26. Chapter 26
Before we could head downstairs, Dalton stopped me.
“Easton, can I have a private word for a moment?”
“Not now.”
“Yes… now.”
I sighed. “Stay put. I’ll be right back,” I told Thomas.
I really didn’t want to let him out of my sight. He wasn’t himself, and I wanted him back to his old self. Instead, he seemed a little afraid of me, and he wouldn’t stop shaking. Maybe Dalton would have some answers for me on how to fix Thomas.
“What?”
He nodded his head further away from Thomas, but he stopped where I could still keep my eyes on him.
“Be gentle with him, East.”
“I’m always gentle.”
“No. Not in the sense of touch, but that, too. I mean with your words. You can be very… blunt.”
“But Thomas says he likes that.”
“I understand, but things have changed.”
“How? My feelings toward Thomas haven’t changed.”
“What about how he feels about you?”
“Can you just spill it? Stop talking in riddles. My head already hurts.”
I was getting irritated, not liking being too far from Thomas, as if I moved any further away, I wouldn’t be able to get him back.
“You can be honest, like always, but he needs words of understanding from you. He’s not like you, East. He’s not a murderer, and today, he’s killed someone for the first time.
He can’t shut it down like you or Sid. I can see right through Thomas, and at this moment.
, he’s incredibly stressed. Quite frankly, I’m surprised he’s not in shock.
I was informed he also saw Sully’s handiwork.
That will traumatize anyone who isn’t a part of this little family.
If you aren’t careful, you could lose Thomas. ”
I stiffened at that. “But he loves me. He said so earlier.”
Dalton smiled kindly and patiently, but it was clear in his eyes that I was missing the bigger picture.
“That may be so, but that doesn’t mean he’s not afraid. Look, I understand you struggle with empathy. We all accept that and care about you. But you need to find common ground with Thomas. He needs to know you… relate to his trauma somehow. Have you thought about telling him your story?”
“No, I’m not ready for that. That was… different from what I do now. ”
“It was personal and emotional. I get it. You don’t have to tell him yet, but you should be fully transparent with him. I have a feeling if he knows your story, he’ll relate to you more, not less.”
“How so?”
“It’s a whole other level of trust telling someone your darkest secrets. Sid told me his story, and it opened the door for us to repair the damage from when we were kids and fell in love. I’m sure it will be the same for you and Thomas. But you also need to be prepared.”
I thought about Dalton’s words. They made more sense after he explained it. “Be prepared for what?”
“That he may leave you.”
I stiffened, and my fingers started tapping to a rhythm I always used, not even recalling where it came from. “He won’t. He loves me. He worships me.”
“That was before he knew you were a hired killer. Come on, East. Deep down, you knew if you told him that, he might leave.”
“I did tell him, but he didn’t believe me. In fact, he laughed.”
“I’m sure he thought you were joking at the time.”
“But I don’t joke.”
Dalton blew out a small laugh and gripped my shoulder gently. “And he didn’t know that. All I’m saying is try to be open and honest with him. Tell him how you feel. Were you afraid that he was taken or killed? Give him that honesty he craves… but gently.”
“I think I understand. Okay. I’ll try.”
“Sid and I like Thomas, and we want you two to have a good relationship. Come to us if you’re ever concerned or have questions. ”
I gave him a curt nod and rushed back to Thomas before I stopped and turned. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, East.”
I headed back to Thomas, who was looking around the building nervously, hugging himself. I took his hand in mine again because he seemed to stop shaking so much, and we stepped into the elevator to go down to the next level.
“This is where we work the most. We train and practice with weapons. Layla is our hacker, so she’s responsible for the computers and software. There’s a locker room with showers we use after we spar,” I explained when we stepped out and walked into the locker room.
I had Sid put some clothes neatly on the teakwood bench. Next to them were a towel, washcloth, and toiletries.
“Those are for you. They’re my clothes, but you should fit into them fine.”
“Thank you,” he said softly.
