“It could take months for the symptoms of withdrawal to completely fade away,” she says. “The upside is she was only using for a few months and it’s not a long-term addiction. What makes it unclear is the polysubstance.”
Delaney nods her head, confirming Xana’s assessment.
“While conducting the rape examination, I found scarring from previous tearing along Malia’s vaginal walls,” Delaney says. “This is confirmation. The fact that she is scarred means it was not forced in a while. I heard you mention they are married—“
Liam and I both jump to our feet at that. I crowd Delaney’s space and lean down, getting close to her face.
“It means fuck-all that they are married,” I grind out. “Elio Ricci manipulated my daughter into believing things that were not true to benefit himself. It may have been consensual, but she was not in her right mind. He raped her and continued to do it until the day we fucking showed up!”
Delaney lowers her eyes, obviously deciding it is in her best interest not to complete that train of thought. We already know how this played out and none of us need her to repeat it.
“Okay,” she says, turning to Liam who looks at me with a raised brow.
His jaw is tensing and if I am teetering on the edge, I know Liam is about to rip Delaney’s head from her body.
“It is hard to know for sure, but the scarring could cause issues if the two of you decide to try again one day,” she tells him.
Liam’s lips thin and if my heart had the ability to break any more than it already has within the last four months, this would do it. I never saw Malia as a mother. I never saw her being someone’s wife, either. Contrary to what we all assumed, Malia fell in love with Liam. I have no doubt she will accept his proposal to her. The desire for children could also have changed in the future.
But Elio might have taken that from her, too. Scars left in her body, his mark that will never go away, always reminding her of what he did. Just like the one along her eye that Tawny gave her years ago. Physical evidence of all the pain she has endured.
“Malia’s brain scan shows normal activity, however there is some slight swelling,” Delaney adds. “Not enough to cause concern or to rule as the reason behind her memory loss. She has a freshly healed bullet wound on the side of her abdomen, which looks like it was medically treated. From what I can tell, it was a clean pass and hit nothing that should further impact her health.”
Delaney takes in a deep breath and slowly exhales, taking my hand in hers. I frown at the contact and fight back the urge to shove her away. Chantelle rises from her seat and leans against me.
“Looking at these test results and seeing the map of cruelty Elio laid along Malia’s body, I think her memory is her brain protecting itself,” she concludes. “All the trauma she has been through could break anyone. She is in there Nate and once she feels safe again, Malia will come back to you.”
I drop Delaney’s hand and walk over to the window, looking down over my city. A small hand grabs mine and I turn to face my Little Bird. She reaches up and runs her long nails along my scalp, pulling me down to lean against her and use her for comfort.
Malia’s memories may come back to us, but what is yet to be seen is if she will be the same woman when they do.
34
Malia
“Doyouneedhelp?”Liam asks me when I wince while putting on a sweatshirt.
I have been in the hospital for a little over a week and I am finally able to go back to what they call The Omen Mansion, which I assume is where I lived before all of this happened. During my stay, I was able to learn the names of those around me. Visits were most common from Donovan, Hazel, Akila, Oren, and Caine. My father, Nathaniel, and Liam don’t leave my side. Tyjae and Griffin have come to America with me and have visited, as well.
Nathaniel has a girlfriend younger than I’m told I am, and it makes me wonder what my old self thought about that. It’s been strange learning about the powerful woman I was before I became… this. Liam has been careful about what he reveals, seeming unsure about what to share, and I can’t say I blame him.
My circle was small, even though hundreds surrounded me. The only person I haven’t seen since being here is the man they called Lion. He was the one who walked into my cell that night and walked out again. Nathaniel told me stories of us and it’s hard to enjoy something viscerally when I can’t remember any of it, even though I was there.
I shake my head in answer to Liam’s question.
“No. My body is still sore.”
The doctor wanted to put me in rehab, but Nathaniel and Liam very adamantly refused. I’ll be surrounded by enough people at the mansion and she can come check on me every day. It seems nobody cares what the doctor wants. But I can’t say I blame them.
In the past few days, I’ve learned about all the horrific things Elio did to me and the damage I sustained. I don’t imagine I’d want to let someone out of my sight when I’d just gotten them back from an ordeal like the one I went through. I didn’t fight their decision. I can’t stop wondering what would happen if my memories came back while I was in a strange place, surrounded by strangers? Judging from the stories I’ve heard about my previous self, I’d be willing to bet she’d likely kill everyone in sight.
Nathaniel left with Donovan and Chantelle earlier to make sure everyone who lived at the mansion is prepared for my return. I don’t understand the fuss, but I appreciate them worrying about me being overwhelmed with attention; I don’t know if I could handle that right now.
When we arrive at the mansion, I’m already exhausted. My body still fights the cravings, and it takes a lot out of me when a random symptom rears its ugly head. Nathaniel is waiting for us in the foyer, and he frowns when I stop outside the door.
I look down at the threshold in preparation, unsure what might spark my memory? Will I step through the door and be hit with every missing piece of me piling onto each other, weighing me down until I shatter? Or will it be as easy as turning on light, the flip of a switch, with everything perfectly sliding into place like it was never gone?
I shake my head, realizing I probably look ridiculous, and step into my childhood home while holding my breath. Liam keeps his hand on my lower back to guide me or catch me if I drop.