“How are they?” I ask passing by him, eager to get to Saban.
“Good.” He clears his throat, clearly uncomfortable. “Dr. Everything just left. She checked in on them both. That one girl — Reverie — has a concussion, but she’ll be a’ight. Saban was bleeding — ” he raises his hand to stop me from charging up the stairs. “It wasn’t anything like that, Snake. I thought so too after she got out of your truck, but it was just her monthly.”
I never thought I’d see a grown man blush, but here we are.
Nodding, I look away, saving him from anymore embarrassment.
“Thanks, man,” I dap him up again.
“No problem, let me know how lil’ shortie is doing.” Concern makes him look sterner than I’ve ever seen him.
“Will do.” Slapping his shoulder, I leave him to let himself out.
Taking the stairs two at a time to the second floor, I head straight to our bedroom.
The bed is empty. Heading to the ensuite bathroom, I rid myself of the clothes. I have blood on me from dealing with Fitch before he fed the Shelby Sugar fallow fields for the season.
“Hey.” Speaking on my way to the shower first, I notice that she seems like she’s in her own world.
“Hey.” Mouth barely moving, she keeps her gaze steady on the bubbles in the bath. Shoulders slumping, she shudders a little as she exhales.
I’m done with my shower in record time. Grabbing a towel to wrap around my waist, I go over to her.
Dipping to my haunches, I grab one of her locs, twirling it around my finger.
“How are we doing, pretty girl?” She shakes her head in the negative at my soft question in the negative.
Deep mahogany eyes meet mine — all liquid with tears unshed.
Dropping the towel, I rise to get in with her. Only this time she doesn’t make room for me. “Scoot.” I say ready to step in behind her.
“I’m bleeding — my cycle started when I was down in that cellar. It was awful.” Covering her mouth on the last sentence, she sobs.
Picking her up, I ignore her gasp and the water sloshing over the side. Sitting down in the warm water, I put her on my lap, covering her in the safety of my arms.
“You think I give a fuck about that?” I scoff. “There is not one part of you I don’t love.”
I feel her breath catch. Tugging her locs, I make her meet my gaze. “And I mean that shit with every fiber of my being, mi amore.” Covering her mouth, I kiss her softly.
Tears flow between us and I do my best to comfort her.
“Now tell me what has you so upset. The boys are being evaluated then they will get the help they need. They won’t be separated. Reverie is in the guest bedroom for as long as she needs it?—”
Turning, she meets my gaze head-on for the first time since I entered. “It’s not that. I-I did something really selfish. Going off like that I could have been killed. You and my parents would’ve never known what happened to me. I saw later the message didn’t even go through. Instead of checking to make sure it reached you, I just followed Reverie.” Holding her hands up in a manner of helplessness. “That was so fucking foolish of me.”
Anguish fills her face, and it fucking breaks me.
“Don’t ever talk about yourself like that.” Giving her a little shake, I demand, “Do you hear me? What you did was brave as hell. You know how many people just look the other way when horrible shit happens? Just let atrocities happen because it doesn’t affect them or someone who looks like them? Saban, what you did today was nothing less than heroic. I’m proud as hell that you are mine. You saved kids tonight. Kids who now can heal and have a future. Hold on to that.” Pulling her into my arms, I hold her. Sighing, I confess, “I was always going to find you. I tagged you when I found you in Senegal.” Rubbing the small of her back for emphasis.
“You did what?” Reaching behind her, she feels the same spot that I’m touching, her eye rounding with surprised outrage.
“You motherfu—” I cut off her fussing with a kiss.
“As for your parents, we can see them whenever you are ready.” I say later after distracting her with more kisses.
“Tomorrow?” How can I say no to the hope I hear in her voice? “Absolutely. Let get you clean.”
Neither of us can sleep as we look at the sun rising over the horizon. I don’t know what prompts me to lay my heart out in such a fashion. Maybe it’s the ordeal of nearly losing her or the sheer joy I felt seeing her locs emerging from that hatch.
