Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Sofia
I woke up hungry and in a strange place.
Let’s get something straight: I wasn’t a stranger to either of those realizations, nor the fact that my body ached from a beating. But staring up at the stark ceiling and harsh white lights, I remembered…and my eyes filled with tears.
Anthony had found us.
He’d hurt me, he would hurt Rosa, and there was nothing I could do about it.
Except…
I squeezed my eyes shut in shame, the tears leaking from the corners, remembering the fury on Dakvaar’s face when he’d seen what Anthony’s blows had done to me. In that moment, I’d been so damned relieved to hide behind his strength, to let him protect me…even as guilt caused my head to swim.
Anthony wouldn’t let us go, and he was ridiculously powerful. He’d found us in Bramblewood Bluff; he’d find us anywhere and keep chasing us until he took Rosa.
Took my baby and raised her to believe she was worthless, as he’d done to me.
“Sofia?”
A soft voice I didn’t recognize called my name, and I opened my eyes to see a smiling woman about my age, with pale hair and an expensive blouse. Her hand reached out, and when I felt her touch, I realized my left arm was lying on top of the blankets.
“How do you feel?” she asked.
Years of waiting tables had taught me how to lie to hear what someone needed to hear. “Fine, thank you.”
She snorted, then reached toward my face with a tissue. It wasn’t until she carefully wiped my tears from the hair at my temples that I realized I hadn’t fooled her.
“I’m Lila Fairbanks. I own this facility, but more importantly, Dakvaar is my husband’s closest friend.” She paused, then shrugged one shoulder with a smirk. “Knowing Kardok, he might not be Dakvaar’s closest friend.”
I found my lips curled, only to hiss as the movement caused pain to shoot up the left side of my face.
“It’s okay,” Lila said softly, patting my arm. “I just wanted to check in on you. What can I get you?”
Dakvaar. But I tried for a brave half-smile. “I am thirsty.”
“And hungry too, I would bet. Well, we can solve both those problems. It’s well after lunch—you’ve been sleeping for hours, but the doc says you’re cleared to eat something. Dakvaar and Rosa will bring you back something from the cafeteria—”
As soon as the woman had mentioned my daughter, panic had shot through me, and I struggled to push myself up on my elbows. “Rosa?” I croaked, suddenly remembering Anthony’s cruel laugh as he chased me, urging me to fetch her so he could find her.
Dios! What had happened while I was asleep? I thought she’d be safe with Mrs. Jourdan.
But now Lila was hushing me, holding a cup with a straw in front of my battered mouth so I could drink. I couldn’t, not when my stomach was so twisted. “Please—my daughter?”
The other woman just smiled gently and stroked my arm comfortingly.
“She’s safe, Sofia. Dakvaar explained that the man who did this to you was unconscious when he brought you here, so the asshole doesn’t know where you are.
One of Dakvaar’s teammates went to look for him—he was long gone, Torrk said—but My Mate and I went with Dakvaar to your apartment building. ”
Oh no. Oh no.
Lila was still talking, and since she hadn’t moved the straw, I took a cautious sip, the water feeling good on my parched throat, while I begged her with my eyes for more information.
“We were able to find Mrs. Jourdan’s address, and as soon as Rosa saw Dakvaar, she lit right up. He explained you had a little fall, and she needed to go with him.”
Mrs. Jourdan wouldn’t have just let her go, would she? Well, yes, if Rosa knew him and she was distraught.
“Rosa showed us your apartment, and I helped her pack some things for both of you.” Lila nodded to four stuffed grocery bags in the corner. “We couldn’t find any luggage—I tried not to worry her, and just turned it into a game.”
?Ay Dios!
My heart was thundering and there were tears gathering in my eyes again as I slowly sank back against the pillows. “Th-thank you,” I managed. For keeping my baby calm.
Maybe Lila heard the unspoken words, because she patted me again, then cocked her head to one side.
“My Mate is coming. I still can’t get used to that—being able to feel him and his emotions through our Mate Bond.
” With a rueful shrug, she offered me a smile.
“And if Kardok is returning, that means Dakvaar is with him.”
Sure enough, the door opened, and the huge orc I’d come to know these last few weeks stepped through the door. Two weeks ago he’d been my best customer. Last week he’d asked about my daughter. Yesterday he’d proven he could be trusted with Rosa.
And today? Today he’d saved me.
My daughter was in his arms, her legs wrapped around his middle, chattering away as he listened solemnly, his now-glowing green gaze going straight to me. When I saw Rosa was safe and happy, my breath released with a sound halfway between a laugh and a sob.
Rosa’s chatter cut off as she noticed me, her dark eyes going wide. “Mama!”
