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“I’ll try the bed after a short movie with Charlie. He’s worried about me,” I say, not even trying to argue with him because I don’t want to argue. I want to sleep. “Come hang out with us.”

“I will after I take a call in my office,” he replies, and helps me back downstairs to the movie room, which is separate from the game room, and when I’m sitting next to my kiddo, Carson tips my chin up and kisses my lips softly.

“Yuck,” Charlie says and covers his eyes.

“Get used to it, kid,” Carson says. “I’m grabbing you an ice pack.”

“Mildred already brought one in,” Charlie announces, holding up the ice pack. “Here you go, Mom.”

“Thanks, buddy.” I tuck the ice against my hip, cover us both with a blanket, and smile at my man. “Go hurry up with that phone call.”

“Yes, boss,” Carson says with a wink, and then he’s gone.

Forty

RINA

It’s been a week since the incident at the safe house, and I’m feeling so much better.

So much better.

I even managed to climb on top of my husband this morning and ride him until we both collapsed in a sweaty heap.

Good times.

I’m back at the infirmary in Julian’s building to check on Stacy, who has been making a slow recovery. She’ll be here for a while yet, but it looks like she’s out of the woods.

After checking her vitals—even though I’m not technically on staff today—I sit next to her and take her uninjured hand in mine. Even though she’s no longer under a medically induced coma, she’s barely been conscious since that day a week ago.

But I like to sit with her, even just for a little while, in case there’s a part of her that knows she’s not alone.

Movement at the door catches my eye, and I’m surprised to see Rose here.

“Hi,” she says with a half smile, and then stares at Stacy. “I can come back later if you don’t want any interruptions.”

“No, come on in.”

Rose pulls up a chair to the other side of Stacy and sits, leaning on the bed.

“I knew her,” Rose says softly. “Not well, but I knew her enough to know that they made her do horrible things, and when she finally got free, this happened to her.”

I swallow hard and take a breath.

“It’s not fair,” I say softly.

“No, it’s not.”

We’re quiet as we sit with Stacy, the three of us all having in common that a horrible man took us, held us captive, and made our lives hell. I know that I’m the lucky one because I got out of there before anything truly horrific could happen to me.

“How did you hear about what happened?” I ask her.

“I’ve been going to the safe house about once a week to talk to the girls,” Rose says with a small smile. “I like being able to chat with them, to talk about stuff that happened, but also about what’s possible for our futures. To daydream and work through trauma. And I’ve encouraged them to let Violet cover up their tattoos as well. I think I might go to school to be a therapist.”

“Oh, that’s fantastic. You’d be so good at it.”

“You think so?”

“I do. You’re so easy to talk to, and you listen so well. You make people feel safe with you, you know? I love that idea for you.”