“Allie.” There’s a warning in his voice. He’s angry. Does he blame me for what happened last night?Probably.
“Go away, Roman.”
The Escalade jerks to a stop and Roman jumps from the car. I squeal when he rushes me and between one second and the next, he has me hoisted over his shoulder and unceremoniously throws me into the backseat beside Emilio before slamming the door and getting back in the front seat.
“Bro, what the fuck?” Emilio snaps. “What happened to playing this cool?”
“Buckle up.” Roman barks, ignoring him.
I rush to right myself and then press against the door as far away from Emilio as I can get as Dom pulls the car back onto the road. My breaths are loud and heavy in the quiet space and I can feel all their eyes on me.
“Let me out.” Adrenaline floods through me and I close my eyes.It’s just the guys.I’m fine. They’re not going to hurt me. Even if Roman is angry with me, he wouldn’t hurt me. Not like that.
It doesn’t matter. Telling myself I’m safe doesn’t stop the panic coursing through my veins. I’m hyperventilating now.
“Allie, it’s okay. We just want to talk." Emilio unbuckles and slides closer to me and I lose it in a haze of blind terror.
“Let me out. Let me out!” I scream and my fingers claw at the door. Finding the handle, I jerk it open. Dominique slams on the brakes just as I throw myself from the car. I slam against the pavement, asphalt scraping against my skin and three sets of doors open and slam shut. Curses fly but I’m already scrambling to my feet, uncaring of the scrapes or bruises I know I have. Blood drips down my forearm and all three guys step toward me.
“Stop! Don’t come any closer.” I hold a hand out toward them, urging them to stay away. My other hand clutches my head as I struggle to get air into my lungs. My head is pounding, an incessant beat growing louder and louder as each second passes.
“Allie, we won’t come any closer. Breathe. We won’t hurt you. You know that.” Dom’s voice cuts through some of my panic. I step back on the pavement until my feet meet grass and then I collapse. Pressing my head between my knees I rock back and forth, sucking in air.
“I’m okay. I’m okay. I’m okay.”If I say it enough, it’ll be true.
“What do you need?” Dominique again.
I shake my head.
“Allie?” Emilio’s voice is higher than usual. I look up and all three are standing maybe fifteen feet away with a mix of worried and confused expressions.
I swallow hard. “Hands.” My voice shakes. “I need to see your hands.”
Three scowls greet me but without hesitation, Dominique holds his hands out and takes two steps forward. “Okay. Here are my hands.”
I take in his darker skin. The contrasting pink of his palms. I force myself to recognize how different his hands are from the men who hurt me. He takes another step. Then another. My breathing slows and I shudder.
Dominique crouches down in front of me, hands still lifted. I reach out and take one of his hands in my own. I turn his palm over. Safe. Dom is safe. Emilio steps closer, his hands lifted as well.
The sun-kissed color of his skin has my chest rising and falling faster and faster. I close my eyes. “I’m sorry. I—” I shake my head. Dom waves him back and without me having to ask, he steps further away from me.
“What is it about hands?” Dominique asks.
I shake my head. I don’t want to talk about it. I know I’m freaking out and I know they want answers but I can’t—
“We know you were assaulted.” His voice is gentle, but his words are like a slap.
What?All the blood drains from my face.
“Baby—”
I jerk my head toward Roman. His voice is filled with pain as his wide, haunted eyes meet mine. His hands are clenched into white-knuckled fists at his sides. He steps closer and I flinch.
Cursing, he rounds to the opposite side of the car. “Dammit.”
“You’re not helping. Get your shit together,” Dominique tells him. He turns back to me. “Can you explain what it is about hands. We just want to help. We didn’t know. Not until last night…”
Last night, after Roman’s dad showed up. He must have told them. Shame washes over me in cascading waves that leave me drowning in self-loathing and disgust. They know. All three of them know. Tears fill my field of vision and I press the heels of my palms against my eyes, fighting to keep them from falling.
