Chapter Sixteen
Julio watched as the meds took effect. Rebecca’s features softened as her muscles relaxed. Her eyes fought the inevitable until he stroked her hand and whispered, “It’s all right, I’m not leaving you unguarded. No one will get to you without going through me first.”
Her eyes closed as if he said some magical words. When, in fact, he struggled to say anything right. They mostly sat in silence before Dr. Meyers entered and spoke softly to Rebecca. A few minutes later, a nurse entered and added something to the IV.
Rebecca turned and clutched her pillow to her chest. She cried out softly in her sleep.
The sheet twisted around her hip and her hospital gown rode up.
He took in her busted lip and the bruises around her neck and chest. He rose to untangle the blankets when he saw the brand on her hip, two circles connected with a key.
Fury filled him as he leaned down and inspected it, searing it into his memory and promising retribution.
No one touched the woman he loved. He covered her gently and sat in the dark.
Julio desperately wanted to peel the covers back and see all her injuries for himself, but he refused to invade her privacy while she remained drugged.
Her hair desperately needed trimming, she sported bruises on her neck, and what he saw of her chest. The side of her head contained an old injury. Julio’s imagination ran wild.
He didn’t know how long he watched her sleep. A soft click of the handle made him turn toward the door. Kara’s head peeked around the corner. Her eyes appeared as big as saucers as she glanced at the bed. She slid along the wall and closed the door.
Julio rose, startling the young teen. “What’s the matter, Kara?” he whispered.
She whimpered and pressed herself closer to the wall. Her hands covered her body as if he planned to attack her.
Julio stopped moving. “It’s me, Julio,” he reminded her. “Did you need Rebecca? They gave her something to help her sleep. I promised to watch over her.”
She nodded jerkily. “I can’t sleep. There are too many people walking back and forth in the hall,” she whispered frantically as if she were in trouble.
“Why don’t you take my bed? Then I can watch over both of you,” he offered. “I’ll ask the nurses to bring in another one.”
Kara shook her head while tears glistened in her eyes. “I…I wondered if Rebecca might let me sleep with her. She always slept beside Megan and me.”
Turning, he slowly lowered the bedrail facing Rebecca’s back. “I’m sure she’ll like the company.”
Kara scurried toward the bed, gently pressing against Rebecca’s back.
Julio put up the rail and used his blankets to cover the two of them. “Goodnight, Kara,” he whispered. “I’ll let the nurses know you’re in here with us before they sound an alarm. Then, I’ll be right back.”
Slipping into the hall, he informed the nurse’s station and grabbed a couple more blankets and an extra pillow. The teen melted his heart the moment he saw her sneaking inside the room.
Returning, he noticed Rebecca turned in her sleep and wrapped her arms around the teen, who seemed to have relaxed in the comfort of Becca’s embrace.
He tossed the blankets on the recliner and placed the pillow beside Kara in case she woke.
Making up his bed, he lay back and watched over them.
Sleep refused to come. Julio worried if he closed his eyes, he’d discover finding her was only a dream…
one in which he never wanted to relive. His mind flipped through the day’s events and the atrocities he witnessed.
It only fueled his desire to cripple the trafficking ring.
One way or another, he planned to end it and send them all to hell.
Rebecca stirred as the morning light filtered through the curtains. Glancing down, she noticed Kara curled into her shoulder, gripping the covers.
“Morning, Becca,” Julio greeted her. “She snuck in here last night and I didn’t have the heart to send her back.”
“It’s all right,” she said, caressing the teen’s head. “She must’ve disconnected the IV,” she said, noticing Kara’s arm.
“We can have the nurses restart it when she wakes up,” he suggested. “She needed to feel safe.”
“Yeah,” she agreed. “Do you know the time?”
Julio glanced at the clock to her left. “It’s 0730,” he whispered. “Do you want a cup of coffee?”
She gave him a half smile. He remembered she didn’t function without a cup of Joe in her hand. “Yes, please.”
Julio rose and left the room. A few minutes later, he returned with two steaming cups. Rebecca took the one he offered, bringing it to her nose and inhaling the heavenly scent. “I can’t remember when coffee smelled this good.”
“Then enjoy it. Matthew texted. We’ll fly down later this morning. Did you have anything to add to the grocery list?” he asked, sipping his drink.
“I’m sure whatever he supplied for the women will suffice,” she assured him.
