Page 109 of Danger Close

He started to scream, his terrified eyes wide, his sky blue eyes, a much duller, weaker color than Teresa’s beautiful cerulean irises were already begging me to stop, and I hadn’t even done much yet.

“I’m sorry, I can’t understand what you’re saying?” I said, leaning forward, as he mumbled through the gag on his mouth. “Can you guys hear anything?”

I turned to Jericho who shook his head. I turned to Daria.

“Did you hear him say stop?” I asked.

Daria just smiled. “No. In fact, I think he just called Mrs. Guerro a bad name. Isn’t that what you heard?”

“Yeah, that’s what I heard.”

A slicing noise came from the side, as Jericho played with a large pair of garden sheers. Snip. Snip.Snip.

Chapter 50

Mommy

Teri

“Mom?” Trinity was at the guest room door, as I started to pack what meager things I had to go back to Philadelphia.

Cobra never came to the hospital. Every time the curtain was pulled, or the door opened, my heart leapt to my throat, eager to see him. But it was never him. I was grateful for my daughter, who stayed beside me. I had to shoo her away so she could get some sleep. But she refused. It wasn’t until Greg showed up, and promised to stay with me that she finally went back to her husband.

Spending time with your mother in the hospital was a rotten way to start a honeymoon.

Don’t spend your honeymoon with an abandoned woman. Surely, it’s bad luck.

I would not force myself on Cobra.

I would not force myself on his ideal life they’ve created for themselves.

“Oui?” I answered my child when she called to me a second time.

I didn’t look at her as my bandaged hands fumbled to unfold the clothes Cobra had initially kidnapped me in. I’d have to change into them.

Nothing I was wearing belonged to me. They’d come from Cobra. I doubt he’d want anything of his to cover me now. I’m sure he’d rather I become a far off, distant memory.

“You’re leaving?” Her voice almost sounded sad, but I knew that it was probably just my medications working.

“It’s time for me to go back to Philadelphia. I’m sure I’ve been fired from work for not showing up. Not that it matters. I’ll find something else.”

“Mommy, your hands…”

“It’s just a flesh wound.” In the literal sense, at least. I had done nothing but rip muscle, fat, tissue… While it ached, and the nerves to my ring finger and pinky on my right hand might require rehab, I’d figure a way around it.

“Mommy…”

“I have to get changed, darling. Can we talk later?” I swallowed down the pain building in my throat.

“Mommy!” The whine in her voice broke my heart.

I turned around and looked at her, and balked when there were tears in her eyes.

My daughter didn’t cry. She might complain. She may rage. But cry? Never.

“Cherie,” I whispered. “What’s wrong?”

“Did he really hurt you?” She swallowed, and pressed her lips flat. “Did Ray hurt you? Did he…”