“I should have something more tomorrow for you.”
“I appreciate it.”
“Thank you,” Fiona added. She was grateful for her help and was glad this was almost over with. The thought kept nagging her though, who would be doing this to her? Shedidn’thave any enemies. Shedidn’teven really know anyone. Fionadidn’tgo out and socialize without a horde of her sisters around. Occasionally she snuck out with David, but they usually just hung out. Who could be doing this to her? And to drug her and violate her in such a way. It made her so angry.
“Let’s go home.” Vincent escorted her upstairs.
It was a solemn drive back toJoaquín’s house. Neither knew what to say to the other and neither tried. She was beyond exhausted and all she wanted to do was hide under her covers until this was over.
“Fiona,”Vincent called to her from the living room as she headed upstairs.
“Yeah,” she said apprehensively. She hoped hedidn’twant to talk about tonight.
“I was wondering…” He stopped, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
“Yes,” she prompted.
“I don’t know how to ask this.”
“Then just ask. If I don’t want to answer, I won’t.”
“Would you go see a therapist tomorrow?” he blurted out.
Fiona never would have guessedthat’swhat he would have asked, but it was better than talking about the photos. “I told you Ididn’twant to talk to anyone.” Fiona retreated up another step on the stairs. Shedidn’twant to talk about the Congo. She’d rather forget it ever happened. Talking about it wouldn’t change what happened.
Vincent took a step closer to her. “Take it from someone with experience, you need to talk to someone. The nightmareswon’tgo away on their own.”
“I’d rather not,” Fiona said before running up the stairs and retreating to her room. Vincent was wrong. Talking about it wouldn’t help. She needed to focus on the real problem, catching her stalker.
~
Fiona awoke with a gasp that turned into a scream when a shadow loomed over her, shaking her.
“Fiona, it’s me. It’s Vince.” His tone was worried as he held onto her but kept his face far enough away from hers so she didn’t try to use him as a punching bag again.
Vince, no Vincent. Not her attacker. She wasn’t in the Congo.
She sagged back into the mattress, taking deep breaths to quell her racing heart. Vincent released her, sitting down on the opposite edge of the bed, giving her space.
“Was it the same dream? The one from the Congo you had last night?”
“Yes.” She hid under the sheets despite how hot and sweaty she was.It was the same dream all the time. Every night almost. Her parents had been concerned about her, but she assured them with time they’d go away.
“Fiona, I know you said youdidn’twant to talk, but I think it will do you a lot of good,” he tried coaxing.
Fionadidn’twant to talk about this now. It was the middle of the night and she had barely fallen asleep a few hours ago. She had enough to dealwith without adding therapy on top of it.
“Just one session with Dr. Grace. She has done some amazing work with the guys. Savannah has even seen her.”
“Really?” Fiona perked up. Savannah had been through a traumatizing ordeal too. It made sense why she went to a therapist. Poor Savannah had actually been kidnapped by the militia and almost killed.
Vincent nodded. “She wasn’t sleeping either, afraid she was still being held captive, but she talked to Dr. Grace and it’s helped her a lot.”
What could it hurt? Nothing at this point. She couldn’t remember the last time she had slept more than a few hours. “Fine.”
“Good. Do you want me to stay until you fall asleep?”
Yes.
