Save Me

4- I've got you

After carrying Lucy from the car, she is seen by my private doctor, but his verdict is exactly what I expected. All the injuries are superficial, there are a few nastier cuts and bruises that I need to keep an eye on, but other than that, there isn't anything we can do.

The real concern are the drugs. We don't know what has been put into her system, for how long, and you can get your ass those needles will have have been filthy.

Lucy stirs and whimpers as the doctor takes a blood sample to test what drugs have been poured into her poor little body.

"I'll be back with the results soon." He says professionally before nodding his head and scuttling from the room, leaving me with my Lucy.

As soon as the door bangs shut, I immediately relax my form in the chair and clutch at Lucy's hand like she's my lifeline.

But then the door clicks open again and I instinctively drop Lucy's hand and scowl at the door, my hand reaching for the gun in my back waistband to protect my sleeping woman.

"Apologies don," the doctor apologises he enters, "I mean to add, that if she wakes before I'm back, it's likely that she will experience some mild to normal withdrawal symptoms."

"Really?" I ask in surprise, "she can't have been there for longer than a week. Could she really have already become addicted?"

"Well that why the symptoms are likely to be mild, not severe, because her body has had a large dose of some very unpleasant substances. It's likely to give her some withdrawal as it leaves her system."

"That makes sense." I say with a heavy sigh, staring down at Lucy's pinched and pale face, "thank you, doc."

He nods and this time, he leaves for good. Sinking down into the chair, I press my forehead into the mattress and take a few long breaths.

"God," I exclaim in an exhale, "what have they done to you, baby?" I say with a sigh as I reach up and grip Lucy's hand.

"What have I done?"

Lucy wakes an hour later with a scream of terror that breaks my heart. Leaping into action, I clutch at her shoulders as gently as I can, trying to stop her thrashing.

"Lucy sweetheart! You're safe, you're safe. Open your eyes for me darling."

She continues to wail and scream in terror and emotional agony. She strikes my chest but I absorb the blow easily and gently catch her hands, holding them close to my chest.

"Lucy." I say in a deep, firm voice, "listen to me. I need you to open your eyes for me. And then you will see you're safe."

As if my strong tone finally gets through to her, Lucy opens her eyes and her resisting against me finally stops.

A dam in Lucy breaks as she sees my face and her bottom lip begins to tremble.

"Oh," she murmurs before she bursts into tears and throws her arms around my neck, clinging to me so tightly as she wets my shirts with her sobs.

"You-you came for me." She chokes out, "you saved me."

Carefully, I wrap my arms around her, wary not to cause her any pain or discomfort, but I still hold her tight.

"Of course I did, sweetheart. I've got you now."

We hold each other until Lucy's eyes are dry of tears and she finally detaches herself from me and leans back into the bed, exhaustion taking over.

"How did you find me?" She chokes out in a tearful sniffle.

"I told you," I say with a gentle smile as I take her hand in mine, giving it a soft kiss, "you use that name and I'll find you."

She gives me a soft, weak and halfhearted smile before closing her eyes with the need to sleep again.

"Sleep, gorgeous." I mumble, leaning up and giving her a kiss to her forehead, "I'll be right here."

She nods her head without speaking again and snuggles down slightly in the bed. Standing up, I stare down at her with an emotion I haven't felt in such a long time.

Unable to help myself, I bend down and pull up her blankets, tucking her in to keep her warm and safe.

I don't want to leave Lucy, but I know from my messages that the men responsible for drugging and beaten Lucy are downstairs in my basement, and they deserve to die at my hands.

Casting one last glance over at the sleeping beauty in my bed, I turn and walk from the room where I am instantly confronted by Sophia.

"What do you think you're doing?" She demands, blocking my path with a stern expression.

Behind her Alex is wincing as he suddenly realised he's trapped between a rock and a hard place. My sister is a wildcard firecracker, stubborn and fierce in equal measure, but I'm his don.

"Miss Russo," he attempts, using a soft tone, "let your brother do what he sees fit."

Sophia scoffs and waves a hand over her shoulder to silence Alex.

"Oh please, he may be your don, but he's not mine. Listen brother, Lucy is going to wake up and what she needs is you right by her side."

"Those men need to die for what they did to her!" I spit out, already feeling my adrenaline and bloodlust spiking.

"And they will. Look, you've left them with Marco, right?"

I nod my head at my strong willed sister.

"Then they're already in a world of pain, without a sign of mercy. Leave them to Marco, you can deal the final blow once Lucy is more stable, got it?"

"You better watch that tone, Soph." I advise, "you may not always find me in such a good mood."

"Oh please." She taps my arm lightly, "now Lucy's back, we all know you'll be in the best mood. And anyway, you love me!"

She giggles and bats her eyelashes teasingly at me, making me roll my eyes and stare at the ceiling with a sigh.

"You're right," I concede, "I do love you."

Giving her a little kiss to the top of her head, I spin her around and give her a gentle shove towards Alex who is waiting with a look of amusement on his face.

As soon as he sees me looking, however, he melts the joy from his face and sets it once more into the stony severity that I am used to seeing him wear.

"Come on, trouble." He calls as he holds the door out for Sophia, leaving me once again in the corridor with more to think on and reflect than I had expected.