“What’s your name? Do you have someone you want me to call?”
She looks up at me, big wide eyes that remind me of an animation character looking back at me. They’re so fucking green. She blinks but doesn’t respond.
Jesus Christ. My body temperature begins to rise, nerves making the cord in my neck strain.
“I can give you some money and you can go. You should go.” I nod assuredly, my brows pinched together. Again she just stares at me, not saying a damn word. It dawns on me that maybe I should call someone. I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing here. Hell, this is more interaction I’ve had with a female my whole life. Leaning over my bed, my movement makes her jump and I freeze.
“Just grabbing my phone,” I inform her, snatching it off the charger, she watches me closely. Unlocking it, I oddly think about calling my mother. I look up at the unnamed woman, if anyone could use motherly instinct right now, it’s her. But Mom will ask questions, wanting to know where she came from and that means I’ll have to explain my father. Fuck that. I pull open my brother Kieran and text him.
Get your ass over here, bring Leona.
Why
Just trust me.
He doesn’t reply back, but I know he’ll come.
Thirty minutes later, Henry is calling my apartment informing me of Kieran’s arrival. Leaving the blonde mute in the bedroom, I go unlock the door and greet him.
He’s dressed in a fucking suit, Jesus Christ, is he ever not dressed in designer clothes? His ball and chain close behind. Leona has on a fur coat, and white dress underneath, her hair piled onto her head. They look like a celebrity couple ready for the cameras instead of heading over to a family member’s house in the middle of the night.
“Tell me why I’m here at five in the morning, Romeo?” His voice irritated, beady dark eyes staring at me with frustration. I can’t tell him out here, someone might hear.
“Come in,” I growl, holding my door open, the smell of perfume strong as Leona passes by. Shutting and locking the door, I notice I don’t stop and inhale the scent like I usually do. In fact, the obsession with Leona seems dull compared to the woman harboring herself in my apartment right now. I lead them into my room and find it empty.
“Shit, where’d she go?” My heart starts beating faster, a cool sweat on the nape of my neck.
“Who?” Leona asks, looking around. Pushing open the bathroom door, it’s empty. She’s not in here. Quickly I leave my room and head to the guest room, turning the lights on, I find her sitting in a corner on the floor, her knees to her chest, her blonde hair concealing her face and most of her body.
Kieran steps up next to me and I hear him inhale.
“What the fuck happened?” he breathes heavily.
I tell him everything. How father met some man in a van, I went rogue, and the woman was forced upon me or she would have been killed.
He shakes his head. “Wow, I didn’t know anything about this,” he whispers, rubbing his chin with his thumb and forefinger. “Father dipped his fingers in some sour shit, but this has got to be a new low for him.”
“I’ve told her she can go. I’ve offered her money even, but she won’t say a word,” I explain further. It’s like she can’t hear me or doesn’t want to be free. I don’t understand what’s wrong with her.
The strange woman finally looks up, her eyes hitting me in the most unknown places in my chest. I don’t know her, yet I feel an invisible string pulling me toward her. Why? Is it because I feel sorry for her?
Leona suddenly sashays over to her and squats down in front of her.
“Hey, sweetheart, do you have someone we can call?”
The woman says nothing, and Leona looks over her shoulder at me.
I wave my hand out in a “I told you” manner, I shrug.
Kieran turns his back, both of us face to face now. “Do yourself a favor and just get her out.” His tone is sharp. “Either way you put it, this woman has been kidnapped. She needs to go.”
Exhaling sharply, I slide my hands in my pockets. “You’re right…” I really don’t want to drag her out of here, she’s obviously terrified as it is, but I can barely take care of myself, let alone someone else.
Taking a step toward the woman, I say, “Come on, let’s get you a cab.” I don’t ask, I tell her.
“No.”
We freeze. She spoke. She finally said something. Her tone of voice was sharp and direct, her eyes staring back at me like she’d fight me if I tried to touch her.
“What?” I ask confused. Doesn’t she want to go home?
“You don’t want to leave?” Leona clarifies.
The blonde beauty shakes her head, confirming she wants to stay in my house.
Leona stands, adjusting her fur coat. Her shoulders lifting as she takes a deep breath.
“Well, if she verbally said she doesn’t want to leave, then she’s not here against her will. You’re not a thief.” She winks along with a sly smile pulling at her face before walking back over to us.
I don’t see the humor in this situation, why is she smiling like that? This woman has to go. This is no place for her, and I’m certainly not the best company for someone who has been through a traumatic experience. I’ll screw her up more than she already is.
“So what the fuck do I do with her?” To keep myself in control at all times, I keep everyone at a certain distance I’m comfortable with and having this strange woman in my house has everything scrambling to uncertainty. I won’t have control, I won’t be able
