“Yes.” A shudder shakes her. “The man threw me on the ground—” With a sharp inhale, she stops. “Oh, God.”
Adrenaline surges. “You remember?”
Her features pinch with concentration. “The alley. I was walking by, and someone grabbed me. I tried to yell for help, but then he yanked my arm so hard it popped.”
Something cold and dangerous coils inside me. But in a carefully gentle voice, I ask, “Do you remember anything else?”
She shudders again. “The man. He covered my mouth with his hand. I bit him. But he wouldn’t let me go. So I tried… kicking him.”
Tears stream down Sofia’s cheeks, each one a dagger to my heart. I don’t want to ask. But I have to. “What else?”
“I kicked him in the balls.” A grim smile touches her lips. “It must have hurt. But then he threw me against the wall. He was so… angry.”
I thumb her tears away. “I’m sure he was. But you got him good, didn’t you?”
“I think so.” A beat, and then, “It’s kind of fuzzy after that. I just remember being scared. So scared. And… he threw me on the ground. I was trying to get… I wanted my pepper spray, but I grabbed my alarm instead. I hit it. That’s when he ran.”
Rage boils inside me, white hot and incendiary.
Sofia moves closer, pressing her chilled body against mine. “I remember. When he and the other man were running away. The first man. He slammed my head on the ground. Then everything started to fade away.”
My teeth nearly shatter. “He hit your head on the ground?”
She buries her face in my chest. “Yes. It hurt. So much.”
Ah, fuck.
Fuck.
“Do you remember anything else?” I ask. “Anything about the men? Something they said? Something they were wearing?”
After a few seconds, Sofia shakes her head. “They were wearing black. With those black knit masks. So all I could see were their eyes. And it was dark. So… I couldn’t see much. Especially once they dragged me into the alley.”
The rage burns even hotter.
And I know, without question, if that fucker were in front of me right now, I’d kill him.
“Did they say anything?”
She hesitates. “I think… the one who attacked me said it didn’t matter if I fought back. And the other… he thought it was funny that I kicked his friend. Or… whoever he was. But I don’t remember anything important. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I soothe. “You’re fine, Soph.” I steel myself before asking, “Do you remember anything from before? Coming here? Or leaving?”
Sofia lifts her tear-stained face to look at me. “I can’t remember. Just being pulled into the alley. I’m sorry, Nico. I didn’t remember anything useful. Just—” Her voice breaks. “Just getting beat up. That’s all I remember.”
I’m going to kill the fuckers.
And I’m buying a damn island.
“It’s alright,” I reply calmly, though I feel anything but. “I know it sucks. But your memories are coming back. Soon, I’m sure, you’ll remember everything.”
She stares at me. Then she sniffs. “I’m sorry. It was our second first time and I ruined?—”
“No.” My voice goes rough. I hug Sofia to me again and kiss her damp cheeks. “You didn’t ruin anything. I promise. Now. Here’s what we’re going to do.”
“What?”
Aside from tracking down the asshole who beat up Sofia?
