Chapter 60
1372words
Cher's eyes locked with Brandon's who was sitting across from us. Without saying anything they communicated with their eyes. They both nodded as if they had reached to an agreement.
Exhaling Cherry placed my head on to her chest as she stroked my head. We were sitting in that position for what felt like hours. They quietly let me cry my eyes out until my wails were reduced to sobs and until the tremor in my body had calmed down.
"You're okay now?" Cher asked quietly. I nodded against her chest, letting out even breathing that matched the soothing rhythm of her heartbeat.
"I'll spare you the overloading questions for tomorrow. First get yourself out of those oversized clothes, take a bath and sleep." I nodded again.
Placing her hands onto my shoulder she slightly pushed me off her until my eyes would meet hers. "Nothing will happen to you here. You're safe April, okay?" Her assuring eyes bore into mine as her hold on my shoulders tightened.
My eyes started to burn, and my throat started to ache again. 'You're wrong Cher. I'm nowhere safe.' Taking my bottom lip between my teeth I fought hard to not usher those words through my lips.
Cher placed her palm against my cheek. "Okay?" She repeated.
I smiled despondently. "Yeah…" My voice came out hoarse and quiet.
She gave me an assuring smile, grabbed my hand and tugged me towards the bathroom. "Brandon can you go and prepare the guest room?" Cher queried over her shoulder, dragging an exhausted me over the stairs.
"Already on my way babe." Brandon smiled as he saluted.
Cherry let the scorching water run into the bathtub until the steam became visible for the eye to see. She turned the hot water off and instead turned the cold water on until the liquid became lukewarm.
I stood awkwardly behind her as she dipped her hand in the water to check the temperature.
"You know that you can't talk your way out of this, right?" Cher said breaking the silence as she turned around, facing me.
I avoided her gaze by casting mine on the ground as I shuffled slightly on my feet; putting more wait on my left foot. "I know." I said just above a whisper.
Cher wanted to hear the truth. I get that and honestly, I'm not even sure if I can lie myself out of this situation like I usually do. I came to her porch in the middle of the night. Barefoot. And if that wasn't enough, I'm also wearing a man suit which is obviously few sizes too big for me. I haven't glanced at myself in the mirror yet, but I know that my hair has turned into a bird's nest.
What should I tell her? The same story that I told the old trucker? She would snort first before beating my ass, because we both know that I don't have any other friends accept from her and Brandon.
Or should I just tell her that I wanted to cross dress for once and that my cross-dress session turned into something chaotic? That still won't explain my sudden outburst or me knocking on their door so late.
"April!"
I jolted in surprise by Cher's sudden raise in tone. My eyelashes fluttered as I stared at her in shock and confusion.
"W-What?" I stammered flustered.
"You're doing it again."
She nodded at my thumb that I have been unconsciously nibbling on. The nail has been chewed down and I was about to break through my skin.
"What are you so afraid of?" Cher asked, her voice laced in concern as she leaned on the edge of the bathtub.
My heart rate sped up. My fist unclasped and clasped on my side as I could feel my jaw tighten. "I-!" I opened my mouth just to clamp it shut again.
'I can't tell her yet. Not when there is still a chance that Jack is watching.'
A flash of frustration hit me. With my eyebrows knit together I bowed my head facing the cold tiles as I drew my lower lip between my teeth, my body shaking as my resentment towards Mark was growing.
Cherry let out a heavy sigh and walked until she stood in front of me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I will bring some new clothes for you to change in to." And with that said she walked past me out of the bathroom.
When the sounds of her footsteps turned faint, I let out an inaudible groan as I ruffled my hear in frustration.
"Let's just take bath."
Muttering, I shed off the clothes that I was wearing. Letting them glide off me on to the ground. I froze when I dipped my toe into the water. After confirming that the temperature of the water was indeed right, I scrambled the rest of me into the bath tube causing some of the water droplets to slosh out of the tube and hit the tiles.
I sighed pleased as I could feel the tension leave my body leaving only the lethargic feeling behind. My toes which previously were frozen were now defrost, making me wince at the tingling feeling.
Taking a big gulp of air, I submerged myself underwater. The clumps in my hear became undone and through my squinted eyes I could see the grim coming of my body.
As the burning feeling in my longs and the lightheadedness started to kick in, I let myself emerge, gasping and coughing for air as the lukewarm liquid went into my nostrils.
"That was not smart." I grumbled.
I slicked back my loose curls that were obscuring my sight and let my body float in the water as I was facing the ceiling.
I felt more clearheaded now that I splashed myself with water and recalled the events of today. The kidnapping, the breakout and running away. My mind went momentarily back to James and his one-night stand, Alessandro. I knew that James didn't have the right amount IQ, but that he was that stupid. I could have never guessed. Who in his right mind would do it with a Mafia boss!?
I inwardly groaned.
Well it at least seemed that Alessandro wasn't trying to kill him, right?
I sat back up in the tube and let my hands move beneath the surface, causing ripples to form. I watched it absentmindedly as I was thinking on how to handle Mark.
He must have already realized that I'm at Cher's house, right? So, there's no way that he wouldn't come here and when he does get here, I better be prepared to fight him, because there's no way that I will go back to that confinement.
But the question is how I am going to protect myself. I can't fight for the life of me and I certainly don't have some sweet gadget on me or a gun for that matter.
'But there's a knife.' I thought momentarily as realization took over my face.
That's right I can use Cher's kitchen knife to protect me. I will just put it under the pillow and when Jack makes his appearance, I take it out swiftly and stab him.
'You've never killed someone before though?' My subconscious mind kindly took the liberty to remind me.
Okay. Yeah. I haven't killed someone before and to be realistic I am not even sure if I'm able to even graze him. However, I am just hoping that I could somehow fright him or make him back off.
Clenching my fists, I nodded as determination set in. "Let's go."
I stood up. Instantly as my wet skin made contact with the cool air a shiver run down my spine and my body cried as it wished to return to the warm comfort.
