Slowly, so a wave of dizziness didn’t hit me like a train, I took my time to stand up. Once in the bathroom, the maid wrapped plastic around the bandage before ushering me to undress and get in. Once I was in, she left for a moment. I let my body relax into the warm water, letting my eyes close. My injured arm was over the edge to keep it as dry as possible.
“Scarlett?” The voice was soft, female, and caused me to open my eyes with a gasp.
A slightly older version of the woman from the picture in the hallway made her way slowly into the bathroom. Her hair was to her shoulders, framing her face. Her blue eyes were filled with uncertainty. Her hands were in front of her, holding onto one another. She looked tired, worn down by life, but still standing strong.
I only knew her from what Dominic had told me. If I had seen this woman on the street or in a store, I’d have no clue who she was. She was just a stranger to me.
“Esbrana asked me to do your hair,” she said, taking one slow step at a time. “If you don’t want me to, I can have her do it.”
“It’s okay,” I whispered, not sure what to say.
She seemed to relax slightly at my words and came closer. Without saying anything, she began to wash my hair, taking her time. I think she was as lost for words as I was.
“I’m sorry. I just don’t know what to say,” Hannah sniffed as she finished my hair. “I never thought I’d see you again. And when we knew it was you, my daughter, was back, I couldn’t believe it. I still can’t. I thought I’d lost you forever.”
“How…how do you know?”
“Collin ran a DNA test. It was a perfect match,” Hannah said. “God, I prayed so many times for this day to come. We’ve searched high and low for so many years.”
“How did you find me?”
My mind wasn’t quite wrapping around all this yet. It didn’t make sense.
“Lisa Banks. She tipped us off about a year ago,” Hannah said.
“You knew Lisa?” I asked, flipping too fast around in the bathtub. The water splashed over the side. I frightened the woman, causing her to jump back.
“Yes,” she said slowly. “She was supposed to keep an eye on you, making sure you were safe.”
Safe. Yeah, right. I was never safe.
“She sounded off the last time we talked. I begged Ace to send someone to get you, but he refused. He didn’t think it was that bad. But…when Lisa didn’t show up at our normal meeting time that month, I knew something was wrong.”
“You knew where I was all along? You let that man take what he wanted from my body?” Tears of betrayal from someone I didn’t even know from Jane fell freely. I did nothing to stop them.
“I didn’t know…” Hannah trailed off, tears clouding her eyes.
“Lisa knew. She would have told you if what you say is true,” I hissed. “A mother doesn’t leave her daughter behind like that. You can’t be my mother if you thought I was okay with a man who kidnapped me, raped me, and abused me.”
“Please, Scarlett,” she cried.
“Get out,” I said quietly, turning my back on her as sobs began to wrack my body.
“I didn’t know, I swear.”
“Out!”
I didn’t hear her, nor did I want to hear her meaningless words, as I let my emotions take control.
I may be a daughter to someone, but it sure wasn’t that woman.
After getting out of the bath on my own and dressed, Collin was in the bedroom, waiting for me. He wasn’t too pleased to see the bandage-soaking wet, but he kept his mouth shut. I didn’t look at him as I sat on the edge of the bed and held my arm out.
I wasn’t in the mood for anyone to talk to me.
“Caesar isn’t happy,” he mused, taking off the white gauze. “Nor is Ace, for that matter. No one ever yells at a woman in this house and gets away with it.”
Although I paled, I shrugged one shoulder. I didn’t exactly plan to yell at her, but she pushed me. Hannah acted like what I went through wasn’t a huge deal; she only cared now because I was so close.
