“Put your arms around my shoulders, and keep your eyes on me,” I said.

I had told myself I wouldn’t shield her from reality, but she didn’t need to see the mess that I had left.

To my shock, she did as I said, and with her face buried against my neck, her warm weight in my arms a comfort and relief, I walked out of the filthy room.

Four

FOUR

Elias

“You can put me down now,” Kayla whispered.

“I could,” I responded, “but I’m not going to.”

I couldn’t. Not yet.

Having her in my arms, feeling each of her breaths, gave me reassurance I hadn’t realized I’d needed.

She was safe now, at least physically, and I’d thought that would be enough.

But it wasn’t.

Because every step that took me further from that fucking room crystalized just how much danger she had been in.

How close I’d been to losing her.

She pushed against my arms, and I realized I was holding her far too tight. I reluctantly loosened my grip, and Kayla heaved out a sigh, one that spoke volumes.

But she didn’t say any words.

I wasn’t sure if that was good or bad.

But I did know that just because Kayla wasn’t protesting didn’t mean she was accepting. In fact, all her silence did was make it that much harder for me to get a read on how she was feeling.

And as much as I hated to admit it, how she was feeling fucking mattered to me.

Though not nearly as much as getting the hell away from this place.

I made it to the car quickly, somehow knowing my father wouldn’t follow.

He was alone, and besides, he wasn’t one to act rashly unless doing so served a greater purpose.

Not that I thought this was over.

I didn’t. Not for a second.

My father would regroup and come up with another plan.

I would be ready.

But first things first…

I finally put Kayla down when we reached the car and opened the door. To my surprise, she got in before I could tell her to do so.

After she was seated, we both reached for her seatbelt at the same time, but when her hand touched mine, she dropped it and then sat still and impassive as I buckled her in.

I circled the car, trying to ignore churning dread in my gut.

Then started to get pissed.

At myself, and at her.

After all, the least she could do was say thank you.

Not that it would ever happen.

But still…

I had been prepared for her anger, had been hoping for it.

At least in anger I would know that she wasn’t too impacted by this.

But this quiet passiveness…

I fucked hated it.