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“For taking so long to set you free.”
He looks angry and I’m guessing it’s at himself more than anything, and I remember how he always prided himself on being in control. The man who was always one step ahead of the rest, second guessing events before they could affect us.
“It’s not your fault.” I smile and then say firmly, “I may not remember much, but I couldn’t have prevented what happened.”
He sits and says with interest. “So, do you remember anything at all?”
“Not much. Vague memories come back to me and then go as quickly as they came. It’s as if everything is out of focus in my mind. I can sense them, but don’t see the full picture.”
I sigh heavily. “I suppose that’s better than nothing. When something happens to jog that memory, I can remember it as clearly as when it happened. But I need something to prompt it. When I walked in here, the scene was familiar. I knew everything. I remembered how happy I was here, and everything swam into focus. If you ask me about what happened when I left, though, I couldn’t tell you.”
I glance across at Angelo and say anxiously, “Everything’s a blur. I suppose my mind has blocked things out for a reason, but there is an overwhelming sense of something sinister waiting.”
“Can you remember anything about what happened with Massimo?”
Malik voices what I’m guessing they all want to know and Angelo growls, “It’s too soon.”
I shake my head and smile. “It’s fine. Please ask me anything because it may just help trigger a memory. Strangely, I remember nothing except I was so scared. Even now I peer over my shoulder, fearful of something I’m not certain of. I have an overwhelming need to hide, to remain invisible and to keep quiet. It somehow feels wrong even speaking, as if I don’t have permission and I have no desire to see my reflection, almost as if I won’t like what’s there.”
“You’re afraid of looking in a fucking mirror.” Angelo growls with a slow burning rage and I sigh heavily. “When I was in the hospital, there was a mirror in the bathroom. I ignored it. I suppose I was afraid of what I might find in my reflection. When I stayed at Alessandro’s grandfather’s house, there were mirrors everywhere. Again, I tried not to look and if I did catch a glimpse, I quickly looked away. I’m not sure why, but I am fearful of being punished if I speak, or even glance at anything, myself included. It’s always there, as if I’m waiting for something bad to happen, even though I’m now in safe hands.”
Malik looks thoughtful.
“I’ll do some digging. Massimo has many enemies, not all of whom ended their days chained to his dungeon walls.”
For some reason, his words cause a flicker of something that’s a lot like ice running through my veins, immobilizing my extremities, and making it difficult to breathe.
I must gasp because Angelo says quickly, “What?”
I just stare into my mind and am so cold, I shiver and the only thing I can make out were the steel bars of a cage.
Malik’s voice joins me there and he whispers, “What do you see?”
“Darkness.” I shiver as if I’m chilled to the bone and my teeth chatter as I whisper, “It’s so dark. I’m so cold.” Malik’s smooth voice encourages me to dig a little deeper. “Is anybody with you?”
“No. I’m alone and I’m sitting on a swing in a cage. I have nothing on. I’m naked on a swing, and I’m locked in.”
Angelo curses beside me and Malik’s deep voice says firmly, “What else?”
As the memory returns, I can sense the tears falling down my face as I say sadly, “I was his prisoner. The cage was my home until he came for me.”
As I glance up, the image fades and I lean back against the couch and smile through my tears. “I remembered something. That must be a good sign, surely.”
The anger on their faces wraps me in safety. Knowing I have their full protection chases the demons away and I say brightly, “It’s not so bad. At least I was alone and, the good news is I wasn’t his loving wife.”
Turning to Angelo, I need to know. “Please tell me I wasn’t his wife and that my memory isn’t playing tricks on me.”
Malik interrupts. “Alessandro told me what you said, and I investigated further. There is no record of any marriage between you and Massimo Delauren. In fact, you are not listed on any database at all in connection to him.”
The relief is almost overwhelming and drives away the fear from a few moments earlier.
“Thank God.”
I smile happily. “When I saw him at Alessandro’s grandfather’s house...”
“What the fuck?” Angelo looks horrified and I rest my hand on his arm and say firmly, “I needed to. I wanted to face the monster, and I had the best protection by my side.”
Angelo doesn’t seem convinced, but Malik appears interested.
