∞∞∞
Mateo Ricci
I shut the door behind us and watch as Andy walks gingerly into the apartment and then stands awkwardly in the hallway.
“I’ve taken your things into the bedroom,” I say, moving past and opening the door for her. “I imagine you’ll want to lie down.”
She takes in a deep breath, then follows me.
“Mateo…”
“What is it, Andy?”
“How long are you expecting me to stay here?” she asks. I frown at her.
Forever…
“As long as necessary.” I guide her to the bed and help her settle onto it.
“Well, if—” She moves to sit up as if thinking better of it. I press her gently back down.
“You’re not going anywhere, Andy. You’ll stay right here. Am I making myself clear?”
“But—”
“There will be no ‘buts’ about it, Andy. I meant what I said before. I’m not letting you out of my sight again.” Frustration starts to simmer. If she thinks I’m letting her run off on another of her goddamn lunatic revenge missions, she’s got another thing coming.
“I don’t need you to look after me.” She juts out her jaw.
Is she fucking kidding me?
“Clearly, you do. If we hadn’t got there when we did, those sickos would have torn you apart from the inside out, goddammit!” She winces at my words, and I feel a flutter of remorse. I don’t want her to relive that hell.
“It would have been worth it to get him,” she mutters.
“Worth it? Are you out of your mind?!” I straighten abruptly and dash a hand through my hair. She shakes her head, opening her mouth to speak again, but I cut her off. “Andy, for fuck’s sakes! Do you want me to describe what I saw when I walked into that room? How they had you strapped up? What we saw on that video?” Just thinking about it makes my flesh crawl. The fact that the video has been entered in evidence keeps me up at night…along with those photos of her. And as for the recording mailed to my address from that little device that she managed to keep around her neck… The things they said to her, the sounds of her screams as that cunt beat her. They’ll haunt me for the rest of my life. I want to tear limbs off, rip out throats… Mark Whitlock’s will be the first.
“You don’t understand…” she whispers.
“I understand perfectly, Andy. I know what he did to Kyle. And to you. I saw the pictures. But there is no fucking way on earth that I’m letting you out there. Not if it means you’re going to risk your life again.” I see her jaw clench. “Not if it means you’re going to riskour baby.”
Her mouth opens and closes, and then I see her sag slightly. Now the guilt really gnaws at me. That was a low blow. But I don’t know how else to get through to her.
“Okay.”
The word is spoken so softly that I barely hear it. And it makes me want to reach out and gather her against me. I want to hold her and promise her that I will take care of everything. But like that nightmare before, I know I can’t hold her close now…not because I’m afraid of internal damage this time. Now I’m afraid I’ll scare her off again.
“You’ll be safe here,” I say gruffly, turning to the door. “Call me if you need anything. If I have to go out, Mikey or Tony will take care of it.”
“I have to have bodyguards again?”
“What do you think, Andy?” I jut my jaw out. If she can do it, so can I.
“Fine,” she huffs out, her shoulders sagging. I’m surprised she’s had the strength to put up such an argument already.
“I’m going to fix you something to eat. Then you’ll get some rest.” I don’t phrase it as if these are options. If I have to chain her up and lock her in this damn apartment to keep her safe, I’ll fucking do it.
I’m not letting her risk her life again. I was almost too late to save her last time, goddammit. I could have lost her. I could have lost both of them…before I’d even found out I was a father. I’ll never forgive myself if I make that fucking mistake again. It’s hard enough to forgive myself already. I'm not letting her leave here until I’m confident Whitlock is no longer a threat.
