Serenity | Fragile Hearts

chapter 11- tears

Aila

I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole. My "big girl" facade was about to break in front of him.

I didn't want to show him how scared I was. I wanted to stay strong and show him I could handle myself.

I looked down to where Sofie was holding onto my leg as if she was going to be ripped away any second. She was scared too, but she surely didn't show it with him.

I placed a comforting hand on her head to hopefully relax her.

"M-mommy. Is he gonna come back?" she whispered to me with tears in her eyes. I picked her up and shushed her as I rocked her.

"He?" Grey asked me, looking even more furious. I forgot he was there for a second. Not going to lie, I didn't expect this from him.

"Can someone tell me what's going on?" he said in a loud frustrated tone.

Grey
I was fuming. Livid.

For some reason, the universe kept making me run into this woman and her child. I didn't think anything of it- except to just go about my day like usual.

But I guess sometimes, the universe put you in situations for certain reasons.

I was going to give her a quick hello (because I'm not a dick) and continue on with my day.

But it was the large purple and blue contusion that wrapped around her arm that caught my attention.

It was formed in the shape of a handprint.

Being in the mafia, bruises were something that was seen daily. Being a doctor, it wasn't uncommon as well.

But the bruise on her arm wasn't done on accident. It wasn't on of those "I fell" or "I'm just clumsy".

It was done with the intent to cause pain. To assert power and show dominance. Whomever did this, which judging by the looks of it was a male, was an asshole.

Because you don't assert your dominance by hurting a woman. 

He was a little bitch who was afraid to fight a man.

And that pissed me the fuck off. Because he had to pick on someone who he knew couldn't fight back. Who was vulnerable.

That was why I suddenly felt protective. In the mafia, there was a code. One that prevented the innocent from being hurt. Or laying hands on women and children.

It was often upheld and respected. And if you disobeyed it- then you my friend were completely fucked.

I could tell she was trying to put on an act. One that screamed "she's okay". But I wasn't an idiot. In fact, aside from being a surgeon and in the mafia, I spent YEARS analyzing people. Her facial expression alone told me she was frightened and though she may look calm, fear was coursing through her veins.

That, and the fact that her child seemed scared as well. Poor kid had her eyes focused on the door as if a monster was going to barge in any moment.

That caused me anger. Extreme anger. I knew I had to help them.

"How about we go sit down in a booth" I suggested.

She nodded and we slid into a booth in the corner. I made sure to sit on the left side so I could face the door, hopefully giving her some peace.

"Tell me what happened."

"Why do you want to help us?" she asked me confused.

"Because believe it or not, I'm not an asshole. I see the fear on both your faces, which shouldn't be there. I know we haven't gotten off on the best foot, but I think I've shown that you could trust me." I explained to her with a calm tone.

She nodded. "Y-yeah."

She took a deep breath. "Okay." And she began to explain everything. It was as if she'd always known me and she trusted me.

She told me about her ex, Sofie's dad, who has anger issues and hurt her. She didn't go into too much detail, remembering that I'm still a stranger, but once she was finished, she looked a bit relieved.

"I know, I'm messed up." she said. Her daughter had fallen asleep on her arm a while ago, and she was rocking her gently.

"You're not. At all."

Aila

If you asked me why I spilled my whole life to this man- I wouldn't be able to give you a clear answer. Maybe it was because he'd helped me when I was sick and shown me some sort of care and compassion. I wasn't sure.

But in that moment I just needed someone to vent to. And as much as I hated to admit it, I felt somewhat safe in his presence. He seemed like a guy who wouldn't hurt me.

If I was being completely honest, I was scared. For all I knew Blake could pop up out of nowhere and hurt me or Sofia. As if I didn't have my guard up already, it would have to be up more.

"Do you feel safe?"

I looked to him and pondered for a second.

"Right now, yes"