“W-When did you start sleeping in Leo’s room?” She had a feeling she knew why, and she also thought she knew when.
He twirled and then un-twirled her strand of hair before he answered with sadness in his voice, “The first time you had your nightmare, it took me too long to get to you. I started sleeping in Leo’s room after that because, no matter how fast I ran, it still took too long to get to you.”
A little piece of Chloe’s heart broke at hearing him say those words. She could feel the pain behind them, like there was more to it than she knew or even could understand.
She wanted him to know something, something that had been hard for her to admit to herself at first.
“Y-You’ve helped ease the nightmares.”
He stopped the motion of twirling her hair as he focused on her eyes. “Is that so?”
“Y-Yes. I’ve noticed that, when you’re around, they seem to go away.”
“I’m happy to hear that, darlin’.” Beginning the motion of twirling her hair again, he asked, “Are you feeling better now?”
She nodded.
Even though a part of her still felt it strange to be held by him, her body and mind felt immensely better being around him. Something about Lucca called to her body. It needed it, craved it, which had only amplified after the horrible nightmare.
“Would you like me to take the day off? I could go make us something to eat, and then we could watch a movie if you wanted.” He paused for a moment. “Or I could call Maria and ask her to come over.”
Smiling up at him, she felt appreciation that he would do that for her, although he was still unhappy with his sister. “That depends. What would you fix me to eat?”
He smiled back, pleased that she was choosing to spend the day with him. “Whatever you want, darlin’.”
She didn’t even have to think about it. “Chocolate pancakes.”
“Then chocolate pancakes it is.”
Getting up from his lap, she saw something gold flash out of the corner of her eye. It had her looking at his desk to see what it was. And when she did, her smiling face slowly changed into a look of fear as she reached out, wanting to see if it was real or if she was imagining it.
The second her fingertip touched the ring, she knew it wasn’t just an illusion, and her mouth opened to scream, but nothing came out.
I’m coming for you, little girl …
Lucca touched her shoulder, the worry back in his voice. “Darlin’?”
I’ve missed you.
When she continued staring at the ring, he turned her to face him. Then, holding both of her shoulders, he lightly shook her. “Chloe. Chloe!”
Staring at Lucca now, the devil’s voice disappeared and she began to unfreeze. Now she was trying desperately to get away from him, away from his touch. Trying her best to fight him.
“Stop it!” Lucca commanded. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
“Why do you have it!” she screamed. “Why do you have the ring?” Ghost tears tried to fall down her face as she struggled against him, not wanting to believe he could have had something to do with what had happened to her.
“I took it off the man who bro—”
“You’re lying!” she cried out, still without the tears, though they desperately wanted to be there. It explained how he knew everything about her.
Pulling her to him, he held her body with one arm while grabbing ahold of her face with his free hand, making her look into her eyes.
“Look at me.” His voice became melodic and strong. “No, I’m not. I would never lie to you.”
Closing her eyes, she let him hold her to him fully now as she pressed her face into his chest.
She didn’t have to see the truth; her heart could feel it, knowing he couldn’t have been involved. It was the scared little girl who had been living in her for almost four years now who had needed the reassurance. The scared little girl who had screamed for someone like Lucca to save her that night … only for no one to come. The scared little girl who now had her savior and was petrified to even think about losing him.
Thirty-Six
As He Took the Sight of the Other
Lucca dragged the body, taking him to the steel pipe that was in the back corner of the room.
“WWWhere a-am I?”
The fucker wasn’t dead, but he was fucking close to it.
The sound of metal chains echoed throughout the dark, cold concrete room.
“WWhat are yyou doing?” he cried, trying to lift his body unsuccessfully.
A loud snap followed by something locking in place silenced the room.
Staring down at the broken man who had passed out, Lucca gave a yank to the chain that locked his ankle to the pipe.
“OWWWW! Whhhat do you want from mee?” More tears fell from his eyes.