"I've got you, little fox. Just hold on to me."
I wrap my arms weakly around his neck, pressing my face against his chest. He's warm. He smells like gunpowder and cologne andsafety.
He came for me.
He actually came for me.
He lifts me. I'm numb. Floating outside my body.
We leave that building, passing more bodies. Outside, a car is waiting. The passenger window rolls down and Vito appears. Marco stiffens next to me, and from the look on Vito's face, Marco and Dante went off book to rescue me. Oh shit.
I hang my head in shame when Vito sees me. He doesn't look angry at me, more like concerned. We all get into the car and ride in silence back to Vito's penthouse.
But we don't go to Vito's penthouse. Instead, we're taken to a home on the ninety-sixth floor. Marco opens the front door and leads me inside. I look around in shock. Everything is beautiful with white tiled floors and navy blue paint on the walls, floor-to-ceiling windows looking out at New York City, lavish rugs and furniture, and the most beautiful kitchen I've ever seen, with white porcelain countertops and brass finishings.
"This is my home, Elena. And yours too now, for as long as you want it to be."
Out of the corner of my eye, I see a woman sitting in the living room with a medical bag. Marco notices my stare.
"Hi Elena," she says sweetly.
"This is Doctor Reeves. She's going to get you started on an IV for dehydration and do some bloodwork. She also needs to..." Marco stops and looks at the doctor for help.
"I also highly recommend that we check to see if you were abused... sexually," she offers with a look of sympathy in her eyes.
Tears well in my eyes, thinking to myself, how is this my reality?
I nod my head and wipe my tears from my cheeks. "It'll only take a few minutes and then I'll be out of your hair." She smiles at me, puts on some gloves, and begins gathering everything that she'll need.
She takes my vitals first, noting a slightly elevated heart rate but assuring me it's normal after the events of tonight. She cleans my arm and starts the IV while I'm lying down on the couch. She then takes a few vials of blood, telling me everything they are going to be testing for.
"Now here's the uncomfortable part," she states. My eyes shoot to Marco in embarrassment.
"I'll step out," he says without being asked, and I love the care that he's given me since he found me.
Doctor Reeves is gentle and professional during the examination. When she's done, she sits back and meets my eyes.
"Elena, I need to tell you what I found." Her voice is kind but direct. "There is evidence of sexual assault. Bruising and tearing consistent with forcible penetration, likely multiple incidents. Based on what you've told me about being drugged and losing consciousness, this happened while you were unconscious. I'm so sorry."
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Cover my eyes with my arm as tears start again. So it's confirmed. They did—while I was?—
"You've been through a lot, sweetie. It's okay to cry," she pats my arm and I remove it from covering my eyes.
"It's all just overwhelming," I whisper and she nods.
"I've collected evidence. Legally, I should report this to the police?—"
"No police," I say flatly. "The Rossos will handle it."
She glances toward where Marco is waiting in the other room, then nods. "I understand. The evidence will be preserved if you change your mind."
Marco comes back into the room when Doctor Reeves calls for him. "She needs about another fifteen minutes for the IV bag to be empty. She can eat if she can stomach it. Bathing can be done in the shower or bath but lukewarm water only, the hot water will dehydrate her more, and don't make it too long either," she lists off the instructions for my care. "Biggest thing is she needs rest. And she'll need follow-up care—physical and psychological. I'll be back to check on her in the morning."
Doctor Reeves walks to the door. As soon as it's shut, Marco sits next to me on the couch as we wait for the IV to finish. I sit up slowly because if I keep lying down I'm going to fall asleep. I turn to see a red stain on his couch.
"Oh shit, I forgot I was wearing your shirt, and you had blood on it, and..." I ramble.
"I'll get a new couch. As long as you're okay, I don't care about a stain," he smiles at me and I smile back before finally noticing his shoulder. I reach for it and he lets me.
