4.

Pamela

I'm curled up in my bed, surrounded by the soft, comforting colors. The duvet is a cloud of pink and white, matching the plush pillows. I have my phone in my lap, watching a YouTube video of kittens sneaking up on their unsuspecting owners. I smile at their antics, but the laughter that should come feels stuck somewhere deep inside me.

The playful meows and surprised gasps from the video fade when I put my phone away and sink into my thoughts. They drift to Hugo, and the way he looked at me during the surgery. His eyes, so intense and piercing, had seemed to see right through me. I remember the gentle brush of his fingers against my skin, the way his touch had made me feel—safe, protected.

I lick my lips, feeling a strange heat rise in my cheeks as I think about him. There's a stirring inside me, a fluttering that makes my heart race and my face flush. I groan softly, rolling onto my back and staring up at the ceiling, trying to push the thoughts away but failing miserably. I can't deny it; I feel something.

Just as I start to lose myself in the memory of his strong, reassuring presence, a knock on the door snaps me back to reality. I freeze, my heart pounding in my chest as I stare at the closed door.

"Who is it?" I croak, even though I know exactly who it is.

"It's your favorite brother," comes the reply from the other side of the door. "Can I come in?"

"I was just about to go to sleep…" I say, hoping he'll take the hint and leave me alone. But the door swings open, and he marches inside anyway.

He's dressed in his usual expensive attire, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar, the sleeves rolled up as if he's ready to relax. His hair is drenched in wax, and there's a leering gleam in his eyes that makes my stomach churn.

I freeze, feeling sick immediately. Every muscle in my body tenses as he closes the door behind him and starts to roam around my room, his eyes flicking over my things. He picks up a framed photo of us from years ago, studying it before placing it back on the dresser. I never wanted to frame that photo, but he gave it to me as a birthday gift.

Finally, he makes his way over and sits on the edge of my bed. "So," he begins, his voice unnervingly friendly, "I see you've taken the bandage off."

"The doctor said I could," I reply, my voice trembling slightly. "Just need to be careful with my hand for a while."

Raymond nods, a small, unsettling smile playing at his lips. "Good. I like you better without it." He pauses, his eyes darkening. "You know, I didn't mean to hurt you, right? What happened was never my intention. You just… angered me and I overestimated my own strength."

I nod, swallowing hard.

"You're still my good girl," he smiles, but it's not a question.

"Yes," I whisper, nodding again, my heart pounding in my chest.

Raymond shifts closer on the bed, his eyes roaming over me in a way that makes my skin crawl. "Do you have any idea how sweet you look in that pink, little nightie?" he murmurs, his voice dripping with something thicker than stale syrup.

I recoil, my body instinctively pulling away from him. The look in his eyes changes, slowly growing rabid. He reaches out to touch me, but I shake my head desperately, seeing the image of Hugo transform before my eyes.

"I don't want you to touch me."

It doesn't belong to him.

Raymond lets out a laugh before his eyes harden. "Stop fucking acting innocent. I'm getting sick of you always playing hard to get." He yanks at his collar, saliva forming at the corner of his lips."And it's about time you let me fuck that virginity out of you."

His face twists with anger, and he grabs my leg, his fingers digging into my skin. Panic surges through me as I struggle against his grip. The room blurs around me as I fight to break free, my breath coming in frantic gasps.

"Raymond, stop!" I cry.

"You stop!" he snarls. "You think I don't know what a little slut you are? Alway puckering your lips at me, always prancing around with your perky tits in the air, tempting me to lose control. Think I don't see you for what you are?"

With a burst of adrenaline, I manage to wrench myself out of his grasp, stumbling off the bed and darting for the door. My heart pounds in my ears as I fling it open and run out of the bedroom, my mind screaming for escape.

I slam out of my bedroom, the apartment blurring around me as I sprint toward the front door. My heart is pounding, fear driving me faster. But just as I reach the door, Raymond cuts through the living room, blocking my exit with a menacing grin.

"Not so fast," he leers. "You're my little whore, remember?."

I whirl around, my mind racing for another way out. I spot the fire escape and dash towards it, slipping slightly on the hardwood floor. I fling the window open and start climbing up, my breath coming in frantic gasps.

Raymond's hand clamps around my ankle, his face twisted in anger. "Get back here, you bitch!" he spits, his grip tightening painfully.

Desperation fuels me, and I manage to kick his hand away, scrambling up the fire escape ladder. I don't look back as I climb, my fear pushing me forward until I reach the roof. The wind howls around me, ripping at my nightgown and sending chills through my body. I'm trembling, my fear tasting like wet tears on my tongue.

Seconds later, Raymond bursts onto the roof, his eyes wild with fury. I scream silently, my throat too tight to produce sound.

"All I ever wanted was to love you," he snarls, stalking toward me.

I back away, feeling the rough surface of the roof edge behind me. A glance downward sends a wave of vertigo crashing over me. "Raymond, please…" I plead, my voice a thin, desperate whisper.

