“No, sweetheart. I need you to say the words.” Her eyes widened, feeling herself start to withdraw.
“Winter,” he called, there again in her face. “You will never again be punished for speaking your mind. Ever. I promise.” His words were so sincere, that her eyes filled with tears.
“Oh, little bird. I promise. Nobody will ever hurt you again. This choice is yours and yours alone.”
He sat quietly staring at her, his blue eyes swirling with an emotion that she couldn’t name, as she gazed back at him through her tears.
Be strong, she thought. Only after she tried would she know. Just like her grandmother had said.
“I …” She cleared her throat. “I want to stay with you.” The words were soft, but the smile he gave her after them, made her feel ten feet tall.
***
She was nervous he could tell, her hands continued to wring the sweatshirt that was laid across her lap, practically strangling it to death. He wouldn’t be surprised to find holes in the bloody thing by now.
But the fear that she had carried last night was gone.
Little baby steps.
They had been driving for a few hours now. Dominic had called early in the morning for a report and although home was probably the safest place to be, he didn’t think it was the right move.
Winter needed somewhere she could heal that was quiet and not judgmental. Although Christine and Alice would probably be good for her, Dominic wasn’t very good at holding back when needed. He just didn’t think that tossing her into the mix with a bunch of strangers was a great idea either.
He also wasn’t about to go back unless he was sure there weren’t going to be any consequences for killing Ernesto.
He couldn’t risk bringing that back to Christine and Alice.
How to tell Dominic that though, was different.
“You’re not coming back.” Dominic’s voice had sounded displeased over the phone.
“I’m not talking about forever, Dominic,” he said, dropping the formality for the moment. “I don’t know what is going to be after us. It wasn’t a clean break.”
“Were you followed?” Dominic asked, instantly alert.
“No, everything went to plan. We’re safe. For now. But I’m not going to turn right around and bring that to your doorstep. And put all of that aside I honestly think she needs the quiet and peace to heal.”
“That bad?”
“Worse.”
“Fuck,” Dominic had muttered.
“She seems sheltered, naïve even. I can’t risk just dropping her off at a truck stop Dominic. It would be like dogs fighting over a bone.” Dominic was quiet for a moment, and he readied himself for a fight. It was a well-known fact between them all that if Dominic wanted something, Dominic got it.
“Okay.”
“Um … what?” Dominic had chuckled on the other end of the phone.
“I said okay. It’s obvious that there is more between you two. So yes.”
“Rosita should keep her mouth shut,” he had grumbled knowing exactly where Dominic’s information had come from.
“Hah! You tell her that. But honestly, just stay safe. I want you checking in regularly.”
What he hadn’t told Dominic was that he didn’t know if he could send her away. Sure, when she had woken up, he had given her the choice. No woman deserved to be kept a prisoner, especially her. But he couldn’t get her out of his head.
Her touch.
