It's because she's so sheltered… so ingenuous. She reminds me of my sister, Catalina. And as a big brother, I wouldn't want anything to happen to her. Not when the experience of having that guilt on my conscience is already too heavy.
Yes, that's just it. She just appeals to my brotherly instincts. She may be my little tigress, but to anyone else she's just a lamb begging to be slaughtered. That naivete of hers is like a beacon of light for every depraved soul out there… mine included.
After I've ensured that she's well on her way home, I can put the entire episode behind me and truly move on.
When we get back to the port, the entire area is empty. I scan the surroundings, but there's no trace of her.
"Damn," I curse out loud, my eyes alert for any type ofmovement. I walk in circles for a bit before I decide I should just go home. A noise from a nearby barrack stops me in my tracks. I crane my neck, listening for more.
The more I near the area, the more it sounds like someone's fighting. I wrench open the door just in time to see a man kick Allegra to the floor, her forehead banging with a thud against the furniture.
My gaze goes back to the men, my fists clenching by my side.
They're dead.
Stepping inside, one man charges at me, but I easily deflect the blows and send him flying with a few punches.
Easy to pick on a little girl. Not so much on someone their size.
The second man, the one who dared to put his hands on her, steps forward, and a punch comes directly for my face. I easily dodge, moving to the right, before using my foot to break his equilibrium by breaking his knee. He topples to the ground, his mouth a hard line of pain.
I don't hesitate as I kick him again, my tibia making contact with his mandible. The blow makes him reel back, blood spattering across the floor.
I move swiftly as I tug Allegra to her feet.
"Come, little tigress."
She seems slightly disoriented as she squints.
"Are you okay?" I want to ask her what happened before I came, but she doesn't seem fit for any type of questioning.
She nods, and my fingers go to her head where a red spot is forming.
"You hit your head pretty badly," I say, holding myself back, not wanting to scare her even further by killing the men. Holding her closer to me, I try to take her in my arms.
"I'm fine. I can walk," she immediately replies and takes a fewsteps just to show me that she's capable of doing it herself. I open my mouth to say something, but I shake my head.
Not now!
Taking her hand, I lead her outside.
"Where are we going?" Her voice is barely above a whisper, and I don't doubt she's in pain. With her frail frame and what she withstood the night before, it's a wonder she's even on her feet.
I look down at her, and I feel my respect for her growing. She's taken everything in stride, barely even complaining.
"To my car." I try to carry as much of her weight as she allows, her independent streak seemingly offended if she receives help.
Opening the door to the car, I move back slightly to allow her to climb in first.
She doesn't.
She stops, raising her eyes to look at me. She moves her head to the side, looking behind us, before pushing me so hard I knock into the door.
Her mouth forms an O and a bloodcurdling scream escapes her lips as she falls into my arms, a wet red spot forming on her shirt. My eyes widen, but I'm already used to this type of scenario.
Safety first!
I take her in my arms and push myself into the backseat, quickly signaling the driver to speed off.
