Sophia’s POV: Loopholes
There’s someone in my house…
My heart dropped to my stomach.
Goosebumps scattered all over my skin as I struggled to see in the darkness.
I don’t know who they are-can’t see them yet-but I could tell. The way the hairs on the back of my neck stood up as shivers ran down my spine was enough proof of my suspicion.
My brain screamed at me to get my phone and call the cops or grab something for defence.
Before I could decide on what to do, big hands grabbed me, slamming me against the wall and I shrieked which earned me a punch to my stomach.
“Please don’t do this,” I pleaded, my voice breaking with desperation and fear as I struggled against his hold, but he was so much stronger than me.
I tried to recognize the face of my attacker, but what I saw made my stomach hurt as fear enveloped me. It was like he was wearing a skin mask with no eyes, nose or mouth and when I tried to snatch it off, my fingers made squelching noises…
My attacker was faceless?!
This time fear enveloped me in a more suffocating embrace, it felt like I was deep inside a river, drowning, fighting for air.
But then I heard it.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
It’s like an anchor back to life, the same sound over and over again holds me hostage but I’m not alive or dead, I’m just hanging in the balance.
“Soph?” A vaguely familiar voice called out to me.
It was like I was being snatched out of a deep sleep, I felt nauseated and disoriented.
Was I having a nightmare? Fuck what was real?
The smell of antiseptic assaulted my nostrils.
Beep.
“She’s waking up, we need to call the doctor,” the same voice pleaded. “C-can you hear me?” the voice sobbed.
I’m in a hospital?
Why would I- The ugly memories came flooding back. Date night. Ride home. Harry.
Ivan’s POV:
She looked confused, worried and scared all at once. I’d gone to stand at her side when Daisy first noticed her fingers twitch. It was such a relief that she was finally up.
“A-are you okay?” Nick asked, hovering above her like a mother hen.
But she just looked disoriented.
I moved closer and took her hand in mine. “You’re fine, you’re safe now,” I tell her, she says nothing but lets her gaze drop to our joined hands.
Just then Daisy walked back in with a doctor and a nurse on her trail. “Here, she’s up!”
The doctor simply nodded and walked over to Sophia.
“Miss Smith, are you doing okay?” He asked softly as he examined her.
She cleared her throat but nodded instead. She looked weary and exhausted for someone who’d been asleep for hours.
“Good,” the doctor replied. “You’re ready to be discharged this evening, but you need someone to be at home with you. You may have not been injured physically but you need rewo and assistance for at least two weeks.”
She opened her mouth to speak, “I-”
“She will come home with me, I can look after her,” I interrupted quickly.
She cocked an eyebrow at me but said nothing.
“Also…” The doctor started while he scribbled something on his notepad and then he tore out what he had written. “Here’s a therapist I highly recommend, I know you’ll need this.”
She takes the paper from him. “Thanks… but I’m fine. And I’ve got my own therapist,” she said gently.
He nods. “That will be all then. Who will sign the discharge papers?”
“Nick and Daisy will,” She said quickly and turned to them. “They are my family.”
Nick and Daisy seemed happy she’d referred to them as family. They both hugged her as they kissed her on the head before following the doctor out.
But, I felt weird-offended if I’m being honest, she should have just let me take care of everything. But I knew I was irrational, these two were the closest thing she could call family, seeing as I was the one who took away her only family.
No, there was no need to think about that-
“…Thank you.” Her voice cut through my voice. I was only just realising that I had been standing beside her, saying nothing and we were left alone.
“Thank you for saving me,” she says again, squeezing my hand this time. I’d long forgotten I had her hands in mine.
“You don’t have to thank me, I’m just glad you’re safe,” I said sincerely.
She offers me a weak smile. “How did you know to come to my apartment that night?” She asked.
My heart skipped a beat. That was an unexpected question and I absolutely did not see that coming. How do I answer that?
Okay, so I installed cameras in your house and have my men follow you 24/7? Or hey, I was obsessing over you and thought it was a good idea to stalk you?
Well in my defence, it helped me save her. Alright, I know I was wrong…
Why the fuck am I overthinking this? This… isn’t me.
“Ivan?”
Great, I spaced out again.
“Shit. Sorry.”
Her eyes narrowed at me. “Are you okay?”
“Of course,” I say quickly.
She looked at me suspiciously and then nodded slowly. “Okay… you haven’t answered my question though,” she points out.
“I think we should let you rest, we can talk about this later,” I said calmly, hoping it would pacify her for the moment, ’cause honestly, I couldn’t bring myself to tell her another lie and I also couldn’t tell her the truth.
“I’m fine, just-”
The room door swung open, revealing Sasha and Sidorov. I’d asked them to get some of her stuff to my place and make sure to set some things in order.
“You’re awake, finally, you had me worried.” Sasha walked over and she placed a kiss on Sophia’s head. “How are you feeling?”
Sophia smiled up at her. “Fine, I guess? I just ache all over.”
Even though she’s been saying that for the past couple of minutes, she didn’t look fine to me, her smiles barely met her eyes, she seemed on the edge and most people probably wouldn’t notice but I did, ’cause I was watching her, really watching her. It just made me want to protect her from everyone, myself included.
“I’m so glad Ivan got to you when he did,” She said, leaning over to wrap Sophia in a hug this time.
Sid walked over to me, lowering his voice. “Ivan, there’s something you need to see.”
I looked down at Sophia, she seemed to be engrossed in whatever Sasha was saying.
“Let’s talk outside,” I whispered.
I released her hand. “Sasha, look after her. I’ll be back.”
“Sure.”
Once we were outside the room. Sid hands his phone to me. “I got this message a few minutes ago, I’m sure it’s from Harry.”
I read the message.
+44 XXXX: I’m sure you already know a lot of shit about me, so I’m going to make this quick. I need something from you, so I’m going to send you a location and time when I’m ready.
Now, let me give you a warning, don’t think about fucking with me. You have no idea what I can do and how far I’m willing to go.
I know your weakness, so choose wisely.