“It’s okay, jelly bean,” Caleb soothed. “Aleki has her secured, right?”
“He’s tying up her hands with his shirt. I think he wants to talk to you. Daddy, I want you to come here.”
“I’m on my way, jelly bean. Just stay with Aleki, all right?”
“All right.”
She handed the phone over to Aleki who kept hold of Marilyn. He said a few quick things before hanging up as people started rushing down the alleyway. Marilyn was fighting against him, even with her hands tied behind her body.
Aleki spoke to the new arrivals sharply in the same language she’d heard in the marketplace. Two of them came forward to help. Suddenly, Aleki was crouching in front of Vivi. He held out his hands. She reached out to him. He drew her up into his arms and she buried her face into his chest.
Everything else faded away. She was safe. In his arms, she was always safe.
36
“Sweet flower, what did I tell you? You don’t have to get injured to see me. Just say the magic phrase.” Obian shuffled into Vivi’s bedroom where Aleki sat on the bed with her on his lap.
Vivi didn’t even react to Obian’s words and worry shot through Aleki. She was so still, so silent. The only time she gave any indication that she was paying attention to what was going on was when they tried to move her from his arms.
It was flattering as fuck that she wanted to stay with him. But they were going to have problems soon when he needed to use the bathroom.
Leaning in, he kissed the top of her head. They’d checked her over as they drove her back home. Wolfe and Caleb hadn’t taken long to make their way to them. Wolfe was off dealing with Marilyn right now, but was keeping in constant contact with them. As in every two minutes he was texting Caleb for an update. Aleki knew it wouldn’t be long until he returned.
That bitch had attacked their woman. She was going to pay. Aleki didn’t give a shit how. The justice system worked much quicker here than in the states, so he knew they wouldn’t have to wait long before she went up in front of a judge.
Fuck. He couldn’t believe she’d nearly been hurt on his watch.
“She’s been like this since she was attacked,” Caleb told Obian worriedly. “Looks like she’s in shock.”
“Okay,” Obian said in a low, soothing voice. “Let’s see what we’re dealing with. Can you lie her down on the bed?”
“I can try,” Aleki said. Although he was reluctant to let go of her. When he tried to shift her, though, she cried out and clung to him.
“Okay, let’s just leave her where she is,” Obian said. “I’m just going to examine you, sweet flower. All right?”
She didn’t reply.
Aleki watched Obian place a pulse oximeter on her finger to measure the oxygen in her blood. He took her pulse before he slipped on a blood pressure cuff.
“Her blood pressure is low,” Obian told them.
“But she’s all right?” Caleb asked anxiously, standing at the end of the bed.
“Yes. I think she’s likely in shock.” Obian worked on cleaning up her arm and bandaging it as he spoke. “Keeping her quiet for a while would be a good idea. No more big shocks. Not too much excitement. Maybe a nice bath. Some playtime.” Obian winked down at Vivi.
Aleki saw her give him a tremulous smile back. Relief flooded him that she was responding. The door opened and Wolfe raced in. His hair was mussed and his glasses were falling down his nose. He shoved them up and studied Vivi with his obsidian eyes. “What’s wrong with her? Does she need a hospital? I knew we should have gone straight there.”
“She’s fine,” Obian told him. “Just in a bit of shock. Let me know if there are any problems. I’ll see myself out.”
Obian left and Wolfe shot his gaze to Aleki. “What the fuck happened?”
Vivi buried her face in his chest.
“Watch your tone, man,” Aleki told him. “You’re scaring her.”
Caleb walked over and hugged her gently. “Poor baby. Been in the wars, haven’t you?”
“Marilyn shouldn’t have gotten anywhere near her!” Wolfe snarled. “Why weren’t you watching her?”
Vivi let out a small whimpering noise. Aleki ran his hand up and down her back soothingly, shooting Wolfe a look. Didn’t he think he already felt terrible? That he wasn’t questioning every move he’d made?
“Wolfe, go run her a bath.” Caleb pointed at the bathroom door.
Wolfe glared at them both.
“Now,” Caleb commanded. “And take a minute to calm down because you are not helping anyone, least of all Vivi.”
Wolfe scowled at them all before stomping off to the bathroom. They heard the sound of water running.
“I’m sorry,” Vivi whispered suddenly, moving her head so she was facing Caleb. “I don’t want to upset all of you. I just need a minute.”
Caleb crouched in front of her. “You take all the minutes you need. Okay? Can I get you anything? Maybe some orange juice. You could probably use a bit of sugar.”
Aleki could feel her trembling and agreed.
“I’ll be back in a minute,” Caleb said.
Wolfe returned, staring down at them both, his face unreadable.
Vivi reached her hand out to him. Aleki waited. If he rejected her, then Aleki was going to kick his ass. Instead, Wolfe moved forward and sat on the bed, facing them. Then he slid his hand into hers. She let out a breath, relaxing slightly.
“A whole hand this time?” she asked quietly.
Wolfe just nodded. Aleki raised his eyebrows, surprised that small touch was enough to help her relieve some of the tension riding her.
He guessed they all had their ways of helping her.
Caleb walked back in with some orange juice. In the same sippy cup she’d used the other day.
“Figured this might be easier than a glass.” Caleb knelt on the floor next to them and held the sippy cup up to her lips. “Take a few sips for Daddy. That’s a good girl.”
She drank some down before handing it back.
“Do you want Daddy, Wolfie, and Papa to give you a bath?” Caleb asked quietly.
Was this the best idea? Shouldn’t they be talking about what happened?
“Yes, please, Daddy,” she said.
“All right, let’s get you stripped off. Wolfe, can you test the bath? Jelly bean? Can you let go of Aleki so I can help you?”
She nodded again and Aleki laid her back on the bed. He expected her to protest as Caleb started stripping her, but she simply lay there, looking exhausted. His poor girl.
“Bath’s ready,” Wolfe said from the doorway. “We’re all going in?”
“Yeah,” Caleb replied. “She needs all of us right now.”
She was so fucking fragile it scared the shit out of him.
“You guys hop in. I’ll be back in a moment. Gotta take a p—” he glanced down at her and adjusted his language, “use the bathroom.”
“Fine,” Caleb said. “But come straight back. We’re doing this together. As a family.”
Aleki nodded. He was totally behind that. They were a family.
“Be back in a moment.”