Chapter 6

Nothing could have prepared me for what just happened. Physically, I’m trying my best to answer all the questions the cops have for me but I’m not all the way present. I feel so dazed.

Joel has been arrested. Few minutes after Damian beat him to a pulp the cops arrived. They were even confused as to why he looked more like the victim. Damian stayed and waited for me to be done with the questions the police asked, he had just left to talk with one of the cops.

I still fail to understand how Joel tried to rape me. He was never that type of guy or someone who showed such tendencies. It leaves me feeling so confused and betrayed.

The cops finally finish with their questioning and they leave. So it’s just me and Damian standing at the front of my apartment’s building. The blanket he put on me earlier is still nicely wrapped around myself, I look down at his hand and see that it’s bandaged up.

I watch him blow out his breath from his mouth and then he turns to me. "I can call Wilhelm over if you need him," he offers.

"No, no. There really isn’t any need for that. It’s already done, he wouldn’t be of any help anyway," I say to him. He nods after a beat and looks away. I really don’t want to involve anyone in this, at least until after some days have passed and that includes Quen. I wouldn’t want to ruin her vacation.

"You were a lot of help though, I don’t how I’d have survived that if you didn’t step in," I tell him appreciatively. He begins to shake his head and then he looks me in my eyes, "I’d do it again in a heartbeat. The bastard deserves hell." Every word that leaves his mouth, I know he means it with his heart and it does something to my insides.

"Are you good Claire? I’m guessing you can’t go back to the apartment and sleep there alone tonight," he inquires, his brown eyes peering at me.

He’s right. I can’t go back there. My room has been desecrated and no one’s home so that’s the last thing I want to venture into. I can’t stay at a hotel either because I don’t want to be left alone.

"Could I stay at your place?"

"You could stay at my place," we say simultaneously to each other.

Damian’s eyes soften a bit. "You can definitely stay at my place. For however long you want," he says assuringly. My heart feels lighter, even though I’ve only known this man for two days I feel secure being around him. Maybe it’s the way he rescued and protected me but the gravitational pull I feel from him is definitely stronger.

We drive to his home in silence and at some point, I fall asleep in the car. When I wake up, it’s to Damian gently tapping my arm. My eyes flutter open and I turn to look at him.

"We’re here," he says and gets out of the car to open my door for me. I step out and taking in the air here feels like I got new lungs. The air is fresh and crisp. Looking around I suddenly understand why. Imagine a majestic gated mansion nestled amidst lush greenery, with gardens that are neatly manicured. The mansion itself is a modern architectural masterpiece with expansive windows that stretch from floor to ceiling.

I try not let my jaw hit the floor because of how incredibly beautiful his home is. Thankfully he doesn’t notice how struck I am, he just ushers me into his home.

The lights are off when we get in, so he goes to put on the switch. When they are on, a short woman is standing right in front of me in her nightgown. Startled, I let out a scream.

Damian comes running from where he was, a puzzled look on his face. "What’s wrong?" He asks, meanwhile this woman is still peering hard at me. I tear my eyes away from her and look at Damian. He doesn’t look disturbed that she’s here. Oh my gosh, she’s probably his mother.

"Nothing, I was just a little startled." I say to him and he gets the message. His eyebrows immediately relax. "Oh, this is Martha. She’s my aunt, she loves to sneak up on people. It’s a bad habit of hers," he says with a little smile.

"Speaking of bad habits when is yours going to end? You’re always coming home really late and now you even brought a guest without letting me prepare anything first," She says this to him like she’s scolding him but Damian doesn’t seem to take her seriously as the small smile is still there.

"Claire, I’m going to leave you with Martha. She’ll show where to stay and help you with whatever you need. You’re in capable hands." He says to me, I nod and he turns away, heading towards the spiral staircase that takes him upstairs. "Goodnight Martha," he says without turning back and she shakes her head at him.

"He’s always given me headaches," she says with a smile on her face, my reply is an awkward laugh because I have no idea what to say to that in response. "Follow me," she says. I follow her as she leads me to a room downstairs where I’ll be sleeping.

The room is painted white, it’s kind of empty save for the furnishings, that way you know it’s a guest room. The beddings are light pink and on top of the bed there’s neatly folded night wear. My heart jumps when I see it’s satin.

"You know, Damian has never ever brought any girl back home before and I’m going to take this as a win for me especially with how beautiful you are, my child," she says to me with a smile on her face. I, with no intention of clearing anything up just smiles back at her.

"I already have the bath running for you," she says and the next look on her face is sympathetic, "Damian called to tell me what happened before you guys got here. I’m so sorry for what you’ve had to experience," She says, I smile at her yet again and tell her I’m okay.

She smiles back at me and pats my back.

"I’m going to leave, so you can unwind," she tells me and exits.

I’ve been longing to scrub off myself so I immediately take off my clothes and find the bathroom. The bath is indeed running and it’s piping hot with bubbles and everything. Just the way I like it. This Martha woman must be psychic.

I dip into the bathtub and even though it’s scalding hot, it feels super cleansing. So I stay there for a while, thinking of things that I could use to distract myself but I run out of them soon enough and I’m forced to face my reality.

The tears hit instantaneously like a torrent of waves. I’m sobbing like a widow and I can’t find a way to stop, I don’t even want to stop. Somehow it feels very liberating to let out these tears and that’s what I do. I bring my knees to my chest and hug them and cry, until I can’t cry anymore.

After more than thirty minutes of sitting in the tub, I get out and towel myself dry and then proceed to put on the the black two-piece satin PJs Martha had left me.

I get into bed and it’s softness welcomes me. I could slip right into a coma with how comfortable I feel right now but for some reason I can’t sleep. I keep tossing and turning with the same thoughts in my head. Thoughts about him.