Chapter 7 - Flora #2
Lindsey squeezed her hand tighter, her expression unwavering. “You’re stronger than you think. Just breathe. You’re safe here. We’ll get through this together.”
But the reality of her situation loomed, a dark cloud threatening to engulf her.
The withdrawal intensified, an unyielding assault on her body and mind.
She wanted to curl up, to disappear, to escape the agony.
The thought of her kids, of Bear, of what she had brought upon them…
it was unbearable. Were they safe? Did they know what was happening?
Over the course of several hours, Flora drifted in and out of a fitful, restless sleep.
Lindsey remained by her side, a silent guardian.
Her presence was a small comfort, but the weight of her worries over Stephan and her children pressed down, heavy and unyielding.
Each time she slipped back into a restless doze, a new worry jolted her awake.
Was Stephan safe? Were the kids trying to understand what was happening and feeling abandoned?
When Flora woke again, the exhaustion was bone-deep. She ached in every muscle, her head throbbed, her body screamed for relief. She needed to talk. She couldn’t carry it alone.
“Lindsey,” she croaked, her voice raw. “I… need to tell you… everything. You’ve seen… I’ve changed…”
Taking a shaky breath, she closed her eyes, bracing herself for the memories that awaited her.
Lindsey nodded, her eyes softening with understanding. “I know, Flora. It’s okay. Just tell me what happened.”
Flora closed her eyes. “It started at the conference… Walter Reed. Networking, that’s all it was supposed to be. Then…there was…outside the center. I was mugged.”
Lindsey’s eyes widened. “Oh my God, Flora. I had no idea.”
Flora swallowed hard, a wave of shame washing over her as her eyelids fluttered with exhaustion.
Her voice came out hoarse and uneven, edged with confusion.
“I was… stupid. I just ran. Didn’t… report it.
” She paused, blinking as if trying to focus.
“I was terrified. Thought I could… handle it. But things… got worse.” Her head felt heavy, thoughts moving sluggishly.
Lindsey’s steady voice cut through the haze. “What do you mean?”
Flora took a shaky breath, struggling to gather the fractured pieces.
“The texts…” Her voice trembled. “I started… getting messages. Texts, pictures… of Bear… threatening to kill him. Or… have him die in action if I… if I told anyone, or went to the police. They… they knew who I was, where I… lived.” Her words slowed, confusion flickering in her gaze. “I felt trapped. Like no way out.”
Lindsey’s face tightened. “That’s horrific, Flora. The police? Commander Michaels?”
Flora’s nod was slow, her expression blank for a moment before the weight of fear pulled her down. “No,” she whispered, the word heavy like a stone. “I was scared. Thought I could protect him by being quiet. That... if I kept my head down…”
“You can’t keep this to yourself, Flora.” Lindsey’s concern deepened. “He’s a SEAL. He understands risk. And he deserves to know what you’re facing.”
Flora’s voice cracked, the exhaustion and guilt mingling into a delicate edge. “If they’re targeting me… what about him? He’s already… in the Middle East. A target the second he… puts on his uniform.” She swallowed again, voice barely more than a breath. “How... how can I live with myself?”
“Stephan saw the papers, Flora. He thinks you want out. He needs you. He needs you to tell him the truth.”
Tears blurred Flora’s vision, exhaustion making each blink a small struggle. “I… I can’t do that to him.”
“Flora,” Lindsey repeated softly, steadying her.
“Rhys found the divorce papers on your desk.” She paused, watching as recognition flickered, mingling with guilt and confusion.
“He’s been really affected these last two days while you’ve been in the hospital.
I can see it—in how he’s acting. He’s worried.
He needs to know everything will be okay. ”
The mention of Rhys jolted a fresh wave of guilt through Flora’s tired frame. “Didn’t want him to see… didn’t want him… to worry.”
“I know,” Lindsey said gently, voice softening. “But he’s just a kid, Flora. And he’s picking up on this tension. With Stephan on a mission, Greg and I have to figure out who’s threatening you. We can’t let this keep happening.”
Between naps and over the course of eight hours, Lindsey stayed by Flora’s side, gently coaxing the details of the attack and the threats from her.
With each question, Flora felt the weight of her experiences spill out, and despite the heaviness in her chest, she knew it was necessary.
When she finally gave Lindsey permission to involve Greg and reach out to Commander Michaels to start investigating, relief washed over her.
It felt like a small step toward regaining control over her life.
Lindsey moved closer and, almost awkwardly, wrapped her arms around Flora’s frail frame in a gentle hug. The warmth of her embrace was steady, grounding against the whirl of exhaustion and fear swirling inside Flora. For a moment, the tightness in her chest eased.
“Focus on getting well, Flora,” Lindsey murmured softly, pulling back just enough to meet her eyes with a steady, reassuring gaze. “We’ll figure this out together. I promise.”