It feels like an eternity until Lena returns. She sets up the kit and pulls out the camera to photograph me. The pain in my lungs and ribs is excruciating, I don’t even want to open my mouth to speak, but I have to.
″No,” I groan as I let out a pained breath. “No photos. I just…” I pause, yelping as I cough. “Need to know if I was raped.”
I’ve made the decision. Drake’s body can burn. I’m not coming clean about this.
″You know I don’t have to give it to the police. Let’s just do the kit in case you change your mind later.”
″No, Lena. No police.”
Her eyes are strained as she stands straighter. She’s as uncomfortable as me. “Was this Callum?”
″No,” I shake my head quickly.
Though, wasn’t it his fault? He was supposed to protect me and he didn’t.
Chapter thirty-two
Paddypoursuseachglass of whiskey in my home office as I sit on the couch. It’s only been a week since Haley killed Drake.
Seven fucking days, yet it feels like seven years.
I’m surprised I don’t have an ulcer from the stress of covering up the death of that prick. She’s been staying at the penthouse with me, too scared to stay in the brownstone.
Haley’s been sleeping a lot, barely eating, and barely talking. She refuses to sleep in my room, doesn’t make eye contact, and avoids me when I’m home. She doesn’t let me check on her wounds unless I raise my voice as if she’s a toddler.
I think she blames me just as much as I blame myself.
″How is she?” Paddy asks, leaning against my desk. He sips from his glass as he crosses his ankles.
″She won’t talk to me much. That’s why I asked you to stop by. Maybe you can get her out of her room and walking outside. She needs some exercise. She only showers if I make her.”
″Has she told you what he did to her? Did he rape her?”
″She won’t tell me shit, Pat. The most I get from her is a few grunts as I hold an ice pack to her side. She refuses to take meds. She’s in a lot of pain still.”
I lean forward, pinching the bridge of my nose. I never should have pulled Scotty off her for the meeting with the Russians. I shouldn’t have worked Sean so hard that he overlooked her camera system being placed on a loop.
Everything that happened to her is my fault, and I have to deal with it.
″I’ll talk to her,” Paddy says. “Try to get her out for a light walk.”
″Thank you.”
My office also doubles as a study which has been a blessing, because Haley comes in now and then for a book. She usually slips in while I’m engrossed on a phone call and unable to disconnect, and leaves too quickly for me to catch her.
The dynamic of our relationship changed when she killed Drake, and I don’t fucking like it. I’ve been trying to give her the space she needs, but I’m worried she’s slipping back to the darkness she’d been so scared of before.
″Did you speak with the head of the Bratva?” Paddy asks.
″Aye. Last night. He’s agreed to call off the attack they planned.”
″What’s the catch?”
″Our plan worked. They’re taking the drugs.”
″Good.”
The door to the office is left open, and I pause when the sound of footsteps padding down the hall get louder. A second later Haley appears in the door frame, knocking softly against the wood.