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“It doesn’t look like a bullet hole, but I should feel inside and make sure there isn’t a bullet fragment inside.”
I nod again. This woman has made me mute.
“Tell me about your kids.”
“Why?”
“Just do it.” I know she’s rolling her eyes at me in annoyance even though I can’t see her.
“Rose is a free-spirit, always getting into trouble. I remember one time she jumped out of one of my boats into the ocean because she saw a bird dive into the water, and she thought it needed rescuing. She didn’t realize that that is how some birds fish.”
Liesel laughs. “What happened next?”
“Rose knows how to swim, but she was only six years old, and the waves were strong. I stopped the boat and was about to jump in after her, but before I could Atlas jumped into the ocean too, trying to save her.” Now I’m laughing. “Him jumping in only made it more difficult for me to save them both. He was wrapped around Rose, trying to save her, but it was more like the weight of his body wrapped around her neck was drowning her. Neither of them was in any real danger; I got them out seconds after they jumped in. But we had to have a long talk about wearing life jackets and not jumping into the ocean without an adult’s permission, no matter the reason.”
“You know you and I used to swim in the ocean alone when we were their age.”
“You and I did a lot of stupid, dangerous things when we were kids. It doesn’t mean my kids get to do the same thing.”
“You’re a good father.”
I don’t know why her words make me smile. Apparently, I need her approval more than I realized.
“I didn’t find a bullet.”
“What?”
She pulls my shirt down. “I didn’t find a bullet, but we should tie your shirt around it to prevent any more blood from escaping and try to protect the wound a little.”
I realize now that she got me talking about my kids to distract me.
“Thank you.” I pull my shirt off and hand it to her.
She takes it and begins wrapping it around my body before tying it off.
“Here,” she says, shrugging my leather jacket off. “This will keep you warm.”
I turn and stop her from removing the jacket. “Keep it.”
“But you need it more.”
“No, I’ll let you know if I need it. Keep it for now.” I like seeing my jacket on her. I like that at least part of me can protect her and keep her warm.
I don’t know who is holding us captive. I don’t know what their intentions are. But I do know that with me injured, and us both held in this stone tower, an escape is going to be difficult. We are going to have to hope that Enzo and Kai noticed our kidnapping and are on their way. I’m not sure I can get us out of this situation in one piece.
I’ve vowed to protect Liesel so many times. And each time, I’ve failed. I doubt this time will be any different. All I can do for now is to try to reassure Liesel that I can protect us, even when I can’t.
The only people in this world I ca
n absolutely protect are my children. These monsters can hurt me and Liesel, unfortunately, but they will not hurt Rose or Atlas.
10
Liesel
Langston is trying to be strong for me. He’s trying to protect me, but he can’t—no one can.
And he doesn’t realize that I don’t want to be protected, not anymore. There is only one thing in this world I care about, and that person is gone.
