“I’m Penelope Bonetti. I’m a psychologist and Bones' sister. This is Dr. Chloe Knight. We are here to see Miss Mancini.”
I nod and say, “Thank you for coming. She’s in the bedroom.”
Penelope stares at me as if she’s trying to figure me out, probably because we are obviously related to her but haven’t met. Hell, I didn’t even know she existed.
“I’ll be honest with you. I don’t know if you’ll be difficult like my brothers, but we need to see her alone. It’s in her best interest. She’s unlikely to open up about what happened in front of you.”
I don’t particularly love this stranger telling me what’s in Heather's best interest, but she’s probably right.
“I’ll tell you what. If she says she is comfortable being alone with you, we will allow it. If she says she’s not, you'll have to learn to deal with it. Acceptable?”
She nods, and I take her back to the bedroom. I walk in to find Heather tossing and turning frantically as she sobs. I walk over to the bed and try to wake her without touching her.
“No!” Her blood-curdling scream causes my brothers to run into the room. Dropping to my knees beside the bed, I fall apart as I talk to her.
“Baby, you're safe now. Open your eyes and look at me.”
Her face is drenched with tears, her breaths are harsh and uneven as her eyes shoot open.
“I’m sorry. I had a nightmare.”
I keep my hands to myself pushing away my need to have her in my arms.
“Don’t apologize. You’ve done nothing wrong.”
I exhale a deep breath.
“There are two doctors here to see you. They say it’s best for you to have privacy with them, but if you’re uncomfortable one of us will stay.”
She wipes her face and sits up in bed. Her cheeks flush pink when she notices the strangers in the room.
“It’s fine. I’ll be alright.”
I move when Knox brings a second chair in the room.
“If you need us we will be in the living room.”
She forces a smile on her face and glances at us one by one.
“Thank you.”
We walk out, leaving Heather once again. My legs feel heavy as lead as I close the door behind me. This is torture, and it’s like Carter all over again. Wanting to help, but knowing I can’t. I’m a fixer by nature, but I can’t fix this, and it leaves a crushing pain in my chest. It’s hard to take a full breath and I can’t escape feeling like I’m being buried alive.
Chapter Twelve
THE HEATHEN
“Do you feel safe? With these men?”
I stare at the woman who identified herself as Penelope, my eyes full of surprise at her question.
“Yes. They would never hurt me.”
She smiles softly, her gaze reassuring.
“These are standard questions. Do you want to hurt yourself or anyone else?”
Everybody knows when you’re asked that question, you tell them what they want to hear because the truth lands you in a padded cell. Some place I never want to return to.
