35. Nyah #2
Luca sighed heavily. “I don’t know. But that was the day I truly realized that tears and begging and pleading or really any sign of weakness were a waste of time.
So I never cried in front of him again.” His gaze turned from anger into something softer.
“I’m really fucking sorry he did this to you. If I’d known…”
I turned away. “If you’d known, you wouldn’t have done anything, Luca. He’s your father, and you’re the Mafia prince of Providence. You wouldn’t have done anything.”
The anger flickered in his eyes again, his jaw tensing.
I waited for him to walk out and slam the door.
But he didn’t.
“Let me see it.”
I turned over on my side, facing away from him. “Go to hell, Luca.”
But he grabbed my shoulder and rolled me back. The motion caused my burn to scream out in pain again, but just like he hadn’t shown his father his tears after that day, I refused to show him mine again either.
He lifted the sheet over my legs, and then my torso, taking the shirt he’d put on me with him. I didn’t even resist him because what was the point? I couldn’t fight him off. He was going to do whatever he wanted to me.
And the brand on my chest gave him every right to.
But he settled the sheet so it covered my nipples and then pulled the shirt off my head carefully. “I shouldn’t have put this on you. It could be stuck to your burn. I just couldn’t bear to see you like that.”
“You didn’t mind when I was naked in your bed.”
His gaze met mine. “That was entirely different, and you know it.”
I fell silent, because he was right.
“I don’t know if there’s any point putting water on this now. It’s hours old. I think the damage is already done.”
“Agreed,” I replied.
“Wait here.”
“I haven’t got anywhere else to go.”
His gaze flickered to the window.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m hardly going to jump from the second story, Luca.”
Relief flickered in his expression.
I realized he’d actually been considering the possibility that I might not be jumping out the window to try to escape this place.
But to end my life.
His worries were valid. Hadn’t I thought of doing exactly that back at my father’s house? Hadn’t things only gotten worse since I’d been here?
“I’ll be back in a second,” he said.
As soon as he was gone, tears slid down my cheeks. A hysterical sob worked its way up my chest, and I let it out, because it was either that or choke on it.
But I was back under control by the time he walked back in with a first aid kit.
The expression in his eyes told me he knew I’d been crying though, and I cursed my probably blotchy face.
I reached for the kit. “Give it here.”
He shook his head. “Just lie there, would you? Let me help you.”
I clutched the sheet over my breasts, careful not to let it touch the burn. “Don’t put anything on it. You’re not supposed to put—”
“I know. I remember from my own. Cold water. Clean non-stick bandage. Painkillers.” He held a packet out to me. “Here. Take two. Or fuck, maybe take four. This thing shouldn’t be too deep, but it’s going to hurt like a bitch for a while.”
I popped the pills greedily, desperate for anything to take the edge off.
He found a large square dressing and carefully put it over the burn, then taped the edges down. It didn’t help any with the pain, and I was scared it was going to get infected, what with the grimy floor I’d spent the day lying on with no treatment.
But he touched me with a gentleness I hadn’t known he was capable of. And I suspected he was helping me, the way he’d wished someone had helped him back when he’d been thirteen.
“Thank you,” I whispered when he was done.
“I’ve already left a message for our doctor to come see you tomorrow. I don’t want that getting infected.”
“Neither do I.”
He nodded, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. “Okay then.” He stared at me awkwardly, like there was more he wanted to say but didn’t know how. He cleared his throat. “If you don’t see me for a few days, don’t worry, okay?”
I frowned at him. “Why wouldn’t I see you?”
He shook his head. “I’m probably going to have to go away for a bit. I’ll be back.”
I nodded, suddenly feeling sleepier than I ever had in my life. It was like my brain had finally registered that I was in a safe place and it could shut down. “I think I need to sleep.”
He stood and gathered up all the medical supplies. “Make sure the doctor gives you more dressings tomorrow, so you can keep it clean. I’ll see you in a few days. I’ll lock the door on my way out.”
We both knew that wouldn’t stop anyone.
But I said okay anyway. My brain felt foggy. And I realized the pills he’d given me had to be a lot stronger than acetaminophen. My burn barely hurt at all anymore, and my body had a fuzzy, pleasant feeling about it. I just wanted to sleep. “Have a good trip. Love you.”
He chuckled above me. “I see those painkillers have kicked in.”
I couldn’t even understand why he’d said that. Or work out why he was laughing. But I felt fingertips brush across my forehead and tuck my hair behind my ear.
“Go to sleep, Nyah. Those pills should mean you don’t feel a thing until morning.”
“Nice pills,” I mumbled, letting the chemical fog wash away all the pain and fear and stress. “Love you, Dax.”
He didn’t laugh again, and I was sad. I loved Dax’s laugh.
But the room fell quiet around me, and I slept.