I didn’t even deliver Emett there. I had him at home, with a midwife present—and very much against doctor’s orders.
“Aurora, we need to make sure you’re okay. We need…we need…” She chokes on the words, closing her eyes, and I fall into her arms, hugging her hard.
“They didn’t do anything. They were stopped and I got away.”
Stella’s body sags with relief so palpable, I can feel the pent-up air rushing out of her when she hugs me back.
“You girls are trying to kill me,” she says softly, still breathing heavy and pulls away slightly, running the back of her hand across my swollen face where the asshole slapped me. “Let’s get some ice on it, at least.”
I nod and follow her into the kitchen where she pulls out a bag of frozen peas, wraps it in a thin towel, and hands it to me before walking down the hallway.
A moment later, she’s back with a thick blanket that she wraps around me.
“Who was it?”
I cast my eyes down. “I don’t know the two men who were about to…I don’t know them. But Aaron was there.”
“That fucking son of a bitch,” Stella grits out, fury blazing through her eyes. “Money?”
My hand starts to shake at the memories. At seeing his dead eyes intent on selling my body. “Apparently, I’m worth five hundred in product these days.”
I don’t notice the pinch where I sink my teeth into my bottom lip, trying to hold it together.
“Mother—” Stella rests her hands on the kitchen counter, tipping her head up with more silent curses. “Why don’t you go take a hot shower? I’ll make you some tea.”
“That sounds nice right now,” I answer absentmindedly.
“Go on, then.”
“I can’t.”
“What do you mean, you can’t?” In a flash, she’s back in front of me, kneeling, her probing gaze assessing. “Did they hurt youanywhere else?” I shake my head. Still in that fuzzy state of mind because I should be in distress after the attack. I should be at least worried about what my brother might do next but that’s not what weighs me down.
“Do you ever feel like this is it? Like there is nowhere else to go, and every breath weighs too much? I’m tired, Stella. I’m so damn tired,” I wheeze quietly.
She brings the pad of her thumb over my cheeks, wiping the tears that are now flowing in an unstoppable stream. Huh, I didn’t even notice that I’ve started crying again.
“I know, my ray of sunshine. I know,” she whispers.
“I can’t…I can’t…I have no will to live, my bones are tired, my soul is tired. Why does everyone think it’s okay to play games with my life, Stella? Why? Who could love someone who’s given up? Who could want to be with someone who’s buried so deep in the darkness, there’s no more sunlight. I’m lost and I’m so tired of being lost.” Every word leaves my lips with a fresh tear.
“Aurora?” Stella searches my eyes for some answers, tilting her head to the side. “What aren’t you telling me? Has this heart fallen for someone?”
My head starts shaking so violently, it hurts, but even in this my heart and mind can’t agree because the tears get more violent, coating every inch of the lie I keep trying to sell myself. “No, no, no, no.”
“Shh.” Stella’s arms wrap around me, pulling me under her chin. “Why don’t I make you some of that special ‘chamile’ tea Emett—” Her words cut off for a second as bright light flashes somewhere outside. “Who’s that? Is it them? I’m calling the damn police!”
“Where?” I twist around, looking out the window and take a deep breath, my tears freezing on my skin.
He’s here. I wipe them with the back of my hand, mindlessly staring into the blinding headlights.
He’s here. He’s back. Why is he back? He just left.
“No,” I tell her as I get up, my heart moving toward the window as if being pulled by an invisible tread. I go right up to it, the tips of my sock-covered toes bumping against the wall. As if they wanted to keep going, keep walking toward the man in the car but had to stop. “That’s Severin.”
I lift my hands up, pressing them against the cold, rain-stained window. I can’t see his golden eyes, but I can feel them watching me.
The naked branches outside rustle from a silent wind and his words from earlier carry over once more.
