DYLAN
“How’s she doing?” I asked the doctor as soon as he exited the master bedroom where Brielle had been resting.
“Luckily for her, her body went into a state of delirium to take her mind off things, but she’s slowly coming off it now.” The old man told me. “Her wounds are frightening at first glance, but they’re not too serious. They’ll disappear in a few weeks. Generally, she made it out okay, it’s her emotional and psychological wounds I’m worried about however, but we’ll find a way. Just make sure she takes her medications.”
I thanked the kind doctor and walked him to the front door, thanking him once again for showing up at such a late hour and on such short notice.
I sighed deeply after the door closed shut and stood there, deep in contemplation for a moment.
Madeline was nowhere to be seen.
The implication of the discovery alarmed me to my very core… because it meant that for as long as she was out there, Brielle was not safe.
I didn’t think I could live with that.
I padded over to my bedroom, hoping to whoever cared to listen that Brielle was asleep, but she wasn’t when I opened the door.
“Hi.” She greeted with a small smile. “My knight in shining armor.” I smirked wryly. I wasn’t worthy of such a title. A knight wouldn’t let trouble befall his queen in the first place.
I was a failure.
“How are you feeling?”
She struggled to sit up and I helped her get comfortable, propping a few pillows behind her to ensure her absolute wellbeing. “Thanks. I honestly feel a lot of things, Dy… but I think the most prominent one right now is pain and disgust— not for you or for me, but for Madeline.”
“She really went too far this time, Bree… and I don’t trust myself to keep my cool the next time I see her face to face, I don’t even care that she’s pregnant.” I admitted angrily.
“I don’t think that would be a problem anymore.” Brielle told me sadly, patting the bed, trying to tell me to join her. I did as she asked. “What do you mean by that?”
She leaned into me and I wrapped my arms around her, being extra conscious of her physical injuries. “Madeline really isn’t well, Dylan… and I don’t know, but her kidnapping me kind of made me understand her on a more personal level. The girl’s got issues— real fucked up issues that have warped into something even more negative and are constantly tormenting her day and night. I watched her get rid of the baby right in front of my eyes—”
“What? How?” I gazed at her in disbelief.
“She took some pills and began to bleed, saying she could see that you didn’t want the child and as a result she also wanted nothing to do with it.”
This was some real fucked up shit.
I couldn’t believe my ears. This was… hell, I didn’t even know what this was.
“I know how much this child means to you, Dy… and I’m so sorry that I wasn’t able to do anything to stop her—”
“This isn’t your fault.” I cut her off. I wasn’t going to have her blame herself for something that was definitely not of her doing. “Maybe it was meant to happen... and you know, now that I think about it, it’s probably for the best anyway.”
Brielle smiled faintly, her eyes distant, as though she was very far away. “You know…” She laughed softly. “…I’ve gone through a lot today. From almost being raped to suffering multiple bruises, but someway somehow, Madeline is the reason why I will not be getting any sleep tonight. She needs help Dylan… she really does.” She reached for my hand. “Promise me that when you do find her, you’d get her the help she needs.”
I scoffed. What the woman needed was to rot in jail for the rest of her life. “Dylan. Promise me.”
I sighed. “Alright fine, I promise.” Trust Brielle to be so compassionate as to forget that the woman had literally tried to have her trafficked to Russia for God-knows-what. She was pure and lovely like that, with a heart of gold that once you get to really know her, she never fails to wear on her sleeve.
What did I do to deserve her?
I stood up gently, to go get her a pitcher of water for when she got thirsty later. “Where are you going?” Her eyes were closed, but she still sensed the movement. “Going to get you water, so I can leave you to get some rest.”
“Don’t leave me in here alone, Dylan.” She begged. “Stay with me.”
I climbed back into the bed, adjusting the covers over our bodies and planting a soft kiss against her forehead. “I’ve got you, princess.”
BRIELLE
When I woke up, he was gone.
I almost thought it was a dream… that somehow my brain had found a way to comfort me in my time of need— that I was truly dead now, but I realised that I was still in Dylan’ bed.
It was no dream.
Last night had really happened. With my fears assuaged, I got out of bed to go search for him. My whole body protested loudly at the movement, but I continued undeterred.
“Bree— what are you doing out of bed? The doctor said—”
“I’m fine. I’m not an invalid yet, you know?” I cut him off, padding past him into the living room where I collapsed heavily into the couch. I so desperately wanted to wince from the pain, but I wasn’t going to give Dylan the satisfaction.This had practically been our routine for the week. He’d hover around me like a mother hen babying her chicks— wait that wasn’t a good enough example, even mother hens gave their chicks free range to explore.
Not Dylan though.
He bathed me, fed me, permitted only a few minutes of walking— fifteen minutes tops, and was by my side almost all the time. It was honestly so adorable seeing him be like that, but I knew the reason:
Madeline hadn’t been found yet.
