He blinks up at me. “I know he was. But I was scared, and I didn’t know how to save you.”
I want to sob. To let the tears roam free. If only my body knew how. “It wasn’t your job to save me, gorgeous boy. It was a horrible situation and now we need to move on. I’m going to go back to the country I grew up in, and you’re going to come with me. We’re all going to be all right.”
“Nina, Chloe, Abi, and Lilly, too?”
“Yep. All of us.”
His lips curve in a smile, the happiness not reaching his eyes. “I’d like that. I want to get far away from here. Especially from Cole.”
“Why Cole?” I reach around him to turn off the taps. “Did he hurt you?”
“No, but he will. He’ll punish me for stabbing him. I didn’t even do it right. It barely worked, but he was so mad.”
“Oh no, sweetheart. I promise he won’t hurt you.” God, how I hope he won’t. “He’s a smart man. He knows you didn’t want to cause trouble.”
The brush of footfalls hits my ears as Luca edges into my periphery. He stands in the doorway, a towel and clothes scrunched in one hand, a bottle of alcohol and a tiny cardboard packet in the other. “Want me to come back later?”
“No. You can actually help set our minds at ease.” I push to my feet and attempt to find a relatively clean spot on my blouse to dry the water from my hands. “I was just telling this beautiful boy that Cole wouldn’t hold a grudge over what happened between them earlier. Do you agree?”
Luca walks toward us, shrinking the small space with his mountainous frame. “I definitely agree. Cole values family above all else. I’m sure he’s just relieved you’re safe.”
Tobias takes in Luca’s words with gradually building trust. “Do you really think so?”
“One hundred percent. You should’ve heard how excited he was to find out he had a kid brother. I’m sure once things settle down you two will become inseparable.”
It’s a placation, a kind one, and I can’t help turning my back to Tobias to silently mouth, “Thank you.”
Luca inclines his head as he moves to the vanity, dumping the items in his hands onto the counter. “Toby, is it okay if I stay in here while you bathe? I’m hoping Penny won’t mind cleaning me up a little bit.”
“I don’t mind.” Tobias sinks into the bath to lay on his back, the water lapping at his cheeks. “As long as Penny doesn’t.”
The eyes of an inquisitive stranger stalk me from the reflection in the mirror.
“Are we still good?” he asks.
No, not at all.
Every time I look at him my pulse kicks up a notch. There’s so much fear. So much torment.
There’s something else, too. Something I refuse to believe is hope.
The mere thought of the weakness inspires anger. I won’t let that conniving bitch spread her wings inside my chest.
I have to be tactical. Smart. And if that includes pretending I’m getting close to a stranger, then that’s what I’ll do.
I suck in a strengthening breath and indicate the counter with a lazy wave of my hand. “Rest back against the vanity and let me take a look at you.”
9
Luca
I do as instructed, turning to face her, resting my ass against the vanity counter.
I ignore the hesitation in her voice. I shut down all the bullshit in my head telling me to keep my distance. Like an asshole, I pretend pushing her into trusting me isn’t the wrong fucking thing to do.
She walks toward me, her steps hesitant.
“Before you get started—” I cross my feet at the ankles. Laid back. Calm. “—this isn’t another attempt to get close so you can attack me, is it?”
“Maybe.” She reaches my side and opens the vanity cupboards to my right. “Do you think the third time would be the charm?”
I smirk, appreciating her subtle humor. It’s barely there, her expression remaining tight, but the derision is a starting point.
“I noticed you cleaned up the mess I made with that device you were carrying.” There hadn’t been any sign of the stabby stick I’d stomped into my carpet. “You kept it, didn’t you?”
She closes the cupboards and stands tall before me, her silence a blatant answer.
“Does it still work?” I ask.
She holds my gaze, a million thoughts ticking behind those big brown eyes. “I’m not entirely sure.”
Her truth is a gift. A fucking brilliant step in the right direction.