Chapter 24

“Mother? Why are we here?” the four-year old dark-haired, blue-eyed boy asked his mother as she led him to a dingy warehouse in the redlight district of the town.
“I have to work! Now shut up, brat!” the brunette woman, who had the same eyes as her son, snapped at him.
The child stayed quiet. He never liked coming to work with his mother. These people made her wear weird clothes and walk on a stage. Then some big, mean-looking man would go up on the stage and touch her, taking her clothes off and doing things to her. Sometimes they even made him watch.But what he felt most disturbed with was the fact that these people now looked at him uncomfortably.
At four years old, he didn’t know exactly what those people were doing to her, but even at that age, it disgusted him.
That day too, he watched them do the same to his mother and then as the man kept pushing himself into her, he watched his mother throw her head back and scream. But that hadn’t been then end of it. It had only been the beginning of a nightmare that, at that time, he had no idea would last for an entire year. After the men were done with their mother, they turned their filthy eyes on him.
That day, he’d screamed too, but it hadn’t been the same scream as his mother’s. He screamed from pain and humiliation. But most of all, he screamed for his mother to help him while she just watched and watched and watched.

* * *

Julian shot up in bed.
Gasping in huge gulps of air, he raised his arm and wiped his face, not surprised when he found it drenched in sweat.
He knew this would happen. He knew that the day’s events would bring back those memories that he had kept buried inside the deepest parts of his mind. He wasn’t surprised that he had that dream once again, a dream that wasn’t quite a dream. He was surprised, though, about not finding Sia beside him when he awoke.
For a moment, he felt his blood run cold at the thought that she might have done something to herself, or that maybe Arthur had succeeded in getting to her. But the soft noises from near the fireplace drew his attention and calmed him.
Sia was sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace, her back to the sofa. Her head was rested on her knees and her shoulders shook softly by the force of her sobs.
Despite her state, Julian relaxed. Sia was safe.
Slowly, he got up from bed, taking the covers with him. He walked carefully over to her and called out her name softly before placing the covers around her shoulders.
She froze for an instant but relaxed after a while, wiping away her tears with her fingers when she found Julian next to her on the floor.
Sitting beside her, he pulled her into his arms and held her to him. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his chest. Julian could only imagine what Sia was going through. Arthur was her worst nightmare come to life. And even though she’d been away from him for years, he doubted the hurt would ever go away. He would know. Julian could never forget his own mother’s betrayal.
“Talk to me.” Julian urged her softly.
“Arthur,” was all Sia could say before she broke down into sobs again.
“Sshh . . . It’s over Sia. It’s over.” Julian pulled her tighter to his body and placed his head on top of hers. “I’m so, so sorry. It’s all my fault! I shouldn’t have left you.”
Her sobs quietened a little as she shook her head against his chest. “No . . . Not your f-fault. H-his . . . I hate him!”
“I know, Sia. I hate that bastard too, but right now, if there’s one person we should hate more, it’s me for not being able to protect you.” Julian shook his head. “I had only one job . . .”
Sia went very, very quiet against his chest, and her arms loosened their hold on him.
Julian was confused at her sudden stillness, until she spoke.
“I-is that all I a-am to y-you? Your j-job?” she asked,
Julian knew instantly that he had made a huge blunder. He hadn’t meant to make it sound like that. Sia wasn’t his job, she was his life.
“No.” Julian pulled back and cupped Sia’s face in his palms, forcing her to meet his eyes. “I don’t think of you as just my job. Heck, I don’t think I’ve ever thought about you as just my employee. But I made you a promise, damnit! And I failed you miserably. Even after promising that I won’t let him get to you, that was exactly what I did. You should hate me! You should be blaming me!”
Sia put her fingers on top of his lips to shut him up.
“But I don’t! I don’t h-hate you, Julian!” she said with more force than she had intended to. “I love you!”
Julian went very, very quiet. As did Sia.
She knew she’d crossed the final barrier; she’d reached the point of no return. But Sia couldn’t just sit back and let Julian take all the blame for Arthur’s crimes. Arthur was to blame for everything. He ruined her life. He made sure Sia would never be able to escape the nightmares that he’d inflicted on her. As if the past wasn’t traumatic enough, he had to come back and create more dreadful memories for her. She’d thought that being in jail would’ve changed him and made him realize his mistakes, but Arthur always had twisted morals, and being in jail had only added more dirt to his already filthy character. Julian, however, had no hand in it, so if there was anyone to blame, it would have to be that filthy bastard.
She knew Arthur would try something again. That’s why they’d set up the bait in the first place. She just hadn’t expected for the circumstances to be in Arthur’s favor.
“W-what did you just say to me?” Julian whispered, finally breaking out of his stupor.
Sia placed her hands on top of his. “I said that I love you. I’m in love with you, Julian.”
Sia felt a shudder run through Julian as he pressed his forehead to hers, holding her so tight as if he was afraid that if he let go, she’d disappear. So Sia made the first move. She leant forward and pressed her lips to Julian’s without a second thought.
Sparks instantly exploded in his system as he felt Sia’s lips connect with his softly. He felt desire like liquid heat in his blood. He wanted to deepen the kiss, to taste every nook and corner of her mouth. He wanted to continue so badly that even the thought of holding back sent a physical ache to his chest. But with utter determination, he pulled away.
Sia’s eyes were wide in shock as Julian pulled back from her. Both of them were breathing hard and neither of them seemed willing to let the other go. Sia went to touch his face, but Julian pulled back from her harshly.
“No. Not today.” That was all he could get out through his clenched teeth. He was sure Sia could see the desire in his eyes, but he wasn’t sure Sia was ready for him yet.
He expected Sia to run and be afraid of him. He was even prepared for a slap. However, his words fell on deaf ears as Sia suddenly tangled her fingers through his midnight black strands and crashed her lips to his again, kissing the life out of him.
This time, the kiss lasted longer. Hands began roaming, exploring. And it wasn’t only his. While his hands travelled the length of her spine to stop just above her hips, hers travelled all over his chest and his broad shoulders. It was when her hands began to tug at his shirt that he regained his mind back to stop her.
“No!” He broke the kiss, gasping for air, and pulled Sia away again as she tried to bring their lips back together. “Sia! You can’t!” And he didn’t even know whyuntil his brain registered what had happened to her only a few hours ago.
“You said you wanted me, Julian. You said I had to be the one to make the first move!” Sia knew she sounded desperate, but at that moment, she didn’t care.
God, did she want him—had since their first kiss in her home office. When Arthur tried to force himself on her earlier, she had realized during those horrifying moments that she wanted Julian—and only Julian—to be the one who’ll touch her. And she didn’t want to wait any longer. It had to be Julian. And it had to be now.
“Are you sure? Sia you’ve just—”
“This has nothing to do with Arthur! It’s about me and you. About us.”
Julian was stunned into silence and honestly, and so was she. She had no idea where she got this courage, this confidence from, but she liked it.
Julian didn’t talk anymore. He couldn’t. So he did the only thing he could at that moment. He kissed her.
Sia met him halfway, their lips moving in sync, their breathing ragged, their hearts beating against their chests.