I nod my head and quickly sweep Cici into my arms.As soon as I find the office, I drop down into a chair and reposition her on my lap.She quickly curls into me and clutches my shirt as tightly as she can.
Smithy and Liliana silently enter the office a moment later and take a seat in the empty chairs facing the desk.I'm glad they stayed.I know I'll have to talk to the police and I’d rather be able to do that without Cici around.I know she’ll feel comfortable with Smithy and Liliana sitting with her while I'm gone.
“Do you physically hurt anywhere?”I murmur against her ear.I want to make sure if she has any injuries, I can tell the cops what they are.
Cici nods her head.I squeeze my eyes shut and try to suck in a calming breath and blow it out slowly.Every cell in my body wants to slip out from beneath my girl and go punch Josh until he can’t breathe.To make him pay for ever thinking he was allowed to touch her.
“Where did he hurt you?”
Instead of answering, she takes my hand and slowly guides it to her hips then waist.I know he was holding her tightly, but I wonder just how tight.
“Can Liliana check to see if you have bruises?”
Cici nods her head again.Her tears have slowed down, but she’s still having a hard time breathing normally.I think that’s why she won't talk.She knows she won't be able to.
“I’ll wait right outside and make sure no one comes in.”Smithy rises from his seat and after he leaves the door shuts softly behind him.
“Are you ok if I lift your dress and look at your hip and waist?”Liliana asks softly.Out of everyone who could be in this room right now, I'm glad it’s Liliana.She has a gentleness about her that none of the other wives or girlfriends have.She knows exactly how to put people at ease and make them feel more comfortable.
“Y-Yes,” Cici chokes out.“P-pictures.”
“You want us to take pictures of it?”My brows raise in surprise.
Cici pulls back just enough to meet my eyes and nods her head.She looks so broken.The confidence she always has is missing from her eyes right now and that makes my chest clench in pain.
“The cops will need them,” she says so softly I almost can’t hear her.
Liliana carefully checks for bruises and her eyes widen when she gets a look at Cici’s skin.She grabs her phone, but I shake my head and hand her mine.I want the images on my phone.I plan on making sure this idiot pays for every single time he’s made her uncomfortable.Every time he’s made her wish he could disappear.
“You’re already bruising pretty badly, Cici,” Liliana whispers.She stands to her full height and I help Cici shift on my lap so Liliana can see her other side.“This side is even worse.”
Once Cici is covered up again and curled into my chest, I turn my attention to Liliana.
“Could you ask Smithy to go out to my truck and grab a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt from my bag in the back seat?”
“Of course.”
She disappears, shutting the door behind her.I wrap my arms around Cici a little tighter, hoping I'm not hurting her.I just need to feel like I'm protecting her right now.I need to know she feels safe with me.
“Tell me if I'm hurting you.I just want you to feel safe.”
“I always feel safe with you,” she murmurs.
“Good.When they come back, I want you to change into my clothes.You’re shaking like a leaf and it got chilly in here.”
“Thank you.”She hugs me even closer and I close my eyes.I never thought our night would end like this.We had the perfect date and figured we’d have a drink or two with friends.I wish we had just stayed home.None of this would’ve happened then.
Logically I know sooner or later Josh would’ve tried something again.He wasn’t going to stop until someone made him.Someone other than Cici.I guess it’s better that I was here.Who knows how far he would’ve taken it if I hadn’t been there.
The door opens a little bit and someone tosses my clothes on the chair before shutting the door again.I slowly stand, setting Cici gently on the floor.
“I’ll wait outside while you change.”
“No!”She whimpers.“Please don’t leave.”
“Ok.”I squat down until I'm eye level with her and swipe at the new tears.“Hey, I'm not going anywhere.You tell me what you need and I’m more than happy to comply.I'm yours, Cici.I love you so much and I’ll do whatever you need to feel safe.”
“I don’t want you to leave my side,” she whispers.
