CHAPTER SEVEN
Luca
The First Nightmare
I was in my office when I heard the screaming.
I was on my feet and running before I even registered what I was doing, my gun in my hand, my heart pounding.
The screams were coming from Liana's room.
I burst through the door and found her thrashing in the bed, her eyes closed, her face twisted in terror.
"No! Please! Stop! Please!"
"Liana!" I dropped the gun on the dresser and grabbed her shoulders, trying to wake her without hurting her. "Liana, wake up! You're safe!"
She fought me, her fists hitting my chest, her nails scratching my arms.
"Please! Don't! It hurts!"
"Liana!" I caught her wrists, holding them gently but firmly. "It's me. It's Luca. You're safe. Wake up!"
Her eyes flew open, wild and unfocused. For a moment, she didn't see me. Didn't recognize me.
And then she did.
She collapsed against me, sobbing so hard her whole body shook.
I wrapped my arms around her, holding her as carefully as I could, mindful of her injuries.
"It's okay," I said, even though it wasn't. "You're safe. I've got you."
"I'm sorry," she gasped between sobs. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry—"
"You have nothing to be sorry for."
"I can't—I can't stop seeing it—"
"I know. I know."
I held her until the sobs subsided, until her breathing evened out, until she was just shaking instead of falling apart.
"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked quietly.
"No."
"Okay."
I started to pull away, but her hands fisted in my shirt.
"Don't go," she whispered. "Please. I don't want to be alone."
"I'm not going anywhere."
I settled back against the headboard, and she curled into my side, her head on my chest. I could feel her trembling, could hear the hitch in her breathing.
"It was so real," she said softly. "The dream. It felt like it was happening all over again."
"Do you remember more now?"
"Pieces. There were... two of them. Maybe three. I can't—it's all jumbled."
My jaw clenched. "Did you see their faces?"
"No. It was dark. And I was—" She stopped, her breath catching. "I was so scared."
"You're safe now," I said. "I promise you, Liana. You're safe."
She didn't respond. Just pressed closer, like she was trying to disappear into me.
I held her until she fell asleep, her breathing deep and even against my chest.
And I made another promise, this one silent.
Whoever had done this to her was going to pay. Slowly. Painfully.
I was going to make sure of it.