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“You have my number now,” he says, reaching out to tug my blanket around my shoulders a little tighter. “I’m sorry that we had to meet under these circumstances, but if you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.”
“Thank you,” I say, my vision blurring as I look down at the coffee.
It’s been a long night, and all I want to do is crawl back into bed and get some sleep. If sleep is even going to be possible at this point. I don’t know what would have happened if Christian wasn’t there to protect me.
Ruben says a few whispered words to Christian before leaving the room.
The door shuts behind him again, cutting off the light from the hallway.
I look around the room, not quite sure what to say to Christian first. It feels as if my entire body is frozen with fear right now.
I try to count the books lining the shelves that surround three sides of the room as a way to try and distract myself, but I lose count after the first couple.
The lamps cast dim light around the room while the sunrise filters through the window.
“How are you holding up?” Christian’s voice is soft as he sits in one of the leather armchairs across from me. “I know that tonight has been a lot. I’m sorry for leaving you with Ruben, but I needed to handle the man who broke in. I wanted to make sure that everything was dealt with properly.”
“It’s okay.” I try to swallow the lump in my throat. My hands are still shaking as I hold my mug a little tighter. “It’s been a long night. Ruben is nice, though. He made me coffee and got me a blanket.”
“Ruben is great. He’s my right-hand man. If you ever need anything, and I’m not available, he is the person you should speak to.”
A long silence stretches between us as the events from the last few hours keep racing through my mind.
All I can see is the man with the gun standing in front of me.
I was going to die tonight. It’s a thought that chills me to the bone, but it’s one I’m certain of.
God, what kind of life am I living right now? I married a man who kidnapped me. I just watched him shoot a man in the knee to protect me.
I just want to go back home.
“Zoe, you look like you’re a million miles away right now. What’s going on? You can talk about it with me. A man breaking into my house isn’t normal, but I can’t promise you that life is going to be as simple as the one you’re used to.”
I put my coffee mug on the table between us before sitting back on the couch.
Christian watches as I pull my knees to my chest. After nestling deeper in the blanket, I close my eyes for a moment.
My heart pounds against my ribcage as I think about the way the night could have gone differently.
When I open my eyes, not quite sure I’m ready to talk about it, Christian is still watching me. There is a softness to his gaze that makes me think I can open up to him.
He’s been nothing but kind to me, even though he is infuriating at times.
“Living with my family was simple. We knew there could be the threat of something happening to us at home, but the threat was unlikely. There were a lot of security agents around at all times. I didn’t have to worry there because I knew that my dad and the people he paid were looking out for me.”
Christian’s jaw tenses, his hands curling into fists on the arms of the chair before relaxing. “I’m going to be increasing the security detail around the house. It’s not going to happen again. I know you might not believe me, but I’m going to keep you safe while you’re here. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“You’re right.” I play with one of the tassels on the end of the blanket. “I don’t really believe you. I don’t know why I should. I feel safe with you right now, but I don’t know why someone came after me. It’s like my worst fear coming true.”
“I’m sorry,” he says, his voice solemn. “I wish that I had seen this coming so I would have been able to better prepare the house. It’s not going to happen again, though. You’re going to be safe here, Zoe. This is your home.”
“It doesn’t feel much like a home.” My voice cracks as I look at him. “I’m sorry. I know that you’re doing your best to make me feel comfortable here, but I don’t know if I ever will.”
He nods, understanding flashing in his eyes. “I know. I wish that things didn’t have to be this way.”
“They don’t have to. You’re the one who made this happen. You could divorce me and let me go home. Please. I miss my family. I want to see my sister.”
Christian gets up and comes to sit beside me on the couch as tears start to cascade down my cheeks.
