Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 109716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
My injured leg dragged behind me as I walked inside. Without stopping, I made my way upstairs to my room.
The door was already open. I walked inside to find Lena standing by the bed. She rushed toward me as soon as I stepped into the room.
“Nikolay already called. I have the tub filled,” she muttered, stopping in front of me. Lena leaned forward. She sucked in a harsh breath at the sight of Ayla.
Tears filled her eyes. “My sweet child.”
“You should clean Ayla up before I have a look at her,” I heard Sam say behind me.
I walked past him and into the bathroom. Just as Lena said, the tub was already filled. I sat on the edge, settling Ayla on my lap.
Lena helped me pull off the jackets wrapped around her shoulders. Holding the shredded dress, I ripped off what was left of it from her body.
“Let me clean her up. You’re bleeding all over the floor, Alessio. Sam can look at your leg while I take care of Ayla,” Lena suggested.
“No,” I snapped. There was no way someone else was going to take care of Ayla. Not even Lena.
I would bathe her. I would take care of her. She was mine.
Mine to take care of. Mine to love.
After almost four months, I finally had her in my arms. I wasn’t letting her go anytime soon.
“Alessio,” Lena sighed but didn’t push.
Standing up, I gently placed Ayla into the warm water. I winced when my leg made contact with the floor. It hurt like a bitch. Pinching my eyes closed, I ignored the burn for a second before focusing on Ayla again.
I held Ayla in a sitting position, letting the warm water envelop her body. She was still so cold, and I feared she would never warm up again.
Lena knelt behind Ayla’s head and made quick work of shampooing and washing her hair. The water turned a dirty brown, the smell touching my nostrils, almost making me gag.
I’m sorry. So, so sorry, Angel.
She was in more pain than I had thought. And I had no idea how I was going to bring her back to me. I was scared that we were forever broken.
I ran my hand over her neck and arms. When my hand neared her stomach, I paused, suddenly finding it hard to breathe.
Of all the scenarios I had running in my head, this was not one of them. How did Ayla live in that hellhole in this state? How did she stay alive?
Taking a deep breath, I slowly rubbed my hand over the fullness of her stomach. It was rigid, and the skin felt tight. My throat burned and my heart ached as I quickly moved my hand away.
I didn’t know how to feel about this—him…or her?
“Alessio.”
I turned my head to see Lena staring at me expectantly. I ignored the look of sympathy on her face and turned my attention to Ayla again.
Squirting some soap in my hand, I quickly washed her legs and then her back. When I was done, I pulled Ayla out of the water.
Lena quickly drained the dirty water. I placed Ayla in the empty tub again, washing her again, making sure she was cleaned from all filth. I poured water over her and rinsed off the soap. When she was clean, Lena wrapped a towel around Ayla’s still form.
Sucking in an agonized breath, I stood on my legs and pulled Ayla into my arms again. I limped into the bedroom to see Sam, Viktor, and Nikolay standing at the bed.
Viktor’s eyes moved to my injured leg, and his face tightened in frustration. “Sam, you need to take a look at Alessio’s leg. He’s bleeding too much.”
“I’m fine,” I ground out, placing Ayla on the bed. I wrapped the towel tighter around her and pulled the comforter up.
“Boss, let me stitch you up first,” Sam suggested as he came behind me.
The anger I was holding inside of me finally bubbled out. “We don’t have time for this!” I bellowed.
“You’re bleeding out! You are no good to Ayla like this!” Viktor yelled back, his eyes furious.
I turned to Sam. “Make sure she is okay. I want her to be okay. Fix her!”
“But, Boss—” he started.
I sprang forward and wrapped my fist around his collar, pulling his feet off the floor. “Did you fucking hear what I just said?”
He swallowed hard and nodded. I released him, and he fixed his shirt. How did they think I would let him stitch me up before taking care of Ayla first?
I glanced at Viktor, and he shook his head in exasperation. “Sam, do what he says. He’ll never listen to any of us. Take care of Ayla first.”
Viktor went to the bathroom, and I turned to face Ayla again. Sam leaned forward, placing a knee beside Ayla on the bed.