Michelle nodded. I was fucking relieved, it meant it was over. I hoped Michelle would be able to move past this. She didn’t have the childhood I did with guns, and drugs and death. Losing her parents in a car accident is totally different than seeing your neighbors get shot when you’re three.
Michelle…
“Can we go back to the hotel now?” The numbness was wearing off and I needed to shower and get out of these clothes. The coppery smell of the dried blood was all I could smell and I was about to toss my cookies.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital to get checked out? You’ve had quite a shock.”
“No I don’t. If I start feeling sick I’ll go later, but right now I just go want to go and shower.”
“I’ll have one of the officers take you back to the Waldorf. Give me a few minutes.”
He was a decent man I guess but couldn’t he see I didn’t want to wait, I needed to go NOW. What was wrong with him?
“Why is he making us wait? I need to get out of these clothes.”
“I know baby, and we will get you all cleaned up. Soon. I promise.” Looking in to Flame’s beautiful ocean blue eyes I found my salvation.
“I love you.” A gorgeous smile broke across his face.
“I love you, baby. I don’t know what I’d have done if I lost you. I’m so sorry I didn’t come with you.”
I put my fingers over his lips but realized they were still covered with blood and Iquickly pulled them back. “It’s not your fault. I chose to go by myself. I’m a big girl. I could have handled it if that bitch hadn’t belonged in a psych ward. She was total looney toons.”
“She sure sounded like it. All that stuff about corrupting her son. You never even talked about him.”
“I know. I don’t think I said more than twenty words to him in the whole time I was here, except when he showed up in the park before you got home.”
“I’m sorry he had to die but I’m glad it wasn’t you.”
“Me too. I really didn’t think I’d get out of there alive. I didn’t think you’d get through the door in time.”
“I didn’t think I would either.” He put his forehead to mine and the tears in his eyes were visible. That moved me more than anything. Hot tears rolled down my cheeks and once they started I couldn’t stop them. Flame pulled me into his arms and just held me. It was definitely the best medicine. We stayed that way until Detective Harris cameback and told us the car was ready to take us to the hotel.
The ride to the Waldorf was quiet, but Flame held my hand the entire time. I didn’t expect the press to be there when we arrived though. Thankfully Terrance was there to run interference as he got us through the doors of the hotel and away from the cameras and reporters. I knew eventually we’d have to make a statement but I’d let Joe take care of that. He was much better at that stuff than the rest of us.
Everyone was waiting in the hallway when we got upstairs and piled into our room when we got there.
“Baby, do you want something to drink. I mean alcohol. I think a shot or two couldn’t hurt?”
“I don’t know. I can’t think. What I really want is to take a shower.”
“Do you want company?” I wanted more than anything to say yes, I knew it’s what he was waiting for, but honestly I needed to be alone, to wash the blood and brains off and try to feel like myself again.
“I think I’ll pass on that for now. I’m too dirty, and this way you can fill everyone in while I’m getting clean.”
“Okay. But call if you need anything I’ll listen for your voice. Not that I don’t always anyway.” He dropped a kiss on my forehead and all I could think was ‘Oh God, I hope I’m not covered in brains’. Ugh. The bullet coming through the side of her head along with the brains, bone, and yuck replayed in slow motion in my mind.
The shower helped me feel a little more like me, not having to smell blood and see it all over me was the best. Walking back into the living room and getting hugged by everyone was a little overwhelming. I still wasn’t all into this touchy feely stuff but I was getting better at handling it.
Joe got there with Sunshine and he was working with Chaos on the statement for the press. I didn’t care what they decided as long as I wasn’t the one who had to say it.
“Here baby. Take this I think it will help. You’re still shivering.” I was? Shit. I didn’t even realize.
“Thanks.” As I went to take a sip of the coffee he stopped me.
“It’s spiked so go easy.” I nodded and took a sip. It was good, Kahlua, Tequila and coffee one of my favorites. I didn’t know he knew, maybe Cyn told him. Either way he was right, it helped and the shivering stopped almost instantly.
Of course everyone had more questions so we went over everything again, which was the last thing I wanted to do. I’d prefer to forget everything and I’m sure Flame would too.
