Rafe was in the kitchen when we entered, and I immediately worried about him. He wasn’t dressed in his trousers and shirt like usual. Instead he was wearing scruffy navy sweatpants and a black tank top. His hair was in disarray with no product in it, and when he turned to face us all, he was too pale, dark smudges under his eyes.
“Cara? What are you doing down here, sweetheart? Terza is getting your breakfast ready to bring to your room,” he worried as he shot to his bare feet and came towards me.
Cal set me down without me needing to ask, so by the time Rafe got to me I was ready to wrap my good arm around him and hold him as tight as I could.
“I’m okay. I wanted to check on you and Gia. How is she?” I asked. Rafe just held me too, and he seemed in no rush to let me go or answer my question.
“I’m so sorryGioia Mia,” he uttered softly against my hair.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. I knew what I was walking into. I’m just grateful you arrived in the nick of time.” I told him.
“Please don’t do that again. I understand that you thought you had to, and I’m so grateful to you for getting yourself and Gia out in one piece, but please never put yourself in danger like thatagain. If anything like that happens you come to me, alright? I will handle it. I need you safe, Cara. You have to stay safe.” He sounded emotional as he almost pleaded with me.
“I’ll do everything I can to stay safe. I promise, Rafe. And if kidnappers text me again, I’ll let you know, okay?” I sniffled as tears filled my own eyes. His very obvious love for me, and fear of losing me choked me up. I wasn’t even his full sister, but it didn’t seem to matter to him.
“I was so scared I’d lost you both,” he told me. He was still holding me as tight as I thought he dare, like he was too afraid to let me go.
“You didn’t though. You got to us in time, and we’re both home now.”
“How are you?” he asked as he took a deep breath, then stepped back, releasing me.
“A lot better than last night. The doctor left me some pain meds that are helping. I’m alright,” I assured him.
“The concussion?” He looked past me to Cal with question.
“I woke her every two hours through the night to keep an eye on her, but she’s been fine. Her shoulder is the biggest issue. It’s causing a lot of pain,” Cal explained.
“You woke me every two hours?” I asked with confusion.
“It’s procedure following a head injury. I just woke you enough to ask you a few questions and check your pupils.”
“Huh. I don’t remember that.”
“You were exhausted. You barely woke,” Dante told me.
“Everyone come and sit down. I’ve made you all a hot breakfast. You look as though you need it,” Terza declared as she started laying out serving dishes of everything needed for a full English breakfast.
“Do you feel up to eating something?” Rafe asked as he wrapped his arm around me and led me to a high seat at the counter.
“Just try and stop me,” I laughed. “I’m starving this morning.”
“Eat up, sweetie. I’m so relieved to see you this morning. Are you alright?” Terza fussed as she came up behind me and leaned over to kiss the side of my head.
“I’m fine, Terza. Thank you. This all looks amazing,” I told her.
Rafe helped me up into my seat, then pushed it under the counter for me, so I could reach everything. I was relieved when he sat beside me. He clearly hadn’t slept the night before, so he really needed to at least eat.
“How is Gia?” I asked again as we all started filling our plates. Arran, who sat at my other side, must have grown tired of my one armed struggle to grab a little of everything, and took my plate, filling it for me himself.
“I don’t know. She wouldn’t let me stay with her last night. I tried to talk to her, but she’d locked herself in her room,” Rafe answered.
“That okay, wee one?” Arran asked as he set a heaping plate of food before me.
“Perfect. Thank you.”
“Haven’t you seen her this morning? She seemed pretty drunk last night, Maybe she’ll be calmer today?” Dante suggested.
“I really hope so,” Rafe sighed. “And no. I haven’t seen her yet today. I knocked on her door this morning, but she didn’t respond.”
