Page 111 of In My Heart
“We don’t want you subjected to his bullshit right now, Cara. I think it best if we all just give him some breathing space. Terza has already offered to move in and take care of him while we’re gone,” Cal told me, quietening my argument.
“Do you want to go back to that hotel for tonight?” Dio asked.
“I’m too tired,” I admitted. “Is it safe for us to stay here? Rafe was threatening you again.”
“It’s safe. We’ll all stay with you in here, and tomorrow I’ll have somewhere else arranged for us by the end of the day,” Dio assured me.
“So fast?”
“Money talks, darlin’ an’ we have enough of it between us,” Arran told me.
“Come on. Let’s get you into something comfortable and we’ll all snuggle up in your bed together. That sound good?” Cal asked.
“I just want to sleep,” I agreed as I took his hand and sank into his side. I resolved to block out tomorrow and just focus on right then, and on the men surrounding me.
Cal took me straight through to my en-suite and set me down between the twin sinks. I sat, feeling a little numb, just watching him as he got the water running warm, then soaked a flannel under the stream.
“I’m going to wipe your face, okay babe? It looks red and sore from the crying. After, we’ll put some cream on9 and hopefully it’ll feel better,” he explained gently. When I simply nodded he pushed back my hair, holding it at my forehead with one hand, while he wiped my face with the warm flannel in the other. He was gentle and methodical. “Does that feel okay?” he asked halfway through, and I nodded and gave him a wobbly smile.
He leaned in and placed a gentle kiss in the middle of my forehead, then resumed the task. When he was done he set the flannel aside and reached into the medicine cabinet for some scent free moisturiser, which was with the first aid supplies in there.
“This shouldn’t sting, but you tell me if it does,” he told me in a cajoling voice. I knew he was treading carefully with me, but Ididn’t mind it. I was pretty sure I needed it. I gave a nod again, then closed my eyes and leaned into his touch as he smoothed the cool lotion all over my face.
“That feels good,” I told him when he was finished. I felt fresher and calmer. Whether it was the wash, or just his gentle ministrations that got me there, I neither knew nor cared.
“I’m glad,” he smiled. “Let’s see if Arran found you something cosy to wear,” he added, then he scooped me up and pressed me against him before I could argue. And I didn’t. I just cuddled against him and allowed him to carry me. I no longer worried I was too heavy, or that it would irritate him. He seemed to enjoy carrying me almost as much as I enjoyed being that close to him.
When we walked into my room, Arran was pulling pyjamas from my dresser and Dio was sat on the edge of my bed, loading up movies on the television. They both turned to me the moment Cal walked in and I could see the worry written across their faces.
“I’m okay guys,” I told them shakily.
“Nah. Yer no’ and ye havnae been fer a long time. It’s time we did something to change that, once and fer all. We need to all do a much better job of shielding ye from all this bullshit,” Arran sighed.
“He’s right. I’ve promised you so many times I’d keep you safe, and I’ve failed every damn time. We have to stop letting people hurt you, including your own bull headed prick of a brother,” Dio agreed.
“What they said,” Cal agreed. “But tomorrow. Right now Cara just needs to rest and relax.”
“Here lass, I found these f….”
“DIO!” Arran’s words were cut off by Rafe’s voice booming through the house. I jumped in Cal’s arms and he held me closer.
“What now?” Arran groaned.
“I’ll go. Stay in here, no matter what. If it gets out of hand, take Cara back to the hotel, and I’ll meet you there,” Dio instructed.
“No!” I cried. “He’s been drinking. What if he wants to hurt you?”
“He won’t hurt me,” Dio assured me as he hurried round the bed and leaned in, brushing my hair back from my face with soothingly.
“Your face disagrees,” I sniffled as more tears came.
“No more tears or worrying. I’ll be fine. Do as Arran tells you.” He leaned in to kiss my forehead, then he was gone, closing the door softly behind him.
“You should go with him. Rafe’s not himself and he’s so angry,” I told Arran in my panic.
“Dario can handle himself, and I agree, Rafe willnae hurt him,” Arran assured me, but it didn’t work.
Cal and Arran tried to distract me by helping me change into the soft cotton pyjamas Arran had pulled out for me, but even as I changed, I couldn’t stop looking to the door anxiously, or listening for any sound that indicated a fight.
