Chapter 33 #2
"What are sisters for?" She still favors her arm, but with her other hand, she sweeps the room. "Well, what do you think of our accommodation?"
I smile, playing along. "They'll do. We can slum it for a while."
She giggles. And if it's a little watery, I pretend I don't notice. "It'll be an adventure. We can—"
The door opens.
A man in a white coat, carrying a doctor's bag, comes in. I'm not entirely sure why he's dressed like a cliché TV doctor, but this place is weird. And maybe he's a prisoner, too.
He turns to Gretchen. "I have an actual job in an actual hospital. Tell my cousin next time to make an appointment."
Cousin.
Hospital.
Information is always a good thing to have. But so far, this is all I have.
I don't know his name or where he works. And he doesn't introduce himself.
Gretchen goes and stands near the door, not leaving, not speaking, and staring him in the eye when he casts her an irritated glance.
"Which one is Lourdes?"
"I'm fine. But Lyndall needs her arm seen to. She's a violinist, and—"
"Lyndall?" He goes to her and starts feeling her arm.
"Doctor...?"
"Yes?"
"I...uh..." She stops. "What's your name?"
"Oh God, are you a hysterical child? You'll be fine. Your arm is fine." He wraps it up, presumably to hinder too much movement and to keep swelling down.
Afterward, he takes her temperature, then mine, frowns, and writes something down.
He hands it to Gretchen. "I've got actual patients to see."
With that, he's gone.
I look at Gretchen. "What did he write down?"
She shakes her head and folds the paper.
But this time it's me who doesn't look away.
Gretchen sighs then and straightens out the paper. "It's a prescription for sleeping pills and a note for aspirin. I guess because of the crash. Now I have to go."
Once more, we're alone.
"Can you take sleeping pills?" Lyndall hisses.
"I'm not taking anything, and neither are you." Then I go join her on the bed. "I don't think he's going to hurt us."
"Yet."
"Not at all. No one goes to this effort just to hurt or kill someone. He probably just wants that money."
Lyndall doesn't seem convinced. "Probably."
"We just have to be our best selves."
"Like Gretchen?"
I deserve the burn, but I'm being like this for her, for the baby. "We can't antagonize him, okay?"
"Okay."
I rub my mostly flat tummy, and she nods.
Lyndall thinks I said that for the baby's sake. But I don't think he'll hurt me. And as long as he doesn't know about Squish, then Squish is fine.
But I can't agitate him or antagonize him. Or even let her do it. Because the most logical person for Dom to take his fury or frustrations out on is Lyndall.
"We will be nice and good, and hopefully, Enzo will be here before we know it."
"How?"
I don't know. "Listen. You've always been adamant that Enzo is a force of his own. And if anyone can find us, he can."
She half-smiles, but it trembles and fades as the door opens and in walks Dom.
And he beams at me like he's my lover who has just come home.
Like we're in love.
It turns my stomach and makes my skin crawl.
I don't dare look at Lyndall.
I keep my voice calm and level. "Mr. Rebecci, why are we here? What is it you want from me that you couldn't ask over the phone?"
He throws back his head and laughs. "You are funny." He steps up to me, slides a hand down my face, my throat, and then between my breasts. "Isn't it obvious? I want what I was promised. You."
I gulp down the rush of burning bile in my throat. And my stomach turns. "What about Lyndall?"
"What about the annoying brat?"
I grit my teeth. "If it is me you want, I'm here. You can let her go. She's just a hindrance."
Lyndall makes a noise behind me, but I ignore her.
And Dom just shakes his head. "Let her go? I'd love to, but that's foolish. She's the perfect bargaining chip in case Enzo does something stupid. And he's stupid. Very stupid. So, you know, it's very likely."
"Please—"
My words die as my head rings, and my cheek bursts into flames.
It takes me a few moments to realize what happened.
The bastard just backhanded me.
Behind me, Lyndall is screaming, and I somehow manage to move between them.
I force myself to drop my eyes. "I'm sorry."
"So you should be. I don't tolerate back talk." Then he is suddenly all charm. "Get some rest, girls. Gretchen will bring you more food later. And some pills to help you sleep. We've got a few big days ahead of us."
I wait until he's at the door. "What's happening in the next few days? What are you planning?"
For a moment, I think he's going to return and beat me, but he just smiles again.
"Don't you worry that pretty head. You'll find out soon enough."
And he's gone.
Lyndall is shaking. "What are we going to do? Oh God. This is my fault."
"No. It's his. We didn't do anything, and even if we'd been with guards, this still would have happened."
But she curls up next to me. "I'm scared."
I brush my fingers lightly through her hair. "I know. Me too. But your brother is going to come."
"Because he is stupid when it comes to you. Stupid in love." And she manages a watery giggle.
"No, he's just stubborn. And you're here too. How's your hand?"
"It's my fighting hand, but I'm betting I can still wield a bow." She sighs. "I'd play up a storm, and badly, just to drive him mad."
"Who?"
She thinks about it. "Dom. Da-Mario. Enzo."
"It's going to be all right. And I bet even Mario is panicking and working out a way to rescue you."
"I'm mad at him and at Enzo, don't get me wrong. But the person I'm most mad at, and struggling with, is Mom. I'm the product of her betrayal. Like, put a lid on it and have a baby with your husband. Ugh. How am I meant to feel? How should I? And how can I expect everyone not to hate me?"
"Why would anyone hate you, Lyndall? You can't help who created you. And just say Enzo and Mario always knew. Haven't they always been there?"
"Mario hates me."
"You're also a teenager. If he always hated you, I think you'd be indifferent."
"Maybe."
I shift gears a little and go with the easier option. "Enzo's always loved you, always has a room for you, even offered you his home."
"I sort of forced it."
I laugh. "I don't think he does things he doesn't want to."
"You think?"
"I know! Enzo will always be there for you, no matter what."
And I realize as I say this, that I'm not actually angry at him. Not really. I totally get why he kept this a secret, especially considering how fragile our relationship has been.
With the rest? I see now how he's done so much for me over the years, worked so hard to keep me safe.
And now there's Squish.
I hope I get the chance to mend things with Enzo.
I hope and pray I live that long.
Because I... I love him.
I'm in love with Enzo.