Julio halted mid-sip and gazed at her. “We have the cabins fully stocked. I’m talking about our house.”
Rebecca swallowed and glanced away. “The women need me. They’ll feel more comfortable if I’m there with them.”
“Becca,” he softly admonished. “We have counselors coming and medical personnel. They’re well provided for. We haven’t spent any time alone. I’m sure both of us have questions, and if I’m honest, I want you close.”
“Julio,” she said, softly, shaking her head. “I can’t leave Kara.”
“Then we can set her up in one of our spare bedrooms,” he offered.
“Please,” she pleaded. “I must stay with them. They need me. We can talk on the plane, and once I get everyone settled. Have you heard from Jameson? Has he located Megan? What about the other woman, Ebony?”
“He hasn’t called. I suspect it’ll be a while before he reaches out after this botched operation. They won’t be happy,” Julio informed her.
Kara stirred and blinked her eyes. Her body reacted before her mind caught up, and she shot up in bed. “Where are we?” she asked hysterically.
“It’s all right,” Rebecca soothed. “We’re safe. Remember, Julio and his men rescued us?”
Kara’s body deflated as she glanced over at Julio. “Yeah, sorry.”
“Nothing to feel sorry about, sweetheart. Can I get you something to drink? I asked them to bring your breakfast here. It’ll arrive shortly,” Julio said, smiling warmly at her.
“No, thanks,” Kara said, rubbing her arm.
“You disconnected your IV,” Rebecca admonished. “You need the fluids. When we finish eating, you need to get hooked back up. They’re flying you to Texas later this morning to a safe location. You need the extra hydration.”
“What about you?” Kara asked worriedly. “Can’t I wait and go with you? Do they plan to separate us?”
“They’re taking a group today and the second one will follow in a few days. Rebecca’s coming with us on the first one,” Julio interjected, staring at her.
“Actually, I plan to wait until the second group leaves,” Rebecca corrected him. “I’ll talk to Kassie and get you moved to the next flight. We can send someone else.”
“We’re leaving this morning,” he argued. “The other patients require more care and we must make extra room for them. Plus, you’ll want to ensure they have everything they need.”
Rebecca bristled at his demand. “Do you need to use the restroom? It’s right through the door on your right,” she said to Kara.
Julio rose and unlocked the railing, letting Kara free from the bed. She scurried to the bathroom.
“I’ve made it very clear I’m leaving on the second flight,” Rebecca seethed. “Don’t confuse Kara. It’s my responsibility to make these women feel safe. They won’t know anyone.”
“What will happen when the first flight arrives without you? They’ll think we brought them there under false pretenses,” he shot back. “The second group will know the staff accompanying them, considering they’re staying here longer.”
Pursing her lips, Rebecca refused to answer him, knowing he made sense. The nurse entered and brought her breakfast tray. She returned a minute later with Kara’s and an aide dropped one beside Julio.
“Mrs. Winters asked me to bring you something to eat. Tess made breakfast burritos while Randy rounded up some kid-friendly options.”
“Thank Randy for me,” he said, opening his lid to find a giant breakfast burrito stuffed with eggs, sausage, cheese, bacon, and peppers.
Kara watched him avidly until Rebecca nudged her. “Eat as much as you feel comfortable and drink all those fluids.”
“I will. How can he eat all of that? It’s huge,” Kara exclaimed, removing her lid.
“Once you take a bite of Tess’s cooking, you’ll know how,” Julio said, taking a bite of the homemade potatoes.
Rebecca smiled and nodded, encouraging her to eat while she removed her own lid. It contained homemade, fluffy pancakes with warm maple syrup, and a side of butter. “Oh,” she said, surprised. “I didn’t get a burrito.”
“I asked Randy to make your favorite. You didn’t eat last night, and you need a hot meal to fortify you. Make sure you drink all your liquids, too.”
“Pancakes,” Kara breathed. “Anything’s better than grits and cold cereal.”
Rebecca cut off a good portion and set it on Kara’s plate. “Here, eat up.”
“I can’t take your food,” Kara protested. “What if they don’t give us anything else today?”
“I happen to know Matthew plans to have cheeseburgers and homemade fries for lunch. Then, Delaney will prepare pork chops with baked potatoes and a salad for dinner,” Julio informed her while he cut his burrito in half. “If you finish those pancakes and still feel hungry, we can order more.”
Kara appeared at a loss until Rebecca passed her the fork. Kara dug in as if she worried someone might come in and take it. Rebecca buttered her pancakes and cut them.