She wriggled out of Dakvaar’s arms before I could even brace myself, and then she was flying at me, her small body slamming into my chest with enough force to make me gasp.
Pain flared through my ribs, my bruised face, my sprained wrist—but I didn’t care. I wrapped my good arm around her, pulling her close, burying my face in her hair.
“Mija,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Ay Dios, mi querida.”
She was trembling, her little hands clutching at the café apron I was still wearing. “You’re hurt,” she said, her voice small and scared. “Mr. Dakvaar said you fell, but—”
“I did fall, baby,” I lied quickly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Just like he told you. I tripped on the ice, and my arm got a little banged up.” I forced a smile, even though it made my split lip sting. “But I’m okay now. See? I’m right here.”
Rosa pulled back just enough to study my face, her lower lip wobbling. “You look like you got into a fight.”
My heart clenched. She was too smart for her own good. “It was just a fall, sweetheart. A silly one.” She didn’t need to live in fear, the way I did.
She didn’t look convinced, but before she could argue, Dakvaar’s deep voice rumbled from beside us. “Rosa, why don’t you show your mama the pictures you drew while we waited for her to wake up?”
Rosa’s attention snapped to him like he was the sun, and she immediately brightened. “Oh! I drew you a dragon like Mr. Dakvaar wanted! And a fish! And a—”
“That sounds wonderful,” I said, my voice still thick. I let her go just enough to wipe at my eyes with my uninjured hand. “Show me?”
She nodded eagerly and scrambled off the exam table, darting to the bags in the corner. Dakvaar watched her go, his expression carefully neutral, but I could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his claws flexed at his sides.
Then his gaze slid back to me, and something in his eyes—something raw and hungry—made my breath catch.
“Thank you,” I whispered, my throat tight. “For keeping her safe.”
His jaw tightened. “Of course.”
The words were simple, but the way he said them—like it was the most obvious thing in the world, like there had never been any other choice—made my chest ache in a way that had nothing to do with Anthony’s kick.
Rosa bounded back, clutching a handful of crumpled papers. “Look, Mama! Mr. Dakvaar says I’m a really good arnist!”
I took the drawings from her, my fingers trembling. They were messy, colorful scribbles—a lopsided dragon, a fish with too many teeth, a stick-figure family holding hands. My vision blurred.
“You’re a perfect artist,” I managed.
Rosa beamed, then suddenly gasped. “Oh! I almost forgot!” She turned to Dakvaar, bouncing on her toes. “You know what, Mama? Mr. Dakvaar says we’re going to stay with him for a few days! It’s going to be like a campout, he says! I’ve never been on a campout before!”
My stomach dropped.
Oh no. I couldn’t put him in danger too!
I struggled to sit up, wincing as pain shot through my ribs. Dakvaar sank to one knee beside the exam table, his hand finding mine. The touch sent shivers up my arm, warm and grounding, and I realized it was the first time we’d ever touched like this—skin to skin, no pretense, no distance.
“He doesn’t know where you are, Sofia,” Dakvaar said, his voice low. “But if he finds your apartment—”
I let Rosa climb back onto the table beside me, her small body pressing against my side. “You’ve already done so much,” I said, my voice hoarse. “Too much. We can’t impose.”
Dakvaar’s grip on my hand tightened just slightly. “Not nearly enough.”
The words were quiet, but they spread a warmth through my stomach. I swallowed hard, my throat thick.
“You can’t go back there,” he said, his voice rough. “Not like this.”
“I know,” I choked out. “We have to run.”
At my side, Rosa whimpered and burrowed against my wrapped wrist.
At the sound, or perhaps at my words, something flickered across Dakvaar’s face—pain, maybe, or frustration—and he looked away for a moment before meeting my eyes again.
“I understand. But you won’t get far feeling the way you do.” His thumb brushed over my knuckles, slow and deliberate. “Come to my home, please? Just until you’re healed? I swear I won’t let any harm come to either of you.”
My breath hitched.
He’ll hurt you, Dakvaar.
The thought was a knife in my chest. Anthony was ruthless. If he found out Dakvaar had interfered, he wouldn’t hesitate to destroy him. And it would be my fault.
“This isn’t your fight,” I whispered.
Dakvaar’s eyes darkened, the green in them glowing faintly. “It became my fight when I saw what he did to you.”
His voice was low, fierce, and the way he said it—like it was a vow, like it was something he’d carve into his bones—made my pulse stutter.
He was still touching me, his hand warm and steady around mine. “Remember, dkaar,” he murmured, the word sending a strange thrill through me. “I’m a protector. A wall. No one gets through me.”
I wanted to believe him. Mierda, I needed to believe him.
But Anthony always found a way.