Bend Me, Daddy

Turning partially toward me, she whispered, "I don't want anyone else to see me like this. Not... like this."

"Okay." I stepped around her and looked outside, not bothering to remind her that Tristan had been with us the entire time. Two cars were waiting for us. Luca and Tristan stood near the one in front. When Luca saw me, he walked to the bottom of the stairs. "Go on ahead," I told him. "We'll be right behind you."

He didn't question why we weren't coming off of the plane. Tristan had probably filled him in on the condition Sera was in. "Are you coming to the house?"

I heard Sera behind me and reached for her without taking my eyes off of the man who was both my friend and my boss. Her hand slid into mine and squeezed my fingers, hanging on tight. "No," I told him. "I'm taking her to the hotel. For now," I added.

But Luca shook his head. "I don't like it, Enzo. I'd rather you both be at the house. It's safer there."

He didn't have to explain what he meant. Her father knew she was here, and the chances that he'd already sent some of his men to the city were high. "I'll bring her on Monday." I wasn't going to back down on this one. She'd been through enough without adding to it by parading her in front of everyone. "I'm asking for a couple of days alone with her. Then we'll come to the house and figure everything else out."

I thought for a moment he was going to refuse my request, but in the end, he gave me a nod. "I'd feel better if you had Tristan with you."

"There's no need," I told him. "Tris has done enough."

His jaw clenched and he looked away, then back at me. "Alright," he said finally. Pulling out his phone, he called my driver and told him to join them in the first car. "The keys are inside, and there's a blanket and a bag with some clothes Veda sent for her. I'll see you in a few days. But I'll be checking in with you periodically. Keep your phone nearby."

"Of course." I waited until they were both in Luca's car and it had pulled away. "Come on." I wished I had something more to cover her with as we descended the stairs and the wind whipped around us. It felt like more rain was coming. When I reached the bottom of the steps, I turned around and lifted her into my arms so I could carry her across the asphalt. I shifted her weight into one arm and opened the passenger door, tucking her inside and closing it quickly. Then I jogged around to the other side and got in with her, starting the SUV and turning on the heat before I reached into the back for the extra blanket. It was soft and warm, and I spread it over her. "Better?" "Yes, thank you," she whispered.

"Luca brought you some clothes. As soon as we get back to the hotel, we'll get you clean."

"It's okay," she said, and her voice shook with emotion. "At least I have this." She moved the sheet a little. "I didn't even have that until today." She frowned. "I think it was today."

Jesus fucking Christ. Throwing the SUV into gear, I headed toward the hotel.

"Enzo?" she said after we'd been driving for a few minutes.

"Yeah?"

"How long have I been gone?"

I glanced over at her, surprised to find her eyes on me for the first time since I'd taken her out of that damn house. And I fucking hated how haunted they were. "A week," I told her. "Seven days." I wanted to ask her details about what happened during that time. I could guess well enough. But a part of me needed to hear it. Needed to know everything she'd gone through. But not today.

"It feels like longer." She turned her head away and stared out the windshield, and both of us fell silent as I pulled onto the highway and headed toward the city. When she did speak again, her voice was hard and cold. "It was the guy from the club. The one who left the bruises on my leg."

"I know," I told her.

Surprised, she asked, "How?"

"Because we went through the video feed at the club and saw him put you in his car." I paused. "And because he confessed it to me before I killed him."

She went back to staring out the windshield. "I hope it was painful."

"It was," I told her. "Very."

"Good," she said after a moment.

She fell quiet again, and I wished more than anything that I could hear what was going through her head.

"We're here," I said as we pulled into the drive in front of the hotel. "Stay where you are. I'll be right back." Getting out of the vehicle, I met the valet around the front of the car. It was the young guy with the blond hair, but I'd always gotten a good vibe from him. He seemed mature for his age.

He met me with a smile, eyes carefully averted from the blood on my shirt and jacket. "Good evening, Mr. Delligatti."

"Good evening. I need you to clear out the lobby for me."

To his credit, he disguised his surprise. "Clear out the lobby, sir?"

"Yes. Go inside and tell the front desk I need the entire lobby emptied." I offered no explanation, and he knew better than to ask for one.