“I’m going to take a shower with you.”
“Please, East… I need to be alone for a bit.”
I removed my long-sleeved T-shirt and tossed it onto the bench. I stripped down to nothing as Thomas watched me.
“You’ve been alone long enough.”
He reached for my shoulder where I’d been shot, probing gently fingers on the still healing puckered skin. “ That’s what happened to you. You… didn’t want to tell me.”
I didn’t say anything, pulling my sweater he wore over his head. Next, I pulled down his underwear.
Once he was naked, I took his face in my hands. “Did they touch you? Beyond the hitting? ”
“T-the man I… k-killed… he washed me and touched me, but there was nothing… sexual. But it was horrible… the hose. The water. It hurt, and he was rough. They put me in the walk-in freezer once while I was wet. It was so cold. So cold… He also made promises of being the first to rape me. They were going to sell me to a man in Russia, East.”
His blue eyes turned red as they welled up with tears. “Then be glad he’s dead. If you hadn’t killed him, I would’ve, and I would’ve been much slower about it.”
“I… just want to shower. Nothing… sexual. Please.”
“I’m not going to touch you like that. I’m just going to bathe you gently. Not like that fucking bastard. Understood? This isn’t about sex.”
I didn’t know what it was about. Maybe not wanting him out of my sight.
I grabbed the shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, and put them on the shelf in the shower. Then I turned it on, letting it get hot.
“Come, Little Rabbit. Let me take care of you.”
Thomas slowly walked toward me just in time as the water got hot. I adjusted it just right, and we both stepped in. He dunked his head in the water, facing away from me, with his head down and his arms hanging limply.
I didn’t like him like this. Those assholes changed my Thomas. While those men paid with their lives for taking him, Gregory Ivanov wasn’t there. I still needed to hunt him down. When I did, his death would be slow and extremely painful.
I tugged Thomas out of the water, and he wiped the drops from his face as he turned around. I poured some shampoo into my hand, set the bottle back down, and gently scrubbed his hair, which was knotted, but the conditioner would help with that.
He closed his eyes, and his hands rested on my hips. His deep breaths shuddered, but he relaxed.
Once I finished, he tilted his head back to rinse out the soap. Next came the conditioner, and I took my time untangling the curls.
“Easton?”
“Yes?”
“There was a man next to me. He was so afraid. So afraid. Who knows how long he was there for? D-did you find him? I didn’t see him leave with us.”
“What did he look like?”
“He had dark brown hair, dusty skin, but it was hard to see since the lights were so dim in there.”
“There was a man who fit your description. They removed his organs, and he was left for dead.”
Thomas’s head fell onto my chest, and he sobbed, fingers gripping my waist. “God… Poor, poor man. That almost happened to me. They wanted to take my organs on the first day I was there. He must have been in so much pain. Then this man… so big, so scary. He stopped them and said he wanted me for sale instead. I almost ended up like that. He must have suffered so much. They put this mask on you so you can’t scream and they tie you down as they cut you open without anesthesia. How are people like this, East?”
I lifted his chin as his tears mingled with the water. “Men like that are made. I was…” I paused with a sigh, no t ready for my story because it made me angry and my parents weren’t worth my anger. “This is why we do what we do, Thomas.”
“I… I feel like my world has been completely turned inside out. The darkness is… consuming me.” He put the palm of his hand across his heart and curled his fingers as if he could rip it out. “It… hurts.”
Visions of my past hit me unfettered. I remembered that consuming darkness all too well. The pain. The rage. Then the relief that I ended my tormentors’ lives.
“You’re not like them. You’re pure.”
Once we were clean, I took my time drying him off. He swayed on his feet from exhaustion.
“I barely slept those three days. It was extremely cold, and the floor was incredibly hard. I was wet through most of it. Then there were the hunger pains… god.”
After we got dressed, we headed upstairs to find Dante had just arrived and Luca jumping into his arms, kissing his face. A memory flashed through my mind of when Thomas would sometimes do that to me. I recognized the love for what it was.
