Redesigning Fate (Revive #1) - A. M. Wilson Page 0,48
want to talk about what happened today,” he states, not giving me a choice. Only forewarning me that he’s about to start and I need to participate.
I want to hide my head under a pillow. Today was a mistake, and I should have gone to work instead.
“Yeah, I figured,” I reply, ready to get this conversation over.
“Let’s start with what’s going through your head.” His fingers flex into my calves as if he’s restraining some emotion he doesn’t want me to see. “You scared the shit out of me when you dropped to the floor the way you did. I should have been paying better attention.” The sincerity in his voice rips my heart out. I can’t believe he’s feeling guilty over this.
“Please don’t. It’s not your fault. I panicked. I-I feel like it was a stupid idea to try to get the police involved. We should have stayed home, because nothing is going to come of this. It was embarrassing, and you had to witness it.” My eyes fall closed as I drop my head to the cushions behind me and focus on breathing deeply. I need a redo or today needs to be over. “We don’t even know what he’s up to. A silly piece of paper isn’t going to stop him.”
“Listen to me,” he pauses, waiting for me to look him in the eyes. “This is a step in the right direction. Now everything is documented, and if that motherfucker comes near you again, he’ll be arrested. You don’t need to be afraid. I will always protect you.”
“I don’t want you to protect me. I shouldn’t need protecting. I—ˮ I don’t finish because Elias cuts me off.
“You are safe with me. Do you understand that?”
I nod. I do know that. My head tries to tell me that Elias is dangerous for me, but deep within my heart, I know without a doubt he will keep me safe.
“Good. Now get some rest. This morning has been draining on you, I can tell. Oh, here.” He fishes out a bottle of Ibuprofen from his pocket. “For your head.”
“Thanks.” Swallowing the pills with my water, I lie my head back on the couch pillow. Elias continues to massage my legs, and I let myself drift off to sleep.
***
I’m choking.
He’s squeezing my throat, cutting off my air supply. My eyes bug out of my head as I stare up at his sneering face above me. I start thrashing my arms and legs, scratching at his hands, trying to make him let go of me. I can’t scream, can’t breathe.
I’m suffocating.
Dying.
“If I can’t have you, nobody can, you bitch!”
I lurch sideways, waking as my body hits the floor. I curl my knees to my chest and let out a strangled cry as I try to catch my breath. The room is pitch black and seconds tick by before I remember where I am. A lamp on the other side of the room clicks on, swallowing the darkness, and Elias rushes to my side.
“Jesus, Marlee.” He wraps me in his arms, holding me tightly against him. “You’re safe. What’s going on?” I press my face into his neck, whimpering softly, and I breathe in his comforting scent.
“Nightmare. It’s only a nightmare,” I say, more to myself than to him. I’m sure he already knew that. He pulls my face away from his neck to look into my eyes, searching me for more details.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I close my eyes, taking comfort in his hands running soothingly up and down my back. His touch is powerfully calming.
“It was about him…Travis. He was trying to kill me.” My body shudders, the panic welling up inside me once again.
Elias kisses me on my lips, my eyelids, my nose, and my cheeks. He runs a hand through my hair, brushing it off my face.
“You’re safe. I promise. He will never hurt you.”
My breathing slowly stabilizes as we sit wrapped in each other’s arms. I catalogue the sound of his heart beating beneath my cheek, the feel of his fingers dancing soothingly up and down my spine. I take in the feel of his leg resting beneath my palm, and I find it odd he’s still fully dressed.
“What time is it?”
“Just after ten. You must have really been tired.”
“Still am,” I grumble. “What were you doing while I was sleeping?”
“I was in my room working. I didn’t want to wake you. Come with me. We can both go to sleep in my bed.”