I bury my face in his shirt and sob.
Great, heaving sobs that make my ribs scream.
I don't care.
Can't stop.
The dream felt so real.
The fear is still clinging to me like a second skin.
"I've got you," Gunnar murmurs, stroking my hair. "I've got you. No one's going to hurt you. Not ever again."
I want to believe him.
I want to feel safe, but every time I close my eyes, I see that man's face.
Feel his hands on me.
Hear his voice promising worse to come.
"What time is it?" I manage.
"Almost seven. You slept a few hours."
A few hours.
It feels like minutes.
It feels like years.
"I can't—" My voice breaks. "I can't keep doing this. Every time I fall asleep?—"
"I know. I'm sorry. I wish I could take it away."
"It's not your fault."
"Isn't it?" His voice is tight. "They came after you because of me. Because of what I did. If I hadn't?—"
"Don't." I pull back, look at him. "Don't do that. You tried to save children. That's not something to apologize for."
"But you're the one who paid the price."
"And I'd rather pay that price than have you be the kind of man who could walk away from kids in danger." I cup his face with my uninjured hand. "I love you, Gunnar. All of you. Including the part that couldn't leave that little girl behind."
His eyes shine in the darkness.
He doesn't say anything.
Just kisses my forehead and holds me tighter.
We stay like that until the shaking stops.
Until my heartbeat slows.
Until the nightmare fades enough for me to breathe again.
"I need to take care of some club business," he says eventually. "Just for an hour or two. Will you be okay?"
