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I followed silently, deep in thought about what Atlas meant. We ascended some stairs from the garage, and Atlas led me through the lavish house, starting with a mirrored hallway showcasing various artworks, that appeared to be from different regions of the world. From there we walked through the house that was simply beautiful and immaculately styled, with floor to ceiling windows everywhere that seemed to bring the outdoors in. Stained glass skylights in the voids where the ceiling soared to the fourth level, shimmered from the light of modern chandeliers that fell the length of several floors. The place was clean and welcoming, and although the spaces we walked through were quite large, they all seemed to exude a level of comfort.
"Who exactly lives here?"
Atlas shrugged. "Just me and my brothers and a few employees."
I stared at him incredulously.
"What? Did you think we were a bunch of Neanderthals?"
I laughed. "No. I just imagined a male pad to be more…. "
"Beer fridges and pool tables? Televisions and posters of women?"
I stifled a giggle, "Not quite that bad, but definitely not as… sophisticated."
He raised an eyebrow at me. "I will take that as a compliment." We ascended the spiral staircase before entering a door on the third floor. "Here we are. Welcome to our spa room."
"Whoa," I breathed. Not only was it the largest bathroom I had ever been in, but it was also the most luxurious. In the center were marble steps surrounding a square spa bath, large enough to fit eight people stretched out comfortably. Off to one side was a glass enclosure with crystal blue tiles that I guessed was a steam room, while on the other side was a large sauna with wooden seating. An area on the rear wall had multiple shower heads, and everywhere you looked, marble tiles with gold inlay clad the walls. Some small palms and hanging plants finished off the man-made oasis.
"Towels and robes are right there," he pointed beside the door we just entered. "The toilet is just behind those palms, and that is for you." He nodded to the spa that was bubbling quietly with steam rising from the heavenly smelling waters.
"It smells amazing."
"Thank you. It's my special blend. Perfect for soothing injuries. Scratches, bruises, muscle damage, broken bones, you name it, and of course, the nerves."
I raised a brow at him. "That's oddly specific."
He just grinned sheepishly. "Yeah. We get hurt a lot. A story for another time perhaps." Heavy metal music filled the room and he reached into his pocket. "I'll leave you to it. Take as long as you need, but I recommend at least two hours." He winked at me before answering the phone and leaving, pulling the door closed behind him.
Well you don't have to tell me twice!
I quickly took off the torn, dirty clothes I had on and tossed them to the floor. As I stepped into the steaming hot water and slowly eased under the surface, shivers of pleasure ran up my spine. I sat there, eyes closed, spellbound by the sensations, completely zoning out for god knows how long, before I came to my senses. As my eyes fluttered open, I started to examine my arms and legs. My legs were all cut up but nothing serious, and I had bruises everywhere. I looked over at a mirrored wall and gasped at the sight of my face. It wasn't that I was filthy as hell, or that my hair was so wild it made me look like a crazy person. It was that half my face was so badly swollen and dark purple that I looked like an alien.
I gently touched my face, wincing at the pain that shot through my head, and slowly started to scoop some water over my face. The tears I had been holding in finally started to fall as I leaned back to soak my hair.
The more I reflected on all that had happened, the more I knew I deserved what had happened to me tonight. First Nico, who had been nothing but a gentleman since I'd met him, gets shot. Secondly, falling through scrub down the mountainside and getting injured. And finally, my encounter with the filthy men at the warehouse, getting beaten and sexually assaulted.
I shuddered. This was not how I anticipated my escape would go. And to top it all off, instead of punishing me for running and getting their brother shot, they found me and treat me like a princess.
What on earth is going on? I don't deserve this.
I blocked my ears and dunked my head below the water, trying to drown my guilt and sorrows. When I came up for air, I screamed, covering myself instinctively, even though you couldn't see a thing below the water's surface.
Atlas just chuckled as he watched me.
"Sorry. I was just checking up on you. How do you feel?"
"I- I feel much better. Thank you." My arms tightened around my chest.
He chuckled, "Oh, don't worry about me. Although you are a very, very, stunningly, beautiful woman, my preferences are elsewhere."
"Huh?"
He rolled his eyes. "I'm gay, but don't go telling everyone. People know, or think that they know, but I like to keep them on their toes. You know, keep ‘em guessing. It's fun this way."
I was speechless. He seemed so macho, but maybe I had been fooled by his huge size and manly attitude. The more I thought about it though, he had only expressed a kind, sensitive side to me. It made sense.
"But I can't say the same for my other two brothers. They definitely have a thing for you."
