That I’m standing in my underwear, on a semi-busy New York street, with the dress clutched to my front and my scarred back on full display, showcasing what I have tried so desperately to hide.
14
ALESSO
Unbridled rage lays siege to my insides as I look at Serena. My head is swirling with conflicting emotions. I want to yell. To roar my frustration at a world that would inflict such suffering on someone so pure and so good. My broken angel. The woman who has endured unimaginable horrors, if the raised angry scars on her back are any indication. I want to wrap her in my arms and never let anyone or anything ever hurt her again. But she’s like a brittle doll falling apart before our eyes as realization dawns on her face.
Snapping out of it, I swing into action. Removing my suit jacket, I carefully drape it over her shoulders to cover her. Bending over, she wraps her arms around herself as she shakes and trembles. An anguished sob rips from her mouth, and I can’t hold back. Slowly, I slide my arm around her shoulders, but she immediately ducks out of my grasp, and the jacket falls to the ground. “Don’t.” She shakes her head while circling her arms more tightly around herself, still clutching the dress in her clenched fist. “Don’t touch me.” Her voice wobbles, but the expression on her face is devoid of emotion.
“We need to keep you safe,” I say, glancing all around as I open the door. “All of you. Inside now.”
Sierra drapes my jacket over her sister from behind. “Rena.” Sierra reaches for her, but Serena sidesteps her sister, darting through the door and across the main floor before any of us can stop her. We pile inside the store, and I lock the door before racing after Serena to check the changing area is secure.
When I enter the changing room, the door on the end cubicle is closed. “Serena, it’s just me. I’m securing the room,” I say so I don’t panic her. “Are you okay?” She doesn’t reply, and I frown as I check the other cubicles. “Rena, I need you to answer me.” Squatting on my heels, I inspect the floor of the cubicle she is in to ensure there is no one else in there.
“I need to be alone,” she whispers, her voice threaded with pain.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Not until I know the threat is contained. I’ll send Sierra in,” I add, hating to leave her, but duty calls, and I need to know the girls are safe. On the way back to the front of the store, I spot a side door ajar and curse under my breath. I exit through it, and it opens onto a dark, narrow alleyway running in between the boutique and the adjacent building. It’s empty, so whoever stole into the boutique is long gone, I’m guessing. I scan the area, but there are no cameras out here.
Fucking typical.
Heading back inside, I lock the door before walking out to rejoin the others. Nat and Sierra are talking in hushed whispers. “Go be with Serena,” I tell Sierra. “See if she will tell you about the man.” Sierra nods, still looking shell-shocked, as she rushes past me to go to her sister. I stride to the counter where the perplexed owner stands behind the register. “The side door was open. It seems that’s how the intruder got inside.”
Her brow puckers. “It shouldn’t have been. I know it was locked. I only use it when I have deliveries, and there haven’t been any this week.”
“He probably picked the lock.” Alarm skates across her face. “I need access to your security cameras right now.” It’s probably futile, as there are none in the changing area or in the alleyway, but I won’t leave any loose ends.
She bobs her head, her eyes widening in fright. “I access it from my computer. It’s in my office back here.” She points behind her.
“Write down your log-ins. Our guy will remotely check the feed,” I explain as I punch Ben’s number into my cell. I update the boss quickly, relaying the log-ins, and we hang up with him promising to get Phillip on the case immediately. While we were talking, Ben dispatched a couple of hissoldatito the store as backup. He had a few guys in the area, so they should be here shortly. Ben wants us home ASAP, but I decide to give Sierra a couple more minutes with Serena to help calm her down.
The guy is gone. He’s unlikely to come back. Still, I prowl the space between the front and side entrances, keeping my eyes peeled. “Are you okay?” I ask Nat, spotting the tears welling in her eyes.
“I’m okay, but my God. Poor Serena. I knew Gifoli was a bastard, but I didn’t know it was that bad.” Anger flares in her eyes, mixing with the same heartache I feel.
“He was a fucking monster,” I snarl through gritted teeth. “My biggest regret is killing him quickly. He didn’t deserve mercy. Not when he didn’t show Serena any.” Two guys arrive outside, and I nod in acknowledgment, breathing a little easier with backup here. I press my forehead to the wall beside the door, breathing heavily. Now that I’ve done my job, the reality of the discovery hits me full force, and I’m devastated for Rena.
“I can’t even begin to imagine how much that must have hurt,” Nat says, scanning the street outside as I grapple to get a hold of my emotions. “Jesus.” She props her hip against the wall, looking at me. “It’s no wonder she’s struggling.”
“I don’t know how to help her,” I admit, feeling guilty I have spent such little time with her in recent weeks. Especially when I mentioned doing something together. It’s mostly because I’ve been busy. But I also didn’t want to burden her with my problems. I was afraid if I spent one-on-one time with her that I’d blurt out the whole fucked-up truth of my parentage.
“Can you be honest with me?” Nat asks, and I lift my head, turning to face her. I nod. “Do you have feelings for her?”
I hesitate for a moment for two reasons. One, Natalia is super close with her brother, and I’m not sure I want Ben aware of how I feel about his sister-in-law. And two, I haven’t shared my feelings with Serena, so is it right to talk to her friend about it?
“It’s not a betrayal if you tell me,” Nat says, correctly reading my mind. “And you can trust me to be confidential. I won’t tell anyone.”
Her words lower my walls, and I nod. “I care about her. A lot.” I won’t tell her I think I love her because the only person who deserves to hear that truth is Serena.
“As a friend or more?” Nat cocks her head to one side.
“More, but I know I can’t push for that. Not until she’s ready.”
“That’s all I needed to know.” She kisses my cheek. “Serena needs the gentlest touch, and I can think of no man I would trust more with her than you.”
“I want to be there for her, but I have no experience with this.” I throw my hands in the air. “With relationships. I don’t want to fuck anything up or upset her. She has already been through so much.”
“She has. More than any of us realize.”
