“Okay. I’ll see you soon, nipotina.”
Less than a minute later, Hannah stepped into the room. Her shoulders were hunched inward and she twisted her hands in front of her. “Hello.”
“Hi.”
What was I to say to this woman?
“Shall we get you cleaned up?”
I shrugged, then I slowly made my way out of the bed. Each movement hurt. My head was still sore, and a wave of dizziness hit me hard, nearly knocking me back on my butt.
Hannah was quick help me stand, letting my weight lean mostly on her as I shuffled to the bathroom. After peeing and refusing to look at the blood that filled the toilet, I took a quick shower, being careful to not get any stitches wet. Neither of us spoke about the mess that was washed away from between my legs.
Hannah tried to keep her eyes away from me, but I had long lost the concept of privacy.
Once I was finished, she helped me into some comfy black yoga pants and a tank top. Then, to sit back on the bed and took a brush to my matted hair.
“I used to love doing your hair each day,” she mused. “I missed doing it. I…I still feel horrible for not doing more.” She paused. Was she waiting for me to respond? I had nothing to say.
“Will you be okay with three men? I’m sure I can persuade Ace differently.”
“They won’t hurt me,” I said, knowing it was the truth.
“No. I’ve never seen Dominic take so much care about anything or anyone before. And Zevon, well, he has the warmest heart I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. When he cares for someone, it’s with everything he has in him.”
“I get it,” I said. “He’s different.”
“You like him.”
“Who?”
“Both. Right? Dominic and Zevon?”
“I guess,” I answered, glaring around the room. Zevon’s room had a similar set up to the one I was in, but this one had sci-fi pictures on the walls. “They haven’t lied to me. They make me feel like I’m at the same level as everyone else around me.”
“You do know Zevon is gay, right? So, if you’re getting feelings of more than family or friendship…”
“I didn’t think anyone knew that.”
“I’m like his second mother. He can’t hide it from me.” Her voice was gentle, caring.
“I’m not looking for love,” I said, turning to face her. “I’m looking for family.”
“Your brother loves you,” she went on. “We all do. Even when you keep trying to prove to us that we can’t be your family. Even Collin treats you like his own daughter. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him lose his cool like he did when he had to clean you up.
“I hope, God do I hope, that you can find yourself while you’re gone. I’ll be waiting for it to be safe. I’d like to get to know my daughter again.”
“You have medical supplies?”
“Yes, Peyton. We have everything,” Collin said as the questions kept coming. “We will be perfectly fine. I won’t let anything happen to her.”
“Neither will I,” Dominic said, holding my weak body up as we slowly made our way to the underground garage.
Zevon was already at the black SUV with just as black tinted windows. He was double-checking that enough guns, ammo and medical supplies were packed, along with clothes.
“I hate this,” Peyton said, coming to stop in front of me. He shot a glare at Dominic, who only winked at my brother. “I should be going with you.”
“I’ll be fine,” I said. “These three idiots can keep me safe.”
