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It still didn't feel real.
From the moment the first message had come, she had known that eventually, he was going to come crashing into her life atsome point, and yet now that he had it felt so removed.
Like this was happening to someone else.
“You’re in shock,” Fin said, releasing her hand and gently pushing on her shoulders to lean her back against the mattress. He grabbed hold of her blankets and pulled them right up to her chin, tucking them in around her.
Samara nodded absently. He was probably right, shock was keeping her numb for now, but that wouldn’t last. Sooner or later, the full force of what had almost happened was going to come crashing down on her.
She wasn't looking forward to that.
“How badly am I hurt?” She kind of hurt all over but nothing other than her head particularly stood out.
“Considering you threw yourself out of a car going forty miles an hour, you're not hurt badly at all. You have a concussion, but other than that just bruises and contusions. Luckily you were wearing long sleeves that mostly protected you, and you didn't really make contact with the road, it looks like you rolled down the grass embankment. You were lucky,” Fin said again, a little shakily.
Seeing the fear in her brother’s eyes washed away some of the numbness.
Only it wasn't terror about her abduction that seeped in, it was dismay that she was the cause of his fear.
Samara hated for anyone to worry about her.
Especially her brother.
He had worried about her enough for a lifetime.
“I’m okay, Fin,” she said, straightening her shoulders and trying to wipe any traces of pain off her face.
“Samara,” he said, sounding disappointed. She hated that even more. “You don’t have anything to make up for, stop trying to be perfect. This man has been stalking you for months, and then he abducted you. I'm your brother, it’s natural I wouldworry about you, it’s not something you have to try to change. You have to find a way to let it go, you're missing out on living your life because you're trying to make amends for something you didn't even do. We both had a rough childhood. You did what you thought you had to.”
Rough childhood.
That was putting it mildly.
Fin had no idea.
Still, she forced herself to relax and tried to smile. “Okay, you're right,” she told him what she knew he wanted to hear.
Her brother didn't look fooled, but thankfully he let it go. “Chloe and Tom are here. Are you up to answering a few questions?”
Actually, she didn't feel like she was.
Answering questions was going to bring her emotions rushing back, but saying no wasn't an option.
“Sure,” she agreed.
“Samara,” Fin groaned, apparently sensing the truth, but he smiled at her affectionately and slid his hand under the blankets to hold her hand. “I'm so glad you're here. Even if you drive me crazy sometimes, I couldn’t imagine my life without you in it. I want you to still be driving me crazy when we’re both old and gray.”
Samara felt the same way. Fin had been the only constant in her life, and she couldn’t imagine not having him around. “I was so scared, Fin,” she admitted. “I was scared he was going to kill me if I did the wrong thing, and I was scared that if I screamed for help, he would kill you or Chloe.”
“When you didn't show up for lunch, I knew something was wrong. I'm so thankful you got out alive.”
This time at least.
But what about next time?
“I’ll go get Chloe and Tom.”
She nodded absently. She would answer questions because it was the right thing to do, but all she wanted to do was sleep.
