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Back out in my living area, I ask everyone to leave, all except for Slasher. He remains with me while we sit on the couch, listening to Alana and Zoe move around in my bedroom.
Alana comes out and goes to my bathroom after a few minutes before returning with a handful of things and then closes herself back in with my princess again.
“You okay?”
I glance up to see Slasher regarding me, and I flop back on the couch, sighing.
“Not one fucking bit.”
He nods. “Focus on the fact that she’s back. I can man the fort for a few days so you two can… figure shit out.”
“Thanks.” I offer him a half smile, but then let the fucking thing drop away because the last thing I feel like fucking doing is smiling. “Prepare the men for the fact our war is about to be stepped up ten fold. And give Dante and Cain an update on what’s happened. I want to meet with them this week.”
Slasher nods, raking his hands through his long dark hair as he pulls it up into something that resembles how some of the Cruz Cunts wear their hair.
“The men are already prepared to walk through hell with you, brother. We are all ready to end this war once and for all.”
He slaps a hand on my shoulder then, and I give him a thankful nod, just as my bedroom door opens, and Alana slips out.
“She really didn’t want a shower, so I helped her clean up her legs a bit and washed her face and hands.” Alana’s gaze darts to Slasher before returning to me. “She’s still skittish. I’m not sure how close she’ll let you get.”
Standing from the couch, I move to stand before Alana, and clasp her shoulder. “Like I said. I’ll stay on the opposite side of the room if that’s what she wants.” When Alana nods, looking relieved, I thank her and watch her fall into Slasher’s side as they leave my apartment, locking me in with my princess.
Turning, I stare at my bedroom door for too long, before I quickly use the bathroom to clean up a bit more, and then retrieve a bottle of water and a couple of energy bars from the kitchen.
When I open the door and step back inside my bedroom, the light is dim with only the faint glow from the bedside lamp, and Zoe’s big blue eyes staring back at me.
“I brought you this. If you want it.” I hold the water and bars out and gesture to the bedside table next to her. “I’ll just leave them there.”
She nods, watching my every step as she peeks up from the blankets, and once I’ve placed them on the table, I move back to stand near the door.
“Would you like me to stay over here?”
At first, I don’t think she’s going to respond, but then she shakes her head, and my gut twists.
“Do you want me to sleep out there?” I ask, pointing my thumb over my shoulder toward my door.
This time she shakes her head frantically.
“Can I sleep in the same bed as you as long as I don’t touch you?”
She nods again, and this time I hear her sniffle, like she’s crying again.
Fuck.
I nod and move through my room, leaving my clothes on but kicking off my boots and socks before I slowly ease under the blankets next to her.
I lie on my side to face her, and she does the same as she swipes at the tears still falling from her reddened eyes.
Fuck it’s so good to lay eyes on her again, although now that her face paint has been removed, I can see just how sickly she looks. She’s definitely not been fed well. Her cheekbones are too prominent now, and her eyes look almost sunken in.
There will be hell to pay for every single person who had a hand in doing this to my princess.
“Promise me this isn’t a dream, and I’m not going to wake up back in that hell with those monsters?”
I drag my hand out of the blankets and hold up my little finger. “Are pinky promises still a thing?” I waggle it in front of her face and a small smile tugs at the corners of her cracked lips as she nods. “Well, then I pinky promise that youwill never wake up in that hell ever again, Princess. I lost you once. I’ll never let it happen again.”
More tears burst from her eyes but I keep my pinky up, waggling it, hoping like hell she’ll cross this small line to touch me.
