"No," I say forcibly. "No ambulance. No hospitals."
I feel my breath shorten when Luc's hand moves from mine to my wrist. I try to pull away but he holds it tight, examining my hand palm up. My fingers are covered in blood from where it dripped down my hand before drying.
I lift a hand to my head almost instinctively and Luc tracks me. He moves closer, looking at the back of my head.
I'm too weak to stop him. His fingers brush against the bump on my head and pain travels through it making me whimper softly.
Luc's eyes cage mine in and I see the fire in them.
"Who?" He says dangerously.
My eyes cast down, saying nothing. Fingers gently grip my chin, lifting it til my eyes meet his.
"Please, Rory," he begs. I see the desperation in his bright moss green eyes. His fingers release my chin, his big hands cupping my face. They’re warm and soft.
I hesitate before giving in. "I have four days, Luc. I-I can't do anything to endanger that." I swallow deeply.
He sighs and before I can object, he wraps his arms around me. He's gentle, aware of my injuries as he rests my head on his chest. Tears prick in my eyes and I sniffle quietly.
"It's okay, Rory.” Luc soothes me. "I've got you now."
At his words, the dam breaks. All the pain and anger I've been feeling erupts into tears. My shoulders shake as I sob quietly, my chest heaving when it almost becomes hysterical.
I end up half in his lap, his arms tight around me like he's never letting go.
He whispers reassuring things to me that I want to believe. "You never have to go back," he swears, as my hands shake—gripping his shirt.
"I do," I whisper. “My father…he won’t let me go.” My voice is sore from being used so much—from crying.
"No, you have four days until you're eighteen. There's nothing your father can legally do between now and then unlesshe has a really good lawyer in which case, mine is better. You can stay at my grandmother's with me, okay? As long as you want.” Luc takes my hands into his. Shame circles as how easy I would let this stranger comfort and hold me.
I pull back, putting my hands on his chest to keep him there. Luc immediately lets go, his hands falling away.
I search his eyes to see if he's really telling me the truth. His green eyes beg me to say yes.
I don't want to live as I have been. I don't want to be scared anymore. I can't do it, it's slowly killing me from the inside. I don't have to wait four days for freedom, Luc is handing it to me on a gold platter. I feel safe with him. Hetrulyseems to care about me. This is a safe place until I can leave.
All I have to do is take it.
Four days.
"Okay," I tell him, my voice wobbly. Relief shines through his body as he slumps.
"Wh—" my voice breaks and I try again. "Why are you helping me?"
Luc sighs. "There's no strings attached, Rory. You won't owe me anything. It's just…I know what it's like to feel hopeless." I hesitate before reaching out and putting my hand on his, squeezing it. He looks down and smiles, emotion storming in his eyes. "I don't want that for you. You don't deserve it," he says quietly.
Tears slide down my face and at the sight of the first one falling, Luc collects me in his arms.
"Everything's going to be okay, Rory," he swears. "I promise."
Eventually, I have to move. The position I’m sitting in is killing my ribs. Every part of me aches. There’s a throbbing behind my eyes.
Luc reluctantly removes his arms and stands up. "Come on," he murmurs. "You still look tired and I have a perfectly good bed for you to sleep in."
He helps me stand up, a groan passing my lips before I can stop it. Luc's features grow dark and dangerous with every wince and painful movement I make.
It's a struggle to get out of the tray of my Hilux but I manage it with Luc's help. I hobble around to the driver's seat. Luc objects and I end up tucked safely into the passenger seat.