And everyone was on tenterhooks because of that. Bodyguards followed Patricia and Savannah everywhere… hell even Nick had some protection for Silvie as well. The boys really weren’t taking any chances. I, for one couldn’t stop thinking about her. Was she safe after the crazy stunt she pulled? Did the baby manage to still survive even after its mother tried to kill it?
I had so many questions.
Speaking of Patricia, the old regal looking woman was finally coming to her senses. She had visited me about two times in the week, you could see that she really wanted to make amends, and now… so did I. I knew we weren’t going to get there quickly, or easily… but baby steps. As for Shawn, he could barely get out of bed these days. It was so obvious that the end was near, but being the old jolly fellow that he was, he still had that light about him and that natural tendency to make everyone happy just by being around him.
I was glad he still had that.
I was going back to apartment today.
My wounds were practically healed now, and Dylan had a business trip so I was to spend the few weeks he was going to be away with Silvie until he got back.
I padded over to the living room, clad in sweatpants, a baggy shirt and black socks, my hair a bun of messy curls atop my head. This had practically been my go-to-outfit in the past week. “Hey, done packing?” I asked the handsome hunk smiling down at me, looking sexy as hell in a pair of blue jeans and a Lakers jersey, his arms on full display, his hair ruffled just the way I liked it. My eyes glazed over for a moment, as dirty thoughts flooded my mind.
What can I say?
It’s been a week of not acting on the sexual tension that threatened to inundate us.
Believe me, I’ve tried. Countless times. Dylan just wouldn’t be seduced. I don’t know, but the idiot now thought me so delicate that a delicious fuck —which mind you, I desperately needed— was somehow going to break me or something.
He couldn’t risk it. Now, while the thought was sweet as hell, it just made me want to strangle him.
“Stop looking at me like that, Bree.” He chuckled.
“Like what?” I batted my eyelashes innocently.
“Like— like I’m some snack you want to devour.” I chortled in amusement. “You, babe… are a snack alright— a snack I desperately want to devour.” I told him as I inched closer and closer. I saw it in his eyes.
This time I had been successful.
I stood on my toes and pulled him in for a kiss, but his lips had barely touched mine when the door burst open.
Fuck!!!
“I’m sorry sir, we just wanted to let you know we’re done packing your stuff into the car. Miss Renaud’s car is ready as well.” Dylan was just as frustrated as I was about the interruption, but he seemed to handle it just fine. “Alright. We’ll be down soon.” He told the guard. My security detail was almost as serious as that of some famous celebrity, and it really touched my heart the lengths Dylan would go to ensure my safety. I gave him a quick kiss on the lips, my plan of seduction on hold for now. His grin was instantaneous. “What was that for?”
“That was for being the most amazing boyfriend in the world. I love you.” I chuckled softly. “Who knew we’d be together after bumping into each other so long ago?”
“I’ll have you know that that was no bump, princess.” He disagreed.
“Oh really?” I asked. “What was it then?”
“It was a collision, Bree. The impact of a crash that was meant to bring us together eventually.”
I laughed, a teasing glint in my eyes. “When did you get so cheesy, Dy?” His answer was quick, unhesitant. “When I first realised I was in love with you.” His gaze turned sad. “I’m really going to miss you, Sunshine.”
“What are you talking about? It’s just for a week, you’ll be back before you even know it.”
“I know. But it’s going to be a week of not seeing your face, of not hearing your voice, of not being close to you.” I pressed myself against him even more. “I’ll call you every day.” I promised. “You’ll be seeing so much of me that you’d even get tired of me.”
“Get tired of you?” He raised an eyebrow. “That will never happen, Bree. I can never get tired of you.” He leaned in to press his lips against mine, keeping the kiss soft and slow and sweet.
It felt like this was goodbye.
I pulled away, love shining ever so bright in my eyes. “What is it Dylan? You know you can tell me everything, right?”
“Indeed I do, but nothing’s wrong Bree… I guess I’m just worried about leaving you here all alone.”
He was lying.
Well, not completely… but he wasn’t telling me the full truth either. I decided not to press him any further. He was going to tell me everything when he was ready, I just had to give him space, but I was willing to bet my last ten cents that it had something to do with Madeline. The woman was honestly like a ghost, haunting our lives in every way even though she wasn’t supposed to be a part of it.
“Come on. We need to get going.” Dylan called out, bringing me out of my musings. He locked up, and we made our way to the parking lot where our cars stood waiting, each taking us to different destinations. He kissed me softly, like it was the last time. “I’ll see you when I get back.” He promised, blue orbs swirling with sadness.
This wasn’t a see you later?
This was truly goodbye.
I knew what he was doing.
I watched him hop into the car and watched the car drive off into the distance, a tear slipping down my face.
I really wanted to, but I didn’t stop him.