"And now I realize that you've never loved me. That it was all a lie. After everything I've done for you," he growls, his hands reaching for me. "And you still think you don't owe me anything in return…"

My eyes close involuntarily, my mind detaching from my body as I brace for his touch. But then, a furious growl pierces the air, and my eyes snap open. Hugo races across the roof, his face a mask of rage. He yanks Raymond away from me with a force that nearly snaps Raymond's neck.

Relief floods through me, and I burst into tears, watching through my tears as Hugo grabs Raymond by the collar. With a primal roar, he hauls Raymond to the edge and without hesitation, he drops him from the roof.

Raymond's scream echoes in my ears, a chilling wail that seems to hang in the air long after his body has hit the concrete. Stricken, I stare at Hugo, my vision blurred by tears. His chest heaves with exertion, the wind whipping his hair around his face, making him seem almost otherworldly.

"H…Hugo…," I pant, sagging.

"Nobody will know," he rasps, his voice cutting through the chaos in my mind. "This will be our little secret."

Tears well up in my eyes, blurring my vision. "How did you…?" I begin, my voice just a whisper.

"Shush," Hugo interrupts gently. "Everything will be fine."

He reaches for me, but I instinctively wince, my body recoiling from a man's touch. Hugo's hand freezes in midair, and I see a muscle clench in his jaw. He nods slowly, lowering his hand. "I won't touch you," he murmurs, his voice low and soothing. "Not until you want me to."

My lower lip trembles, and I feel the weight of the situation pressing down on my chest.

Hugo's eyes soften as he watches me, concern etched across his features. "Can I give you my jacket at least?" he asks gently. "You're shivering."

I nod tentatively, and he wraps his jacket around my shoulders. The warmth and weight of it envelop me, providing a small measure of comfort against the cold wind. The fabric smells faintly of him, a mix of antiseptic and something distinctly male. It's grounding, reassuring.

But I'm still so cold. And I don't know what to do, how to cope.

"I'll take care of everything," Hugo promises, his eyes locked onto mine and I think I'd believe anything that man says. "Will you let me?"

I nod, my mind too overwhelmed to decline the offer. The world seems to spin, the events of the night crashing down in a dizzying wave. The last thing I see is Hugo's worried face before darkness consumes me and I pass out.

***

Hugo

I carefully climb down from the roof, with Pamela's unconscious body flung over the shoulder. My muscles burn from the effort, but the fury boiling inside me is far more intense. The thought of what Raymond tried to do to her makes my blood seethe. She feels so fragile in my arms, like cotton candy that melts in the rain. Delicate. Vulnerable.

I manage to get us back into her apartment, moving quickly through the place until I reach her bedroom. Gently, I place her on the bed, careful not to touch her more than necessary. She wanted space, and I'm going to respect that. Even if it's slowly killing me. It's like sitting at a banquet but I can't eat any of it.

I reach to pull the cover over her, but as soon as the fabric touches her, her eyes flare open and she lets out a blood-curdling scream.

I jerk back, startled. She sits up in bed, her screams piercing the silence of the night, arms flailing, legs kicking wildly. I stand up, my heart pounding in my chest. Only then does she come to her senses, her breathing ragged as she sobs.

"I'm sorry. I thought it was Raymond," she cries, her voice breaking.

A pinch of pain stabs at my heart at the panic on her face. "He's dead," I rasp, trying to hide the anger I feel at the mention of his name. "He can't hurt you anymore."

Pamela nods, her body trembling. "I'm so tired," she murmurs, her voice fading. "My body feels so drained."

I clear my throat, trying to regain my composure. "I'll let you sleep." I reach into my pocket and place my card on her bedside table. "Call me if you need anything."

She clutches her heart-shaped pillow to her chest, looking up at me with gratitude in her eyes.I swallow hard, the emotion tightening my throat.

"Do you want me to stay the night? On the couch?"

Pamela shakes her head, still smiling lightly. "I want to be alone right now."

"Of course," I nod, hiding the hurt but I can't blame her. I move toward the door, but can't help but turn to look at her one last time. "How's your hand, by the way?"

"Good," Pamela whispers. "You did a good job, doctor." She turns to her side, eyes closing when exhaustion takes over.

I leave the apartment, my mind heavy with thoughts of her. This isn't the end. It's only the beginning. I want that girl with every single bone in my body. Deep inside of me, my instinct calls out for her and I know it won't silence until I have her in my bed, legs spread and my child's blond head coming out of her opening. I shudder from need at the thought, as I step out onto the street.

People have gathered outside, horrified and puzzled at the dead body lying on the concrete. Blood pools around him, sirens filling the air. I hide a smile, lift up the collar of my jacket then catch a whiff. Strawberries and champagne. Her scent rubbed off on the leather. My lids flutter and I throw one last look at the corpse, before I turn around and walk away.