Melina is startled awake when the nightmare ends. She closes her eyes and tries to calm her racing heart. Melina just had the same nightmare again. It’s the same one she has been having for three weeks. Opening her eyes, she runs her hand through her hair and drops her legs to the side of the bed. Melina can’t believe she really thought if she left that house, the memories of what happened would vanish. She sighs and places her hands on her temple. These past three weeks have been hell. She even wishes she hadn’t come out of numbness.
Melina gets out of bed and walks to the bathroom to take a shower. Her body is sticky from sweating all night. While taking off her clothes, she recalls something that may help to alleviate her guilt. She noticed his chest move slightly before she left that day. Melina knows she might just be making things up to feel better, so she will ask Leo tomorrow if he’s dead or not. The man’s chances of survival are slim, but she remains hopeful. She knows it’s wishful thinking, but she would like to believe he’s still alive until she hears otherwise.
Later in the day, Melina paces the hotel suite’s living room, waiting for Leo to arrive. She’s a little worried he might avoid talking to her because of Thomas. The bags under her eyes show how little sleep she is getting these days. She needs to hear that the man is alive to relieve some of the guilt that is weighing on her heart.
Hearing the door open, she snaps out of her thoughts. She rushes to Leo the moment he walks into the suite. Thomas looks at her, puzzled, but says nothing. Thankfully, he didn’t ask or prevent her from approaching Leo.
“Do you have time to spare? There’s something important I’d like to discuss with you.”
“Really, with me?” Leo asks surprised
“Yes.”
“Alright, no problem; what do you want to discuss?”
“Let’s go to the terrace and talk.”
“Okay,” Leo says, and Melina leads them there. She doesn’t want Thomas to overhear their conversation. She knows Leo would tell him, but she still wishes for some privacy while asking him about the man.
“What would you like to discuss with me?”
“I wanted to ask you about the man I watched Thomas beat last time.”
“What about him?”
“Is he dead?” Her heart rate increases, waiting for his answer.
“The answer is none of your concern,” Thomas says from the terrace doorway. She turns around and faces him. His face holds no emotion as he leans by the door with his arms crossed over his chest. His tattoos are visible since his sleeves are rolled up. His first two buttons are undone, and his hair appears to have been ruffled with his hands a lot today. They haven’t really spoken since they kissed, and if she didn’t know better, she’d say he’s avoiding her.
Melina only sought out Leo, so she didn’t notice him when he walked in. He appears tired but still sexy. Only Thomas can pull off that look. She wonders if work is becoming too stressful these days. Pushing off the doorway, he walks toward her.
“Please, I need to know if he’s dead or not.” Why wouldn’t Thomas tell her if he’s dead or alive? It’s not something he needs to hide from her.
“Trust me, it’s better you don’t know, Melina.” Thomas wraps a strand of her hair around his finger. His scent hugs her like a warm blanket. Memories of how she would bury her nose in his scent flood her mind. Tears sting the back of her eyes, as she recalls how those days are gone forever.
“He’s dead, isn’t he?” she asks, her eyes searching for an answer in Thomas’s eyes. His eyes remain emotionless, giving off nothing.
He puts his mouth to her ear and whispers. “No, and yes.” All the baby hair on her back gets in a standing ovation.
“Please tell me, I really need to know.” Could no or yes mean the man isn’t dead but is as good as dead? If that’s what Thomas meant, she prays he lives.
“Don’t worry about it. All you should worry yourself about is looking pretty tonight.” Thomas doesn’t seem like he wants to tell her if the man survived his beating or not, so she decides to forego finding out for the time being.
“Tonight, are we going somewhere?”
“Yes, I’m opening a new club tonight. You’re coming with me.”
“Really?” she asks, excited to finally be able to step out of the hotel suite after three weeks.
“Yes, but if you act foolishly while we are in the club, I don’t need to tell you what will happen.”
“I promise you I won’t.” A small smile appears on her face for the first time in weeks. Melina has been praying for some fresh air; even though a club is the least close to that, she will take it. She’s so happy Thomas is letting her go out with him tonight.
Melina rushes to her room to start getting ready. She’s about to hop into the shower when she notices the time on her bedside table clock. It’s only 7 p. m. Thomas would probably want them to leave for the club around 9 p. m. It’s too early to start getting ready. She won’t wear makeup since she doesn’t have any, so she doesn’t need to start getting ready immediately. Speaking about makeup has made her realize she doesn’t even have what to wear tonight. Linda never gave her a club outfit. She walks out of her room to tell Thomas.