Now though, she was trying to understand why this man was different. But more importantly if she could trust that difference.
Rosita trusted him, could she?
“Good morning,” he called softly as he opened the door and walked in, taking a seat on the edge of the bed at the end, away from her. Her stomach twisted as her heart started pounding, but she worked up enough courage to meet his stare head on.
Blue.
They were a blue color that she had never seen. Like in the pictures of the ocean. It was startling and sent a wave of something she didn’t understand through her.
“How are you feeling?” he asked gently, and she shrugged unsure of what response he wanted. After a moment he frowned, looking down while running his hand through his black hair.
“I’m sorry about giving you that shot, but I couldn’t risk you freaking out on me. Not right then. Did I hurt you?” His eyes were watching her, remorse shining through them.
“It’s okay,” she whispered. And when she thought about it, it was. She hadn’t been in any shape to make any decisions.
“So I need to talk to you about a few things and then you can make a decision okay?” He held out his hand flat on the bed palm up and she remembered Rosita’s words.
He will keep you safe.
You are free.
Laying her hand on his as his fingers curved up to cradle her hand, she peeked up through her lashes at him, but his eyes were on their hands and his brow furrowed, and she was again hit by a bout of nerves.
What did I do?
Shewent to pull her hand away but his hand tightened, preventing her from moving away, and she stopped, looking up at him.
“You have a choice on what you want to do.” He paused, his eyes holding hers. “I can find you a place to go. One that nobody will know about. Nobody will know that you are there. It will be safe and you can start your life over.”
A slither of panic went through her at the thought, as her stomach twisted in an unpleasant way. The thought that he would just drop her off, it didn’t sit right.
What was wrong with her?
Shouldn’t she be running from him? Jumping at the chance to get away?
She didn’t know this man, even though he had saved her.
But she had never been on her own.
What had once been her whole goal, leaving and getting to live on her own, was now the one thing that terrified her more than anything else.
Besides she hadn’t ever had a job, or paid a bill. She wouldn’t even know how to start. Her heart started to race, her breath sawing out of her chest.
What would she even do?
Just like before, before the panic could set in, he was there in her face.
“Easy. Here breathe with me. That’s it. It’s okay little bird.” Slowly, watching his eyes, she started to breathe easy again. The pressure in her chest easing.
“Don’t like that idea huh?” he murmured with a small smile and she blushed.
What was happening to her?
“Option two is that you stay with me,” he said the words calmly, but his eyes had a light to them.
“It’s your choice, Winter, and I want you to know that either way you will be protected and you will be safe. But it’s your choice.”
She nodded at him, but he shook his in return, withdrawing his hand.
