Page 110 of Pleasure Island
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Mila
Millie clung to me, her thin body feeling far too frail.
“If he’d hurt you…” Her voice broke.
“I’m here, Grandma,” I said, pulling back and cupping her face so that we stared at each other. “I’m right here. I’m fine.”
“But he could have…”
“Don’t do that to yourself,” I told her.
Charles had been hauled out of the office, still whimpering about his burnt face.
I was a little in awe of my grandmother, but now as she reached for me once more, I decided I’d tell her later.
She patted her hands across my head and my shoulders. I knew what she was doing. “I’m fine,” I told her again. “The paramedics have already looked me over. I’m just scraped and bruised.”
She opened her mouth, then stopped, pressing her lips together. “I know.” She pressed a kiss to my cheek, then she pulled back, pacing a few feet away before turning to look at us. The cops were still out in the main part of the lodge, making a lot of noise.
Some guests had noticed the fray.
Millie smoothed her hands down her dress, then focused her smile on me. It was a fake smile – bright and confident and fake as hell – but if she could smile, so could I. “I think I’ll go out there and talk to the guests,” she said in a firm tone. “Liam, I want you to take her back to her bungalow and see to it that she cleans up and gets some rest.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He nodded at her.
Satisfied, Millie turned on her heel and strode out.
“I think your grandma scares me a little now,” Liam said.
I leaned against him, too tired to come up with any sort of reply. All the adrenaline had drained out, leaving me feeling like my limbs had been filled with concrete.
“Can we go back to the bungalow?” I asked, tipping my head back and looking at him.
His pale green eyes met mine, and he nodded.
* * *
We slidout the back of the lodge and sought out the path that would take us to our bungalow.
“Will the cops need to talk to me again?” I asked. My teeth kept trying to chatter, and I had to focus to keep that from happening.
“Probably,” Liam said. “But I think you’ve had enough for the night.”
I laughed weakly. “I’ve had enough for the next ten years. No. The rest of my life.”
I leaned heavily on him as we walked, my feet dragging more and more with each step.
“I think I can safely say the same.” Liam’s arm around my waist tightened as I half-stumbled again.
“I think I’ve forgotten how to walk,” I said.
“It’s a reaction. Once we get you warm, you’ll feel better.”
I laughed weakly. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be warm again.” The chill I felt went down to my very bones.
“You will. I’ll make certain of it.” His lips brushed my temple.
