large, hard body pressed against mine in the small space. I can feel my cheeks becoming flushed.
Tomas joins us moments later, his hazel eyes looking at the two of us sitting comfortably in the chair, his eyes narrowing on my glowing cheeks. I think he’s guessed that I’m finding Mateo attractive. Reel it in, Zoe.
“Tomas, you can be our pool boy. Grab us some drinks, please?” Mateo teases him.
Tomas flinches every so subtly.
“No, Tomas, you don’t have to. I can get it myself.”
I feel bad—I’ve already imposed on their lives so much. He doesn’t have to slave after me also.
“No, you’re still recovering. I’ll get us drinks, then we can help you get settled into your room,” Tomas says curtly before disappearing inside.
“That was rude. I’m sorry. He’s in a mood today,” Mateo explains.
“You don’t have to apologize. I’m the one that should be. I’ve invaded your private space.”
“Would you stop that? It is no trouble at all. Plus, I like hanging out with you. You’re not as moody as Tomas,” Mateo jokes.
“Hey, don’t be mean,” I say, playfully slapping Mateo. “Making him wait on me isn’t going to make him feel comfortable around me.”
“Don’t worry about him. Tomas is surly to everyone, but once you break down his walls, he’s a good guy.”
“Well, I haven’t gotten that far yet, so don’t make it harder for me.”
“Tomas is a pussycat underneath those suits. You’ll be fine.” Mateo chuckles.
“I’m still invading his personal space.”
“But you’re cute, so he’ll forgive you.” Mateo smirks.
He thinks I’m cute. That shouldn’t make me giddy, but it does.
“Maybe a long time ago I was cute but with these bruises not so much.”
Mateo looks over at me, and those chocolate-colored eyes run down my face assessing each and every bruise. He then reaches out and cups my chin.
“One day I’m going to find out who did this to you and make them pay.”
Oh wow. He means it.
A throat clears, and Mateo drops his hand from me as we both turn around and see a very unimpressed Tomas standing there with our drinks.
“I will break you, lyubimaya. This is your life now, you cannot escape. There is no escape, no one ever escapes me. The sooner you realize that, the easier this life will be. Stop fighting me.”
“Zoe, Zoe.” I hear someone calling my name.
“Don’t touch me,” I scream, pushing the person away from me as I kick out in self-defense.
“Fuck,” the male voice yells.
I must get away from them. I jump up from where I am and bolt. Unfortunately, I stumble over my feet in my haste to escape and end up rolling on the floor taking someone with me. Strong arms are holding me against them.
“Please, don’t hurt me,” I plead.
“Zoe, it’s Tomas. Zoe, open your eyes and look at me, it’s Tomas. You’re safe. No one here is going to hurt you.”
Strong fingers grab my face, steadying me. His concise words clear the fog that clouds my mind. When I come too, I realize I am laying on top of him, my soft body pressed against his hard body.
Shit. I jump up and fix myself.
“I’m sorry,” I mumble, feeling completely humiliated.
“It’s okay, you’ve been through a lot, and it sounds like you were having a nightmare.” He looks at me, his hazel eyes imploring me to give him details.
“It was dark, and I couldn’t escape.”
A tsunami of tears catches me off-guard as I try and contain them.
Tomas wraps his large arms around me, pulling me to his chest.
“You’re safe now,” he tells me as he strokes my hair.
It’s calming as I let out everything I’ve been holding in. I feel myself moving—he’s picked me up, and we’re crossing the pool deck back to the day bed I was on. He sets me down in between himself and Mateo.
“You’re safe now.”
Two sets of arms wrap around me, cocooning me between them.
“We’ll protect you.”
Then I fall asleep, feeling safe and secure.