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A wave of exhaustion rushed through me.

I felt him get off the bed. The lights slowly turned on. I hoped he hadn’t lied earlier about the room being empty. A wave of fear went through me.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

What if they were all still here? What if Damius had stayed?

My heart is racing quicker. Just like that, I was rigid with fear, all relaxation and exhaustion gone.

Something soft and warm covered me.

“You did so well,” his thumb traced my cheek, “I’m so fucking proud of you.” He gently pushed my hair back from my face.

Keeping my eyes shut. I could feel the tears coming.

“Can I carry you to the room?”

“Are they… are they still here?” I bite my lip, holding the tears back.

“No, my sweetheart,”

Slowly, I opened my eyes to see him kneeling beside the bed. Warm tears rushing down my face.

“Did I hurt you?” he wiped the tears away, looking physically sick.

For him to hurt me, I would have to feel something. “No.”

He pulled the blanket over my shoulder. “Can I, um, please carry you to the room?”

His slight frown, the concern in his eyes. I could see he needed to touch me. His panic growing as he stared at me.

He was blurry for a moment until I blinked. “Okay.”

Carefully, he wrapped the blanket around me, lifting me from the bed.

It was considered an honor to be at the Crows Estate on their private island. Only opened to outsiders when they hosted a wedding.

But the thought of now being locked in one of the guest houses for five days. Really made me nervous.

CHAPTER 34

Madeline

They had actually locked us in the house. Even though it was a huge house, it felt like a cell. Five days. Five days locked in a house.

I moved on the couch. Fighting the anxiety attack. I hated the idea of being locked anywhere.

Especially after mom locked me in the garage the other week.

I wrapped the blanket around me tighter, staring at the fire.

Vince had insisted on washing the blood off me.

I was grateful he left me to shower by myself. I found crying in the shower the most convenient lately.

“Please, will you let me dry it?”

I looked up. I had no idea what he was talking about.