Mindy looks back at me before taking a deep breath, “I’m not some helpless girl, no matter how it may seem. I just— don’t want to be a burden.”
Mindy’s words serve to convince me further that my intervention was worth it. I’ll help her out of the goodness of my blackened heart even if she doesn’t return my infatuation. Even if shecan’tever return my feelings.
“You could never be anyone’s burden, Mindy. And I would never think you were helpless.” I shake my head.
I can tell she’s lost her self-worth, and I can only attribute that to her good-for-nothing husband. I only hope that she has family outside of him.
If not, I don’t mind being there for her.
The thought alone makes me feel like I should have a therapist on speed dial… but I don’t.
“I know how Ross is. He will make your life a living hell just like he does mine. I can’t be the cause of any problems for you just because you decided to help me,” Mindy says as I tune back into the conversation.
“It’s unfortunate that you married such aculo, but I won’t hold it against you,” I joke. “Believe me, I hate a bully. He doesn’t want to mess with me.”
Especially since I let him live.
Mindy worries her bottom lip, and I know she’s afraid for me. However, she’ll soon learn that the only person who should be afraid isher husband.The thought of another man being her husband pisses me off. But I’ll soon remedy that.
“Luca…”
“Shhh. I said what I said. Now, it’s been about an hour. Are you hungry? Are you sleepy?”
“I think I’d like to lie down if that’s okay. I probably need to call my parents. Speaking of calling, where’s my purse? My cell was in it.”
“We didn’t find a purse,” I respond. “But, if you need to call your parents, there’s a phone in my bedroom.”
Mindy nods, and I’m glad she doesn’t push the subject. I told Paolo to get rid of her purse. She didn’t have much in it anyway, not even an ID, and I didn’t want her husband to be able to track her phone. I know guys like him well, and they never want anyone else to have their wife, even if he doesn’t want her.
“I’ll head upstairs, then. Thanks again. I should be out of your hair by tomorrow.”
I don’t argue with her. I can see the woman is stubborn, and I don’t want to be too pushy. If she wants to leave, I will let her. But that doesn’t mean I won’t continue to watch over her.
It may sound strange, but I feel connected to her. A connection that I’ve never felt toward anyone. It’s an uncontrollable urge not to let her out of my sight. I haven’t known her for a full twenty-four hours, and I’m already obsessed.
This is not going to end well.
I wait another fifteen minutes before I head upstairs after Mindy. She’s in my bedroom, so after I quietly look in on her to make sure she’s asleep, I go to the room next to mine to get some rest. I know I won’t fall into a deep sleep because of my guest, but I will be a bastard if I don’t at least try to catch a few z’s.
I slip into the ensuite, and although it isn’t as luxurious as mine, it will do. I take a long, hot shower to try and calm my nerves, but as soon as I lie down, I have a flash of a pair of pretty brown eyes.
Mindy has the saddest eyes I have ever seen. For the first time in my life, I want to make someone happy other than my family. It pains me to see how down she is behind a man who doesn’t deserve to breathe. Although I plan to remedy that very soon, I want Mindy to feel safe. I want her to know she’s safe, whether her husband is alive or not. I want he to know she’s safe because I would never let any harm come to her. I just hope she understands that although her husband has been her biggest tormentor, I’m an even bigger predator.
CHAPTER
SIX
BROKEN
MINDY
I had a fitful sleep, tossing and turning as if I were caught in a tornado. My body was so sore that I felt like I’d been hit by a semi-truck. In this last year, I’ve been hurt in multiple ways. However, it’s never been this bad. It was definitely a wake-up call.
Although I initially didn’t want to call my parents, I’m going to have to suck it up and contact them. I don’t want them to be blindsided if Ross decides to take his wrath out on them to punish me. I’m going to have to put my big girl panties on and get my life together.
A year living like this is enough. I have no doubt that Ross will kill me if I don’t leave. I once thought pacifying him would keep his anger at bay, but I was so obviously mistaken. I’ve endured enough, and although I thought just last night that I’d be trapped until he killed me, I can’t let that happen. Fuck that till death do us part bullshit… I refuse to go out like that.
I fucking refuse!
