Distance: Chapter 24
Fuck, I can’t remember the last time I laughed as much as I did last night. Reading Sienna’s filthy mafia book was certainly eye-opening. But tonight I wanted to do something special, I want to spoil my girl.
I grab Sienna’s hand and walk her over to the elevator. She looks breathtaking in a short little back dress and leather jacket. My cock is twitching just admiring her beauty. I’m taking her out to her favorite Italian restaurant. She’s had enough of my pre-fight diet. I’ve trained so much these past few weeks, I need time to spoil my woman.
Her hand trembles in mine as we approach the elevator. Despite using this for the past month, she still seems scared. I keep asking why and she just brushes it off, saying she’s a bit claustrophobic, and scared of being stuck.
There’s more to it than that. I know it. The fear that burns in her eyes every single time makes me wonder what exactly happened. She might think she hides her trauma well, but I know her, I see her.
Something about it isn’t sitting right at all. I want to help her, but I can’t if I don’t know what I’m dealing with. The elevator doors slide open and we step in. I do my now usual routine of wrapping her under my arm and settling in the corner, but this time the corner opposite the buttons. I remove my hands from around her shoulders and place a soft kiss on her forehead. I leave her there and walk over to the buttons and press the underground floor.
I watch cautiously as she nervously fidgets with her fingers, her chest heaving up and down. She’s watching me, but I can see she’s more focused on breathing. She really doesn’t know how to do this without me. I hate seeing her like this.
The lift starts to creep down, floor 80 highlights on the screen at the top. I turn my back to the buttons to face her and slyly move my hand behind my back, clicking the bottom two buttons. The emergency stop and lights.
We come to an abrupt stop and pure fear is evident on her face, her eyes open wide. It’s the last thing I see before it goes black. I stand still. Her breathing becomes more and more frantic, like she’s fighting for air. Every part of me wants to run to her and help, but she needs this. She needs to realize how strong she is.
The heart wrenching sound of her gasping for breath fills the small space, hitting me right in the chest. I can’t see her, but I can sense her terror.
“Mom? No, please. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I won’t ever do it again. Just please let me out, please don’t leave me in here. I hate it.” She cries out in pure panic. Thuds echo in the darkness as she starts beating on the walls as if she’s a caged animal desperate to escape.
What the fuck? Guilt immediately shreds through me as I jab the lights button with my finger. I keep jabbing and nothing fucking happens. Oh fuck.
I just need to get to her first. I march through the darkness to her with my arms out, hoping to grab hold of her.
“Please no, please don’t do this. I’m sorry, I’ll be better.” She sobs out, nothing but pain in her voice.
My foot bumping into something stops me. It has to be her. I lean forward with my hands to try to feel for her, but my hand connects with the mirror. I crouch down, using my hands to guide me. They end up on either side of her head, gliding down her soft curls and all the way down her body until I’m on either side of her arms.
“Baby, it’s me. It’s okay, you’re okay. Everything’s going to be fine. I promise you.” I whisper into her ear, hoping and praying I can get through to her.
She doesn’t respond, only with sobs, her body heaving under my palms. I swallow down the bile that threatens to come up at what I’ve just done. I never in a million years expected this to happen. My poor Goddess. I tighten my grip on her arms and lift her up.
“No, no! Don’t throw me in there! I can’t do it. I can’t. I’m sorry.”
With every word she utters, my heart breaks a little more for her and the rage inside me boils. I want to kill her fucking piece of shit mother. I lift her up to maneuver her, to cradle her into me. She’s like a screaming rag doll, clawing at my chest. My skin burns as her nails scratch at my neck.
“Baby, it’s me, Keller. I’ve got you.” But she continues to fight in my arms.
I hurry us back over to the buttons, squeezing her tight into my chest, to bring her some comfort, to bring her back to me from whatever hell she’s entered. I keep smashing my finger into the button. On the last attempt, the elevator illuminates with bright white lights. I blink a few times to adjust to the sudden change and immediately look down. Her face is pressed so hard against me, I’m shocked she can still breathe. Her knuckles have a death grip on my shirt.
“Sienna, Baby, I need you to look at me. It’s okay. We’re going to be moving now.” I continue to whisper. She slowly peels her face from my jumper, her bloodshot puffy eyes staring up at me, black makeup smeared all over her cheeks. Blood drips from the scratch marks on the side of her neck.
“I’m so fucking sorry, Sienna. I’m sorry this happened. I’m so sorry she did that to you,” I manage to choke out. Tears burn my eyes.
Her chest heaves up and down erratically against me. She’s looking at me, but she’s not there. Her eyes have glazed over. I press the button back to level 86. I need to get her up to the penthouse and bring her back.
The door pings open in no time and I stride into the apartment, still holding onto her. My heart pounds in my chest as I make my way to our bedroom, throw back the duvet, and lay her gently on the bed, tucking her in right up to her neck. She doesn’t move an inch the whole time. I get in my side and cuddle into her, pulling her into a tight embrace, stroking her hair, and whispering to her how much I love her. Over and over again. We are shrouded in darkness as her warm tears run onto my forearm.
“Sleep Baby, I’ve got you. I will never let that woman hurt you again. You are strong. You are incredible.”
It’s not until I feel her breathing settle, her body starts to release that I finally feel like I can breathe again.
Fuck the penthouse, I’m buying us a mansion. No more elevators.