“Enzo?” She said my name so quietly I almost didn’t hear her, her vocal cords scratchy and raw. But her eyes were open, and she had more muscle control in her face now.
“We’re home,” I told her. “Can you walk?”
“Probably.” But she made no move to get off my lap as Tristan unbuckled his seatbelt and made his way to the front of the plane to pay the pilot. “Thank you for finding me,” she whispered, and tears filled her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. “Thank you…for…”
“Shhh. You’re welcome,” I told her. “I’m taking you to my hotel, and we’ll get you cleaned up. Luca is bringing you some clothes.”
“Okay.” She paused. “Is there a bathroom on this plane?”
“Of course.” I lifted her gently off my lap and stood, holding her steady until I knew she wasn’t going to fall over. The sheet gaped open in the front, and I ground my jaw when I saw the weight she’d lost.
“I’m sorry,” she told me, her eyes on her feet as she tightened the sheet around her again.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” I told her. “Hey.” With one hand, I lifted her chin, but she wouldn’t meet my eyes. “You have nothing to be sorry for,” I insisted. “Do you hear me?”
She nodded, but I could tell she didn’t believe me.
The door at the front of the plane was open, and Tristan was already down the steps. I gestured to him that we’d be right down and helped her into the small bathroom near the cockpit. “Do you need help?”
She shook her head.
“Leave the door unlocked,” I ordered, worried she’d pass out again. Then I stood in front of it with my arms crossed over my chest until she was finished. She was so weak she could barely hold the door open to get out and I had to help her. “Let’s get you back to the hotel.” I indicated for her to walk in front of me, noticing the way she flinched at every little noise. I didn’t tell her she had no reason to be frightened. That there was no reason for her to act this way anymore. She’d been through a lot of trauma. It would take time for her to come back to the world she’d left behind. And she might never be the person she was before. Not fully.
I understood that. Better than most other people, perhaps. Though maybe not for the same reasons.
When she reached the door, she slowed, and then stopped. She took a step back.
“Sera?”
Turning partially toward me, she whispered, “I don’t want anyone else to see me like this. Not...like this.”
“Okay.” I stepped around her and looked outside, not bothering to remind her that Tristan had been with us the entire time. Two cars were waiting for us. Luca and Tristan stood near the one in front. When Luca saw me, he walked to the bottom of the stairs. “Go on ahead,” I told him. “We’ll be right behind you.”
He didn’t question why we weren’t coming off of the plane. Tristan had probably filled him in on the condition Sera was in. “Are you coming to the house?”
I heard Sera behind me and reached for her without taking my eyes off of the man who was both my friend and my boss. Her hand slid into mine and squeezed my fingers, hanging on tight. “No,” I told him. “I’m taking her to the hotel. For now,” I added.
But Luca shook his head. “I don’t like it, Enzo. I’d rather you both be at the house. It’s safer there.”
He didn’t have to explain what he meant. Her father knew she was here, and the chances that he’d already sent some of his men to the city were high. “I’ll bring her on Monday.” I wasn’t going to back down on this one. She’d been through enough without adding to it by parading her in front of everyone. “I’m asking for a couple of days alone with her. Then we’ll come to the house and figure everything else out.”
I thought for a moment he was going to refuse my request, but in the end, he gave me a nod. “I’d feel better if you had Tristan with you.”
“There’s no need,” I told him. “Tris has done enough.”
His jaw clenched and he looked away, then back at me. “Alright,” he said finally. Pulling out his phone, he called my driver and told him to join them in the first car. “The keys are inside, and there’s a blanket and a bag with some clothes Veda sent for her. I’ll see you in a few days. But I’ll be checking in with you periodically. Keep your phone nearby.”
“Of course.” I waited until they were both in Luca’s car and it had pulled away. “Come on.” I wished I had something more to cover her with as we descended the stairs and the wind whipped around us. It felt like more rain was coming.
When I reached the bottom of the steps, I turned around and lifted her into my arms so I could carry her across the asphalt. I shifted her weight into one arm and opened the passenger door, tucking her inside and closing it quickly. Then I jogged around to the other side and got in with her, starting the SUV and turning on the heat before I reached into the back for the extra blanket. It was soft and warm, and I spread it over her. “Better?”
“Yes, thank you,” she whispered.
“Luca brought you some clothes. As soon as we get back to the hotel, we’ll get you clean.”
“It’s okay,” she said, and her voice shook with emotion. “At least I have this.” She moved the sheet a little. “I didn’t even have that until today.” She frowned. “I think it was today.”
Jesus fucking Christ. Throwing the SUV into gear, I headed toward the hotel.
