Sisters in the sense of sharing experiences others would not understand.
She is fragile and can shatter like glass, but I am unbreakable.
So I will give her some of my strength.
“I swear to you, I will never let you be hurt again. When you’re ready, I will teach you how to defend yourself, I’ll help you find your voice. And I’ve got an idea of how to start.”
“O-okay.”
Giuliana went to get her phone, dialing even as she rushed back to Fabiana. The dark-haired woman was still standing where she left her when someone answered the call.
“Giuliana? What’s wrong?”
“Can you get to Pasquale’s house?”
Fabiana lifted a brow, but Giuliana shook her head. She wasn’t going to tell her who she’d called just yet.
“Is everything okay?”
“I have a woman here who needs some girl time. One who’s been … hurt.”
“I’m on my way.”
Giuliana hung up the phone, smiling at Fabiana’s nervous expression. Giuliana had a feeling. She knew just who could help get Fabiana facing power and still be comfortable because she’d be among women. There was one person she knew who’d faced the world and never let it change who she was, no matter what it threw at her.
Fabiana and Giuliana waited for a few minutes before Giuliana sensed the wolves outside coming to alert. She was out the door, calming the wolves to settle back down when Kalinda stepped out of her car. Her hair was in her signature bun, and she wore jeans that looked like they were poured on, with a t-shirt that had a pretty black woman on the front with an afro and multi-colored pick in her hair. Black girl magic was written underneath.
“Whose ass am I kicking?”
Giuliana laughed. “How are you feeling, Ales?”
Kalinda rolled her eyes. “I’m fine. I wasn’t hurt, not that you can convince my mate of that.” They headed inside the house as Kalinda continued. “I told him I’d press my heel into very sensitive places if he didn’t let me out of the house.”
Giuliana laughed and cut her eyes to Fabiana. Fabiana had tucked her paintings away and stood, wide-eyed, as she listened to Kalinda.
“He needs those places to keep you happy, Kalinda.”
“So? He won’t be able to enjoy me if he doesn’t get out of my face.”
“You talk to a male like that?”
Kalinda took in Fabiana. For a moment, something flashed in her gaze before she looked to Giuliana, who shook her head.
No, Fabiana wasn’t who they thought she was.
Kalinda closed her eyes, lifting her hands toward Fabiana, and the woman shrunk back. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”
“Don’t run, Fabiana. You’re stronger than that. And she won’t hurt you. Remember what I said.”
Fabiana stilled, but Giuliana could see her pulse jumping in her throat. Kalinda, it seemed, had finished her surface read of Fabiana and opened her eyes.
Zoey would have been better to coddle Fabiana, but that wasn’t what she needed. She needed strength, acceptance, but she also had to learn how to deal with her fear. Kalinda had the ability, at least marginally, to use her empathic and manipulation gifts to read a person’s emotions.
When Kalinda dropped her hands, she shook her head. “Gods, I want to break him.”
Fabiana squeaked.
“That’s the same reaction I had,” Giuliana agreed.
