Beautifully Broken

Will Damian show me how to become a shadow… like him, so I won’t get caught again?

Then it hits me that I have to depend on a killer, a cleaner, whatever he wants to call himself for my survival.

“How long will I stay with you?” My voice is thick in my throat. I’ve never stayed with someone, not since my parents.

“Unfortunately, life dealt you a shitty hand,” Damian murmurs.

One thing about Damian is that he loves eye contact. It’s hard, but I force my gaze to meet his.

“You have one of two choices, Cara. You either stay here or take a chance out there on your own.” He doesn’t elaborate on what staying here would entail. “I’m arranging a new identity for you. The papers will be here in two weeks. If you decide to do this, to stay here,” he adds quickly, “you’re not gonna bail on me one day. You can’t wake up and decide this is not the life you want.”

What does that mean?

Damian pushes away from the counter, and it feels as if the air rushes to give way before him. I blink once when he gets close to me, and then I keep dead still. Damian’s eyes hold mine, and my heart starts off with heavy beats until it’s bouncing wildly in my chest.

Slowly he lifts an arm, and I shrink, my shoulders hunching, when he wraps his fingers around the back of my neck. The touch makes the air rush from my parted lips.

Fear for this man coils deadly inside my stomach, waiting to be released.

Damian’s features soften a little. “You’re safe with me, Cara. I’ll never hurt you, and I’ll do everything in my power to keep you alive.”

His words make my emotions spiral out of control, and it causes tears to sting my eyes.

Damian tilts his head as a muscle starts to jump on the side of his jaw, right above his beard. “You’re safe.”

Staring at this man who has the power to end my life in a second, I hear him inhale.

I hear a bird call somewhere.

I hear the ticking of a clock.

I hear a lot, but I only see that jumping muscle. It looks like a bomb that’s ready to blow at any second.

Overwhelmed and unable to process much, I whisper pleadingly, “I want to believe you.”

His features soften even more until compassion is clear on his face, and his icy-blue eyes don’t look as cold anymore. “It’s going to take time, but we’ll get there.”

Somehow, I manage to nod, and it makes me more aware of his fingers on the back of my neck. Just then, he pulls his hand away from me and takes a couple of steps back.

Nervously my tongue darts out, swiping over the scab on my bottom lip.

I have two choices; one, I stay with him, this killer, and only the Lord knows what will happen. Or two, I take my chances out there, and I know they will find me again. I’ll die this time because he won’t come for me again. I also have no money, and finding a job while I look and feel like hell will be next to impossible.

Damian’s my only chance at staying alive.

It sucks when your life depends on a total stranger. I drag in a deep breath, and my lungs protest with a sharp ache.

“I guess you’re stuck with me.” I don’t sound very convincing, but instead, I sound petrified out of my mind.

“Good.” Damian glances at the doorway. “For now, just focus on getting better.”

There’s a flicker of gratefulness, but it’s quickly drowned by the trauma of what happened and uncertainty of what my future holds.

Fidgeting, I walk out of the kitchen while praying this house will really be a safe haven for me.

DAMIAN

I watch Cara leave the kitchen and then finish my bottle of water as I check my phone for anything from Jeff. So far, he’s only acknowledged that he’ll arrange Cara’s new documents.

I tuck the device back in my pocket, then think about the interaction I just had with Cara.

She’s like a wounded deer, her fear still palpable in the air. I couldn’t stop myself from touching her, needing to offer her some form of comfort.

At least she’s processing what I say, which is a step up from the trance she’s been stuck in since I rescued her.

When I go upstairs, I hear the shower running, which I take as another good sign. As I pass by the bathroom, I notice the door’s not closed all the way.

I get the first aid kit from my room then go wait in Cara’s room. Soon she’ll be able to do this for herself.

I stand by the window when I hear the bathroom door creak open. Her footsteps are soft, and I can feel her eyes on me, but when I turn around, she lowers her gaze to the floor.