Page 9 of Twisted Salvation

“But he didn’t. You’re safe now, okay?”

“And homeless. And jobless. And almost bloodless,” I mutter bitterly.

“Okay,” a woman says. “The ambulance is going to be a while, so I told them to cancel the call. We just need to take her.”

“Okay,” Dominic says. “Thank you, guys.”

“It’s not a problem. I wanted to meet her anyway,” Matt says.

“You talk about me?” I ask, opening his eyes to look at me.

“I do,” he says, stroking his thumb across my cheek.

“Ow,” I flinch. “That’s going to look bad.”

“Yes, but it will heal,” he says, searching my face.

“You are trying to distract me so that I don’t ask why you talk about me with your boyfriend,” I say, making him smile.

“I do talk about you with them. I trust Matt,” he says.

“You should. He’s your boyfriend,” I say, closing my eyes again.

“Good to see blood loss didn’t make you any less of a brat, Myra,” he chuckles.

“You can’t call me that,” I say.

“Mmm. I think I just did,” he laughs.

“Dom the Dom,” I laugh weakly. “I pictured you more of the submissive type.”

“You’re getting into dangerous territory, Myra,” he says, stroking my hair.

“I’m your patient. I can do what I want,” I say.

“You aren’t my patient anymore, Myra,” he says. I open my eyes, and tears immediately start to well up.

“Is it because I said… I don’t know why…”

“Hey, hey, hey. Relax,” he says, cupping my cheek and gently wiping away a fallen tear. “I’ll explain more later, but I’m going to have you come stay with me. You cannot officially be my patient if you live in my home.”

“Why?” I ask.

“Why what?”

“Why are you having me stay with you?” I ask. “I can go to…”

“To where, Myra? Your father’s house? To a homeless shelter?” he asks.

“I have nothing, Dom. No clothes. No job. No money. Nothing,” I say weakly. It’s taking so much energy to talk.

“Myra, we can discuss it later, okay? I need you to just rest for now,” he says, not giving me any room to argue.

“Fine,” I frown, closing my eyes. “I could just leave without you noticing.”

“The fact you think he’s going to leave you alone right now is comical,” Matt laughs.

I feel relaxed lying in Dominic’s lap as we drive. He is gently stroking my hair as I am snuggled against him. Natalie has my wrists wrapped well, so they’re not bleeding anymore. I’m finally comfortable enough to fall asleep, and for the first time, that doesn’t scare me.