Chapter 14

SCARLET

We arrive home from the hospital. Thane took me and two of the other women. They each promised not to include Thane and his group as part of their story if anyone asked.

I’m dozing in and out. The doctor checked the baby, and he’s good. He’s a boy. Thane is ecstatic about the baby and hovering around me like a mother hen. Amazingly enough my shoulder didn’t have any tendon or ligament damage. I’ll need to follow up with an ortho when we get back home. The door opens and I jerk upright.

“Shh. Red. It’s just Wystan.”

I move my sore arm and cry out. My shoulder is killing me.

Wystan is lit up from the hall light. Thane brought the two of us to a different room in the large man’s house so I could rest. “Anatoly got clothes for the women, and he’s taking them all to the bus station. Are you feeling okay?”

I use my good arm to push off Thane. “Yes.”

“Thank you for taking care of the women, Wystan.” He nods as he closes the door. Thane murmurs. “We run a charity now. Each of them have some cash and tickets to get home.”

“You know it’s the right thing to do.”

“Yeah. It is. I’m just glad to have you safe in my arms.”

THANE

We’ve been back in New Jersey for a week, and I can’t keep myself away from Red. The OB/GYN gave her and the baby a clean bill of health. The ortho agreed with the ER doctor’s assessment and told Red to wear a sling and start physical therapy in another week. I run my hand through my hair. I’m a mess. Red doesn’t want to leave the penthouse, and I can’t argue, even though I understand she needs to get out and live again.

Red steps into my den. “Thoughts on dinner?”

I stand up and stalk to the door. She’s beautiful. The bruises on her face are fading, and she seems to be moving easier. I pull her gently into my body. “Let’s have dinner out.”

She stiffens. “I… I’d rather eat here.”

“I know, but I’d like to take you out. The quiet Italian place you like?”

She pushes off my body and walks away. She has these moments when she wants distance between us. I suggested she see a professional for her trauma, and she’s continued to decline. She turns and speaks over her shoulder. “I’ll go, but I want Chinese.”

I beam. She’s trying and I’m ecstatic.

THREE WEEKS LATER THANE

I startle awake. “What?”

I reach for Red. She’s curled up on the edge of the bed, hugging the side.

“Red?”

She screams and my head explodes. I touch the light on the nightstand to turn it on, illuminating the room as her voice raises in pitch.

“Red!” She reaches for me, sobbing, as I wrap my arms around her. “This can’t go on. You have to see someone.” Red pushes against me, and I hold her in place. “You will agree.”

She squirms out of my arms and stands, staring from beside the bed. “Fuck you.”

“Whenever you’re ready.”

The realization that we haven’t had sex since she was abducted four weeks before slams into her face. Her hand covers her mouth. Shit. I shouldn’t have said that. “I know you aren’t ready. You’re more important than my dick.”

She drops her hand. “It’s been a month. You can’t live without sex and I…”

I slide my legs over off the bed and stand. “I have lived without sex for longer than that.”

She shakes her head. “Childhood doesn’t count.”

“Ha. I didn’t have sex for about two years after my mother died.”

“Really?” She wipes the tears off her face with her t-shirt.

I nod. “Yeah. I worked myself to exhaustion every day.”

She moves around me and sits on the bed. “How’d you get over your mother’s death?”

“I saw the shrink I told you to see. She made all the difference.”

Her jaw drops. “There’s a lot we don’t know about each other.”

I kneel in front of her. “We have the next sixty years to explore each other. Right now, I want you to agree to see Dr. Kemmerer.”

She cocks her head. “Fine. I’ll see her.”

The weight that’s pressed between my shoulder blades in my back eases ever so slightly. “It’s almost five. Want to go out for breakfast?”

“Yeah. I would.” Her hand goes to her abdomen. Does she realize she her hand always goes to our son? Her eyes catch mine staring at her belly and she blushes. “I’m getting fat.”

I swallow, reminding myself to be patient. “You’re stunning. I can’t wait to see you round with my son.” I stand and lead her to the bathroom, pulling off my concert t-shirt she wants to wear every night. “This needs to be washed again.” She nods as I walk us into the shower.

SCARLET

I walk into the classroom after having been gone for over a month and take my seat. My professors offered to let me take a break and finish in the summer and I declined. My professor drones on and I stretch my shoulder. I’ve learned this material already. The only good thing about being home with nothing to do is the chance to get ahead in my reading.

“Ms. Petrova?”

I lift my head as he asks me a question to see if I’ve been paying attention. I answer, and a small weight lifts from my shoulders.

A few minutes later, I step out into the hallway and smile at Thane, who’s leaning against the wall. “You can’t spend all your time with me. You have other responsibilities.”

He shrugs. “I can’t let you out of my sight.”

I press my head against his chest. “Dr. Kemmerer wants me to get back into my usual schedule. That means I go to school or my rotations, and you pick me up.”

“Yeah. I know.”

I shake my head. “I need you to get back to your usual, too.”

He cocks his head. “I’ll try.” Kissing my nose, he grabs my bag and puts it on his shoulder. He looks like a giant carrying a kid’s satchel and I smirk.

“You shouldn’t laugh at the big, bad wolf.”

I put my hand on my chest and fake-gasp. “What big… things you have.”

“Be careful, little girl, or I’ll eat you up.”

“Promises, promises.” I smile, and for the first time in six weeks, my old self is within my reach.