Dante saw us and set Luca down. “Hey, kid. You look better.”
“Thanks,” Thomas said softly.
“I’ve brought a special someone for you and Annie, if you want.”
“Who?”
Dante whistled, and a huge, muscular dog with sleek black fur and a dribble of white on its chest bounded over. His Cane Corso. Thomas instinctively took a step back. “As a child, I was bitten by a dog, and I’d been scared of them since. I’m sorry. ”
“She won’t hurt you,” he explained. “This is Cleo, and she’s well-behaved and well-trained. Luca here turned her into a damn fluffball.”
Luca put a hand to his mouth and giggled. “She’s a protector, and she knows when you’re sad.”
Thomas held out his trembling hand, and she walked over to him, looking more like a soldier than a fluffball. She sniffed his hand, and then she bent her head to where his palm sat on top. The dog lifted her head and pressed her cold, wet nose on his arm.
“She wants you to pet her,” Luca said.
“Once a guard dog, now some damn emotional support animal,” Dante scoffed, but there was affection in his tone. “I thought you could use her.”
“Thank you.”
Annie soon came out and rushed to her brother. They hugged each other, but both were looking better.
To my surprise, she hugged me, too. My entire body stiffened. “Thanks for saving us.”
“You’re… welcome.”
“Careful, Annie Boo. Easton doesn’t like to get random hugs.”
“Oh… sorry,” she said, dropping down to pet Cleo.
“It’s fine.”
Sid and Dalton came up, smiling. “All good?”
“Yes,” Thomas replied. “Look, I know you all… have done a lot for my sister and me. Thank you for helping to save us.”
“You’re welcome,” Sid said.
“But… I don’t have my debit card. Everything is at home, and I’m not going back there.” He froze and started to pace. “Oh god… What if Dad found it? He’ll spend all the money I’ve saved! No, no, no…”
I stopped his pacing by grabbing his shoulders. “We’ve accessed your bank account. It wasn’t legal, but we were aware of the risks if we left your account open. Even if it’s gone, I can replace it.”
“But you shouldn’t have to!” Thomas snapped, which wasn’t like him at all.
He turned to Sid. “You’ve done a lot for Annie and me already, but… can you get us a hotel?”
What was he saying?
“Wait. You and Annie are coming with me. You’re coming to live at my place.”
Thomas’s eyes watered again, and Cleo leaned against him. He probably didn’t realize he was rubbing her ears while I was tapping my fingers again.
“I’m sorry, Superman. I… need some time.”
“Time for what? I don’t understand.”
“We have a safehouse where you and Annie can stay. There will be food and supplies there for you. And we’ll send someone over to your house to get your clothes,” Dalton said.
“Thank you. I have a spare set of glasses at home in my nightstand drawer.”
“No! I’ll take care of him. He’s mine.”
Then I looked at Thomas as a weird sort of panic set in that I wasn’t used to, so I had no idea how to handle it. I didn’t know what it was. I just knew that my heart was beating wildly, and I started to sweat. “Don’t break up with me! ”
He reached for my hand, but I took a step back. “I’m not, East. I just… need time to think, okay? Everything is… overwhelming right now. I can’t focus, and you can be…”
“Can be what? Say it!”
“I can’t because I don’t know. I can’t… figure it out. It’s like I’m just really confused right now between the killings and the kidnapping. It’s a lot, okay? And you all were so kind in saving us, but there are so many people? Too much talking. I can’t… think.”
“But—”
“Easton!” Sid said firmly, getting my attention. “Focus. This isn’t about you. Thomas said he needs to breathe a bit away from everyone. If that includes you, then it means you, too.”
“I’m not leaving you, East. You’re my Superman. I just need a little space, okay?”
I looked at Sid for answers because, for the first time, I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to let Thomas go at all. I didn’t go through hell to get him back just to let him go. But something told me I had to. Sid gave me a curt nod.
“Okay,” I said reluctantly, and stormed off.