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His hand touches my back before pulling away.
After another moment, his arm settles around me while I try to get the tears under control.
“I’m sorry.” I wipe away my tears even as new ones fall. “It’s the long night that’s getting to me. I’ll be alright if I can just get some sleep.”
“Don’t do that.” Christian’s hand drifts up and down my arm.
I lean into him, seeking comfort in the touch even though the little voice in the back of my head tells me that I should be running away from him.
“Don’t do what?” I hiccup, my cheeks turning red.
I hate that I’m falling apart like this in front of a man I barely know.
My mom and dad would be ashamed of me if they saw it. They raised me to keep a cool head, even when times get tough. And now here I am, leaning on a stranger and crying on his shoulder.
“Don’t diminish your feelings to make way for someone else’s. If you want to cry, go ahead and cry. I might not be the best at comforting people, but I raised my younger sister. I can handle some tears.”
I watch him for a moment, seeing only honesty shining in his eyes. “I want to go home. I miss my family. I wish that I was back there with them.”
He sighs, his hand stilling on my arm. “I can’t take you back to them right now. Believe me, I don’t like this situation any more than you do. As soon as I can take you back to them, I promise I will.”
“How do I know you’re going to keep your promise?”
Christian shrugs. “I don’t know. You're just going to have to make the decision to trust me or not.”
He makes it seem so simple, as if there aren’t a dozen other factors that go into whether or not I can trust him.
As I sit there, looking around the library, I try to come to a decision about Christian, but I can’t.
He might have protected me tonight, and I will always be grateful for that, but he is still the man who forced me to marry him.
“Is there any way I could see my sister? Other than seeing her at a bar after a performance? Could I go out to visit her? I just want to talk.”
He sighs and moves away from me, running his hand through his hair. “I can’t let you leave the house yet. Not for the next few days until I get better security in and around the property, but she can come over to spend time with you, if you want.”
“You really mean that? You’ll let Ava come over to see me.” Hope bursts through me.
“I might not be a good man, Zoe, but I’m not a monster. Your sister is welcome to come over here and see you whenever you like. She’ll have to check in with the security team I’ll be placing at the front gate, though.”
I nod, knowing that this is the best deal I’m going to get.
Honestly, I’m shocked that he is allowing this much. I wouldn’t think that a man who kidnaps someone is going to be open to requests.
I expected to be kept like a prisoner, but instead he is letting me have as much freedom as he feels like he can allow.
I don’t know what to do or how to process any of that information.
My head aches as I stand up and head for the door. “I’m going to go to bed for a couple hours and try to get some sleep.”
Christian follows behind me.
“Take one of the guest rooms for now,” he says, his voice gruff as he holds open the door. “I’ll have someone get your room cleaned up and put back together by the time you’re awake.”
“Thank you.” My chest constricts as he stands in the doorway. “Thank you for saving me tonight, and thank you for letting me see my sister.”
“I don’t want you to be unhappy here, Zoe.” He gives me a crooked smile. “Now, try to get some sleep. I’ll be down here getting some work done if you need me.”
With a nod, I head for the stairs and climb them, my palms sweaty and my heart pounding in my chest.
