“As long as you need,” he says, his eyes finally meeting mine.
He’s giving me time to recuperate. He’s giving me time to put the wedding off. And he’s givingustime to figure out what exactly we are and what we can do about our feelings towards each other.
I don’t say another word as I sit down at the table and shove the sandwich in my mouth, eating it with voracious gusto. I catch Dimitri watching me, and I ask, “What?” around a bite of food.
He chuckles and reaches over and wipes the corner of my mouth with a napkin. “You had some mayo right there,” he says.
There’s something so gentle about the way that he does it, and the feelings I’ve been pushing deep down inside of me come roaring back. But neither of us say a word. We simply continue eating.
“Did they feed you?” he questions with a frown marring his brow.
“Yeah. It wasn’t much, though. Usually just water and a piece of bread or some crackers.”
“Did they…” He starts but can’t finish. I can see the torturous gleam in his eye, and I can guess his question.
“They didn’t touch me,” I assure him. “Besides hitting my face,” I add quietly.
His jaw ticks, and I can feel the tension rolling off of him in waves. I see his eyes venturing to my cheek,which is probably still sporting some bruises. “You were there too damn long. I wanted to get you out of there sooner.”
I reach across the small table and place my hand over his. “Hey, you found me, and you rescued me. That’s the important thing.”
He gives me a tight nod as he regards me intently. “Eat,” he commands.
And I do. I finish my sandwich; and when he offers me another, I eat it as well. I eat until my belly is full and I can’t eat anymore.
He takes our paper plates to the garbage and comes back with another glass of water and a few pills.
“What are these?” I question.
“Something for the pain and to help you sleep,” he answers.
I hesitate but only for a moment. I trust Dimitri, so I pop them in my mouth without any more fuss and swallow them down with the water. And then I bring up something that’s been weighing heavily on my mind. “A man took Darby away a few days ago,” I whisper, my lower lip trembling. “She was putting up a fight, and one of the men named Cillian said he would take her away from there. I overheard some other things, but I have no idea where he took her.” Swallowing hard, I tell him, “They called himThe Carver.” Tears fill my eyes, and I look down when I feel Dimitri’s touch as his hand covers my unsteady one resting on the surface of the table.
“Don’t worry. I’ll put out the word to some friends. We’ll find her, Savina.”
I give him a nod, my eyes growing heavier by the minute. I might just fall asleep sitting upright in this chair if I stay here any longer.
But then I sense Dimitri by my side, and he’s helping me stand up. “Let’s get you to bed,” he offers.
I don’t even have the strength to protest. I’m not sure if it’s the medicine he gave me kicking in or just sheer exhaustion.
Dimitri helps me slip out of my dress and shoes until I’m standing before him in only my bra and panties. His eyes don’t leave my face as he gently pulls one of his t-shirts over my head. It’s long and practically swallows my petite form. It’s perfect, and smells likehim, wrapping me in his warm, signature scent, which I’ve missed so much that I could almost cry just from that. And then, Dimitri pulls back the blankets and coaxes me into the soft, warm bed.
I crawl in, and he covers me up. My eyelids grow heavy with fatigue, but I’m still fighting sleep. I’ve been too afraid to fall asleep the past several days, and now my mind is associating sleep with being vulnerable.
As if reading my mind, Dimitri tells me, “Go to sleep,privighetoarea mea mica.” And then he promises, “I’ll watch over you, and I’ll be here when you wake up.”
And for the first time in what feels like forever, I’m finally able to fall into a deep sleep.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
Dimitri
SAVINA SLEEPS FORa day and a half, and I don’t dare disturb her. I watch her sleep for most of the time, just sitting there and making sure she’s still breathing. Now and again, I’ll touch her face or run my fingers through her hair; just needing some tangible evidence that she’s really here. I thought I’d lost her. And I can still remember the overwhelming, gut-wrenching feelings I experienced. A world without Savina is not one I want to live in.
I’m frying up some French toast and bacon when Savina finally awakens.
She groans into the pillow and asks, “What smells so freaking delicious?”
