Chapter 81 She Is in Another Man's Arms
Caroline sat stiffly on the tub's edge, the wool blanket slipping from her shoulders to reveal the lattice of scars—old and new—etched into her skin, silent testimony to what she had endured.
She looked down at the flimsy, obscene fabric clinging to her body. Her fingers lifted, stiff as claws, and she tore at it, ripping the soiled remnants away in savage jerks.
Then she forced her legs to move, stepping into the tub, lowering herself slowly into the water.
The warmth hit her all at once, and memories blurred by terror suddenly sharpened into brutal clarity.
She wrapped her arms around herself, nails biting into her flesh, her body shaking violently.
Filthy. She felt filthy.
She began clawing at her skin, scrubbing at every spot they had touched, every place their eyes had lingered.
Her skin turned red, then purple, streaked with angry welts. Blood welled in places.
"Caroline! Stop it!"
Daniel had stepped back in and heard the frantic splashing. His heart seized. Through the curtain, he could see her silhouette—raking at herself as if to tear away her skin, shed it like something rotten, and grow new flesh beneath the pain.
His eyes burned with helpless tears, but he didn't dare pull the curtain aside. "Please, stop! Don't hurt yourself! It's over, you're safe now! I'm here, no one can touch you anymore..."
He repeated it over and over, like soothing a terrified child.
Whether his words reached her or she simply ran out of strength, her movements gradually slowed. She slid down to the edge of the tub, pulled her knees to her chest, buried her face, and let her thin shoulders shake with silent, wrenching sobs. Tears fell hot into the water.
Daniel exhaled shakily, reaching through the gap in the curtain with a bottle of antiseptic and cotton swabs.
"Put some of this on, okay? You have cuts. Staying in the water too long isn't good for them. The medicine will help."
After a long pause, a pale hand reached out slowly.
At least she was willing to treat her wounds. That meant she still wanted to live.
Daniel stretched his arm further, trying to bridge the gap.
But the distance was too great, the tub between them. Caroline strained forward, fingertips barely grazing the bottle's edge.
She had to lift herself slightly from the water, reaching farther.
The tub's edge was slick with water. Her hand slipped. Her weight shifted.
She fell hard.
Water exploded across the tiles.
"Caroline!" Daniel tore the curtain aside.
She lay sprawled on the wet floor, completely naked.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean—" His mind reeled. He dropped to his knees, pulling her upright, grabbing a towel to cover her. "Where did you hit? Does it hurt? I—"
The apartment door crashed open.
Heavy footsteps thundered toward them.
"Bathroom!" someone shouted.
The bathroom door exploded inward with a single kick.
Alexander stood in the doorway, his face a mask of cold fury, his eyes locking instantly onto Caroline—soaking wet, naked, cradled in Daniel's arms.
He'd spent the entire afternoon and evening tearing Grandhaven apart looking for her. He'd imagined every worst-case scenario. He'd been frantic, consumed with rage and fear.
And here she was. In another man's apartment. In his bathroom. Naked. Wet. In his arms.
A bitter laugh escaped him.
The next instant, his fist slammed into Daniel's face.
The impact was sickening. Daniel's head snapped back, his cheekbone exploding with pain. He toppled backward, skull cracking against the tile wall. Blood sprayed from his mouth, spattering across Caroline's ankle.
The bright red made Caroline flinch violently. She thought they'd come for her again—the men from the club.
She scrambled backward on her hands and knees, clutching the towel to her chest, tears streaming down her face.
Alexander kicked Daniel's crumpled body aside and stepped forward, gripping Caroline's chin, forcing her to look at him.
"Look at me."
Caroline's eyes focused through her terror. It was Alexander.
But the violence in his gaze made her shrink back.
"I looked for you for seven hours." Alexander brushed the wet hair from her face with deceptive gentleness. "Turned Grandhaven inside out. And you were here... with him?"
His gaze raked over her body.
"Got yourself all cleaned up, didn't you?"
Caroline shook her head frantically, tears blurring her vision.
She wanted to explain, to tell him it wasn't what he thought, but no sound would come.
"Not what?"
Alexander released her chin, gripped her shoulders, and shoved her backward into the tub.
Water erupted around her.
Caroline's lower back slammed into the tub's hard edge. Pain blanked her vision. She choked on water, sank under, thrashed to the surface, coughing violently.
Alexander stepped into the tub, leaning down to grab her slick arm, hauling her up, then spinning her to face him.
"Look at me." His fingers traced her face with terrible tenderness. "Tell me. What were you doing? Where did he touch you?"
"Stop! Don't touch her!"
Daniel struggled to his feet, roaring.
But two of Alexander's men were on him instantly. One drove a knee into his lower back, forcing him down. The other pulled out a roll of duct tape, tearing off a long strip and sealing his mouth.
Alexander turned his head slowly, looking at Daniel kneeling on the floor, eyes blazing with powerless fury.
After a moment, Alexander's mouth curved into a cold smile.
"Tie him up. Keep him conscious. Don't kill him. Don't knock him out. Just... let him stay right there."
He looked down at Caroline curled in his arms, his fingers finding the scrape on her shoulder, pressing down hard.
"Let him watch."
Caroline gasped in pain.
Alexander watched the fear flood her eyes with satisfaction, then finished his sentence with deliberate precision. "Let him watch how pathetic his little rescue really is."