The Promise

39) Aurora

I finished my night shift today, some days I have night and others are day ones; the firm is empty as everyone went home, I'll be having my shift at the bookstore in an hour, but I'm waiting for Dionne.

I sit in Dionne's office waiting for her to give me the laptop so, I can use it at the bookstore today and with Elio too.

"Ro, are you ready to go?" Elio enters the office.

"I think so, I'm just waiting for Di to get the laptop."

"Sure, tell me you didn't read again in our book, and I'll kill you" He warns.

I smile, "No! I didn't have the time. I always read at the bookstore only."

He smiles so big, "You read with me you mean," he says leaning in for a bit.

I laugh awkwardly, "Yeah, we meet at the bookstore so, I guess?"

He takes a seat next to me at Dionne's desk, "Ro, thank you so much; for helping and tutoring me, it really helped and I love the bookstore so much as well."

"Don't say that, what are friends for anyways?" I say and his smile falters then he leans in and says, "Tell me more about you; your family, country, or friends back there."

I start feeling uneasy; first from his closeness and second from the mention of my home country.

"Uh, sure! Other time will do, I'll go look for Di."

I leave before he says something and enter a nearby smaller office, she always sits there and keeps her files and stuff.

I sigh and turn to leave when I feel two arms wrap around me from behind.

My eyes widen at first, but then I feel something's wrong, it's not him. I spin to find Elio, "What the fuck, Elio?"

"Ro, why don't you give me a chance; I mean you're already single" he starts coming towards me. "No, seriously. Get away from me, I already told you I'm not looking for something."

"Is there someone else? Back in your country, I mean?"

"No, there isn't back in her country"

Now I know that voice, fuck. Elio looks behind me and I spin as well.

"Mr. Mughrabi, we didn't want to disturb you," Elio says, placing his arm over my shoulder.

No, he doesn't even do that normally. I glare at him and try to shove him off of me when Omer speaks, or orders; ice lacing his voice,

"Hands. Off."

I close my eyes and remove his hand; wrapping my arms around myself. This is bad, so bad.

I start to shake from the unwanted contact and the tension between the two men.

"It's okay, sir we're friends and she's my tutor too. Let's go, Ro" Elio says reaching for my arm again, I back away in Omer's direction, the door's too when it all happens in a matter of seconds.

The air is knocked out of me as Omer wraps his arm around my middle with one arm pulling me out of the way behind him and punches Elio sending him to the other side of the office.

I scream as Elio's nose bleeds; he tries to stand again heading for Omer, "No! please stop!" I yell as Elio attacks, but Omer is way bigger and it's clear stronger as he plants the other punch on his face sending him to the floor.

"Omer, please! I'm begging you" I cry as I claw at his shirt to stop him.

"Back off, Aurora!" he barks.

My eyes widen as Elio uses his distraction to punch his jaw; "Omer, no!" I scream again covering my mouth as I hear the crack of his jaw.

I shake and tears start to fall as I try to stop them, to get him away, to explain, but the world blurs away. No, this can't be happening now.

"If I see you near her, it's the end of your fucking miserable life." Omer snarls.

"What the fuck is going on?!" Dionne screams rushing to my side, she searches my face "Are you okay?" I try to nod.

I push away every thought and go after Omer,

"Aurora what the hell!" Dionne rushes after me inside the office.

I reach him and grip his shoulders, "Omer! Fucking stop!" I yell when I feel him stop.

I turn his face towards me as I see Dionne reach for Elio, she yells, "Get him away from here, I'll handle this!".

I murmur, still shaking as tears fall from my eyes, "Please".

His face is a mask of fury, there's no trace of the person I know; "you tutor him"

"I'll explain, but calm down, Omer"

He runs his fingers through his hair pushing it back and grabs my hand pulling me with him, "Omer stop, you're scaring me!" I try to pull my hand out of his grasp, but he tightens his grasp more.

He pushes open the door to his office pulling me in and spins slamming his mouth against mine and backing me up against the door, he raises my arms above my head.

His hands roam my body, I slam my eyes shut. He separates our lips to whisper against my mouth, "You're mine" he grips my waist tightly; I whimper "Omer, you're hurting me" he doesn't budge; I feel it, he is not there too.

"Nobody will take you from me" he rasps, "Nobody will," I tell him.

He opens his eyes then his lips part, his chest heaving "he touched you" I shake my head, "It didn't mean anything, he didn't. You came".

His eyes form tears, "no one will take you, you're mine, Aurora", I nod and he pulls both of us down on the floor.

He touches my face then my lips, "Say it", the tears fall down his face, "I'm yours, Omer" I start to cry too. "They took everything, they all left" he whispers as he wraps both his arms around me swallowing me with his arms and trapping me against his body.

"This time I won't let it happen" he growls, I start to pat his chest when he flinches and I back off, then he hesitates as he plants my palm against his mouth kissing it on his chest, I freeze.

I feel the unevenness of his skin under the shirt, it's huge. My heart aches as he rocks both of us whispering things like 'You're mine' and 'You won't leave me'. He places his fingers on my neck atop the pulse spot; feeling it. Moments later, he starts to calm down; his body relaxing.

I free myself from his grip. He looks at my face, "Fuck dove" he whispers.