I sigh. “Ok. Adelina, I never meant for this to happen. But the problem is dealt with now. My men will never bother you again. Once morning comes, I’ll take you home, all right? You won't have to be here.”
“I’ll get to go home?”
“Well … to my home, which is now you’re home.”
She deflates.
“It’s a lot nicer than this place, trust me.”
“I don’t trust you,” she snaps, which I deserve.
“Adelina, how did this happen? When I left you in here, I assumed you would stay in here all night.”
“Some women showed up, and I asked for their help. They said I could hang with them out there, so I did. Then your men didthatto me.” Her voice chokes up. “He ruined my wedding dress. Just tore it apart. He tried to …” She inhales deeply. “He kept trying to put his hand between my legs.”
Fuck. This is bad. Adelina is distraught, and I don’t know how to help her.
“He won't ever be allowed to be around you again, all right? I promise.”
She shakes her head. “I just don’t know how to believe you.”
“Time. Time will show that I’ll do right by you.”
She eyes me over. “Why do you look like that? Disheveled? Messy?”
“You mean more than usual?”
Her lips twitch the tiniest amount at my joke.
“It’s nothing you need to worry about,” I say.
“You have lipstick on your lips and your neck. You were with another woman, weren’t you?”
No point in lying. “Yes, I was.”
“Who was it?”
“Adelina—”
“Whowas it?”
“Emma. You met her. The redhead.”
Adelina nods, not meeting my eyes. “She clearly has a thing for you.”
“Yeah, she does. Listen, Adelina, you told me to see other women.”
“I did tell you that.” Her voice has become eerily calm.
“So, you’re not mad at me for that, are you?”
She sucks in a breath. “I don’t really know what I feel right now. I think I just want to go to sleep. I’m so tired.”
“Yeah, ok.”
Adelina lays down and covers herself with the blanket. I stand there, unsure of what to do.
Finally, I walk out of the room and shut the door behind me. I lean against it, intent on keeping guard all night.