Putting it to her mouth, she felt Julio watching her as she took the first bite. The flavors melded together and exploded in her mouth as she closed her eyes, relishing the moment. Her mind flashed back to a lazy Sunday morning.
Rebecca sat up in Julio’s bed as he placed a tray of freshly made pancakes and a side of bacon in front of her. He cut it into pieces and fed her while she added sugar and cream to her coffee.
“I might keep you around for your cooking alone,” she said, raising her chin to kiss him.
“After you eat, I plan to devour you,” he said as his voice deepened and his eyes grew darker and full of passion.
She trembled as she recalled their lovemaking the night before and eagerly anticipated Julio’s hands on her body. Rebecca shoveled the food into her mouth, making him laugh.
“Slow down, we have all day,” he admonished. “We’re taking a day off from work. Today, I want to play.”
She sipped her coffee and glanced over the edge of the rim at him. “What do you want to play?”
“It’s no fun if you know ahead of time,” he said playfully, feeding her a piece of bacon.
“Do I get a prize if I win?” she asked cheekily.
“Trust me, we’ll both win,” Julio murmured as he leaned in and kissed her.
She set the tray aside and pounced, sending him tumbling backward on the bed. Rebecca straddled him and unbuttoned his shirt, while his hands caressed her legs and bottom. He removed the tangled sheet from around her waist and gazed at her with loving eyes.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered.
Rebecca threw back the covers and fought with the railing until Julio let it down. She dashed into the bathroom, spilling the contents of her breakfast. Julio knelt, pressing a cloth against her forehead and neck. She stiffened at his touch.
“May I have a minute?” she asked.
Julio rose and softly closed the door. Tears ran down her cheeks as she flushed the toilet and rinsed her mouth out.
Gazing at the scarred, half-starved body reflected in the mirror, she closed her eyes, willing away the memory from the past. She didn’t resemble the woman who spent the entire day in bed with the man she loved.
The person staring back at her seemed shattered and empty.
She no longer felt warmed by Julio’s love.
It scared her. Once he discovered what they made her do, he’d feel relieved she refused to stay with him.
How could he possibly love her when she hated herself?
“Rebecca?” Kara called from outside the door. “Are you all right?”
She swiped the tears from her face, using the cloth and called, “Sure. I’ll be right out.”
Planting a smile on her face, she opened the door and returned to the hospital bed.
“I guess too much rich food doesn’t agree with me. I’ll have to remember it in the future,” she said for Kara’s sake.
“I’ll order you some eggs,” Julio offered, grabbing the hospital phone.
“No. I’ll snack later,” she said, trying to appease him. Rebecca peered at Kara’s plate and grinned. “It appears you made up for lost time. Do you want more milk?”
Kara stared at her, seeing through her facade. “No. I’m done,” she announced. “I’ll head to my room and ask the nurse to restart my IV. You won’t leave without me, will you?”
“I’ll come get you myself,” she assured the teen.
Julio watched as Kara left the room before turning toward her. “You haven’t eaten since we arrived here. If you can’t handle pancakes, we can ask for something else. Maybe Kassie needs to keep you a few more days,” he said, worriedly.
“It’s the hazard of getting starved,” she stated, but Julio didn’t laugh. The room seemed to stifle her as she replaced the lids over the food trays and pushed them away to keep the nausea from returning.
A soft knock caught their attention. A woman with dark hair entered the room and Rebecca’s eyes widened in shock.
“Hello, Rebecca,” Avie greeted, walking to the side of the bed.
The two women grasped hands and then hugged as they cried together. “Thank you for sending Shadow and the team for Deni and me. Moments after they arrived, Rahimi’s men tried to take Deni.”
“I’m glad you’re safe. Shadow told me you’re married. Congratulations,” Rebecca said, appearing excited.
“We owe our lives to you, Rebecca. If you ever need anything, you only need to ask,” Avie implored. “I’ll leave you alone. We’ll be in touch soon.”
Avie turned and quietly left. Rebecca fidgeted with her blanket, refusing to meet his eyes.
Julio moved from the end of the bed and sat beside her.
“Nothing has changed for me, Becca,” he said gently. “I know you’ve gone through something horrific, but I’m right here beside you. I’ll support you in any way I can,” he said earnestly.
Rebecca leaned back and closed her eyes. It’s what she feared the most.