"Yes, sir. Give me one moment." Turning on his heel, he walked briskly inside, stopping only to say something to his partner at the valet stand. She glanced up at me and followed him.

Two minutes later, he was back, and he was alone. "The lobby has been cleared, sir."

"Thank you," I told him, and handed him my keys and a wad of cash. "Please turn around and wait for me and my guest to get inside before you park the car. Then bring the bag in the backseat up to my room and leave it outside the door."

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"Yes, sir."

He did as I asked, and I walked over to the passenger side and opened the door for Sera. "Watch where you're walking. Do you want me to carry you?" "No," she said. "I'm okay." But she didn't immediately go into the hotel. "Thank you," she whispered, and there were tears in her eyes. "Again."

"Come on," I told her. Wrapping my arms around her and the thick blanket, I helped her inside, my senses on high alert the entire time. I heard a car door close behind us when we were about halfway through the lobby. True to his word, the valet had completely emptied it. Even the desk clerks were gone.

Sera was quiet as we took the elevator up to my room. And as I opened the door, I could sense her hesitation as she stood just outside, staring into the small foyer. "Sera?"

She made no move to enter.

"Sera, let's go inside."

I was beginning to wonder if I was going to have to carry her in there when she took a shaky breath and crossed the threshold. I followed her in, shutting and locking the door behind us. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her flinch when she heard the click of the deadbolt. "I have to lock it. Because of who I am."

"I know," she answered. "It's okay."

"As soon as the valet brings the bag of clothes up, I'll go get us something to eat. You can take a shower if you'd like."

She nodded.

"I'll be right back." I went into my room and stripped out of my bloody clothes, throwing on a pair of jeans, a plain blue T-shirt, and running shoes. I buckled on my shoulder holster and covered it with a loose black hoodie that zipped up the front. Picking up my keys and my wallet, I put them in the pockets of my jeans. I grabbed my sunglasses last.

When I came back out, I found her exactly where I'd left her. "Sera?"

Her eyes flew to my face like I'd caught her doing something she shouldn't. "What's going on?" I asked her.

At first, she didn't respond. Her beautiful eyes flicked away and she frowned, like she was struggling with something.

"Whatever it is," I told her, "you can tell me."

Her eyes found me across the room. "If I asked you to kill someone for me, would you do it?"

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"Yes," I told her without hesitation.

"What if it was more than one person?"

"Yes," I said again. And at that moment, I knew I would, without hesitation.

Her arm moved beneath the sheet and her hand appeared, closed into a fist. Slowly, she opened her fingers.

I stepped closer, wanting to see what she was showing me. Lying on the palm of her hand was a man's ring, a watch, and a money clip. "What is this?"

Her voice was little more than a whisper. "These belong to men who came to the house. Men who hurt me." She held them out, and I opened my hand so she could dump them into my palm. "I couldn't get something from everyone, but I got these."

I knew then what these were. She'd stolen them from men who had fucked her. Hurt her. And now she wanted me to find them and kill them. I raised my hand closer to my face. The ring had a crest on it. One that I recognized. The money clip was engraved with initials. But the watch didn't give me anything to go by. Even so, I put it into my pocket with the rest. "What would you like to eat?"

"I'm not very hungry."

"I understand, but you need to eat something. Pizza? Sandwiches? Soup?"

She thought about it. "Soup sounds okay."

"Good. I'll bring the bag inside and leave it on the bed for you. Will you be okay for a few minutes? I'm just going to run downstairs."

She nodded.

"I'll be right back," I told her. Watching her, I didn't want to leave. She looked like she was barely holding it together. "Sera." Her eyes found my face, met mine.

"I'll be right back," I repeated. "You're safe here."

She nodded again. "I think I'll take a shower."

I heard someone outside the door and opened it to find the bag of clothes Luca had brought. I put it in on the bed for her, then approached her cautiously, watching her eyes. "I'll be ten minutes," I told her. Unable to keep myself from touching her, I cupped her cheek in my hand and ran my thumb over her lush bottom lip. She stood stiff and still as I did so, wide eyes on my face. "Ten minutes," I repeated. Against my better judgement, I left her to get cleaned up. The items in my pocket jingled against each other as I walked out to the elevator. A death knell for every man that laid so much as a finger on her without her permission.

I would keep my promise to her.

I would find them and I would kill them all.