Buttons and Blame (Buttons 5)

“You came back for me…”

“I shouldn’t have let you go in the first place. I’m so sorry…” I should have shot Tristan right between the eyes and pulled Adelina out of there. I should have forced Tristan to take the money for her payment. I should have run away with her, taking her to all the beautiful places in the world, giving her the life she deserved to live.

“No, Cane. Don’t ever apologize…”

I wanted to hold her like that forever, but we needed to leave. “We need to get going. I have a meal packed for you in the back. You’re probably hungry…” Because she’d been starved the second she stepped foot on that compound.

“I am. You’re going to sit with me, right?”

I was planning on driving, but when she looked at me with those terrified eyes, I knew I couldn’t leave her side. “Yeah, I’ll sit with you.” I traded positions with one of the other men and got into the back seat beside her. I pulled off my jacket and laid it across her legs, covering every inch of her body so I wouldn’t have to look at her bruises. I pulled out the cooler and opened the sandwich, chips, sliced apples, and orange juice.

Adelina took everything and scarfed it down like she hadn’t eaten in months.

I couldn’t look at her. It was too painful. The bruises made me sick. The dirt in her hair made me angry. All the scars I couldn’t see made me want to hurl across the back seat. I kept my eyes out the window, doing everything I possibly could not to look at her. It was hard to look at her the first time, but it was nearly impossible the second time.

“It’s a long drive,” I whispered. “You should get some sleep.”

“Okay. I haven’t slept in a while… I’m pretty tired.” She lay down across the back seat, resting her head on my thigh. She immediately closed her eyes, exhausted and weak.

If I weren’t surrounded by my men, I’d probably break down in tears. My fingers moved through her hair, and I gently caressed her, touching her the way a woman should be touched—delicately.

Crow’s voice sounded in my ear. “How’s she doing?”

I kept my voice low so she wouldn’t wake up. “She’s okay. Just ate. Now she’s getting some sleep.”

“You want me to arrange for a doctor to come by your place in the morning?” Crow never offered to do anything for me. He was there when I asked, but he didn’t do thoughtful things like that. I knew he was asking out of concern for her—not me.

“Please.”

“I’ll take care of it.”

“Thanks. Are you going to bring Pearl back?”

He paused before he answered. “No. Not until I know if Tristan is dead or alive.”

That was the cautious thing to do. “Good idea.”

“Let me know if Adelina needs anything.”

“How come you never ask if I need anything?” I asked quietly, trying to lighten the mood.

“Because I actually like her. And we both know I don’t like you.”

* * *

We arrived at my house at dawn. I carried Adelina inside the house, back to the place where we’d spent the last month getting to know each other. When I set her on the couch, her eyes fluttered open. She was still in the oversized sweater, a cut on the corner of her eye and her cheek purple and swollen. Underneath her pain, she was still beautiful. There was nothing that Tristan could do to her to hide her resilience.

She slowly sat up and looked around the living room, recognizing the place. “Your house…”

“We’re back.” I sat beside her and ran my fingers through her hair.

“I never thought I’d see this place again.” She sat up and pulled her favorite blanket over her legs, hiding her bruised thighs. Perhaps she was cold. Or perhaps she just didn’t want me to see all the other places she was injured.

My hand grabbed hers. “You’re safe, Adelina. Nothing can ever hurt you again.”

The crew came inside and installed security precautions, cameras and an alarm system. Tristan could still be alive. I wanted to be prepared if he was. He didn’t know where I lived, but it wouldn’t be difficult to figure out.

Adelina eyed the men as they walked by, her usual fire dormant. She naturally projected confidence and strength, but now she was more submissive than I’d ever seen her. She was disturbed. Just the night before, horrible things were being done to her.

Crow joined us. “Adelina, I’m glad you’re alright.”

Her face slowly changed, and her eyes lit up with pure joy. She quickly got to her feet and hugged him, squeezed him around the rib cage hard enough to make him release a quiet grunt. “Crow…I’m so happy to see you.”

He patted her on the back awkwardly, probably uncomfortable by the embrace since he never touched anyone but Pearl. He wasn’t an affectionate guy in general, so this display of sentiment wasn’t his thing. “You too.”