Winter's throat was already dry from screaming too much, but she had not given up hope yet. Maybe there was someone out there in this city who would be willing to help her.
And she was right.
Just as Rylan was about to rip pull down her pencil skirt, someone punched him in the face, making his head hit the wall next to him as an impact. Winter was finally released from the death grip. She gasped for air, the pain in her bones becoming more prominent.
She managed to move her muscles and make herself sit on the ground, her back leaning against the wall, as she watched her boss being beaten to a pulp. She looked up at her savior through her blurry vision. How could she have forgotten that there was this one person that she could count on, no matter what?
"Zane," she called out in a weak voice, which went unheard by him in a fit of rage as a series of curses kept escaping his mouth. She had never seen him this furious, neither did she ever want to again. "Zane, stop. You will kill him."
"This motherfucker deserves to die," he let out and kicked him in the guts again.
"But you are not a murderer," she rasped out, which made him stop beating the unconscious body.
Zane turned his head in her direction, his vengeful gaze turning soft. He rushed to her side and kneeled in front of her. He cupped her cold tear-stricken cheeks, caressing the bruise on the corner of her lips.
"Are you hurt?" His blue eyes were filled with concern, his face torn in worry. She tried to reach out her hand to him but her body throbbed with pain, making her wince.
He took off his coat and wrapped it around her to protect her from the cold and embarrassment. Her sleeves were torn, her hair a complete mess, her hands and face bruised badly. Just her broken sight made him want to murder Rylan Tanner. He did this to her, and Zane would make sure he pays for what he did.
Zane wrapped an arm around her shoulder, which immediately made her bury her head in his chest. Her hands grasped the fabric of his sweater tightly, shoulders shaking as sobs racked her petite body. He rubbed circles on her back and stroked her hair as she cried. He pressed his lips to the top of her head and assured her with a lone tear sliding down, "It's okay. I'm here. It will all be okay."
"I was so scared," she mumbled, her voice raspy, as her wails echoed throughout the small dark alleyway.
"Yes, I know. I was too." He held her closer. As if she would disappear if he loosened his grip on her. He thanked Cedric a million times in his head as it was due to him that Zane got to know that Winter was left alone at the café. Otherwise, God knows what could have happened. Even the thought petrified him.
Zane quickly sent a haphazard text to Lucy to call the cops while she was on her way here.
He was grateful to Winter for not giving up. Because if he didn't hear screams, it would have taken him longer to find her out. Even so, he would never forget the rush of panic he felt when he didn't find her in the shop, nor would he forget the rage he felt when he saw her pressed against the wall by his boss.
If it was possible, he would never leave her alone again. He would like to keep her close to him all the time. He never wanted her to cry like this again; it hurt him so much.
"D-don't leave me," she whimpered.
Just as she let those words out, he made a promise to himself. That he would try his best from now on to make her the happiest woman alive. He wanted nothing more than her happiness, so he responded by pressing another kiss on the crown of her head. "I won't. I will always be with you."
°°°°°
Winter was silent the whole ride back to her home in the cab. With her head resting on Zane's shoulder, tears kept sliding down her face quietly.
Once the cab came to halt, Zane helped her out of the car. Winter locked an arm around his neck, supporting herself as she limped towards the threshold. Before Zane could press the calling bell, the door burst open, and her father came out.
"How dare you come so late—" David cut himself off as he noticed what state Winter was in. "What happened to her? Why is she so dirty? Did you get in a fight, Winter?"
"Mr. Weston, if you don't mind, can we talk inside, please?" Zane said.
David narrowed his eyes at the two of them and made way for them to get in. Carla gasped when she saw Winter. She hurriedly got up for the couch and let Winter sit on it.
David closed the main door and approached them. "What happened?" he inquired in a stern tone.
Winter opened her mouth to reply, but Zane signaled her to stay quiet. He started explaining everything that happened to guardians, trying to maintain his calm as much as possible as David showed no remorse or whatsoever, rather he said, "Why are you even working at such a place? That too, alone, so late at night? Can't you be thoughtful for a change?"
Zane clenched his jaw and formed his fist in a ball. Noticing his change in demeanor, Winter slowly shook her head, which made him inhale a deep breath. The more David spoke, the more he pissed off Zane.
"And what are you wearing? Is that your work uniform? What are you, a slut? Or do you work in a strip club?" David deplored, and Winter squeezed her eyes shut to suck in the pain. What was she expecting from him? Concern? What a joke. This person would rather die than actually be concerned about her.
"Honey, please stop—" Carla tried to shut him up but Zane spoke up before that.
"Aren't you ashamed to call yourself a human?"
"What?" David's eyes squinted at Zane.
"By the way, are you sure Winter has your blood flowing in her veins?" Zane derided.
"I wish, she didn't," David jeered, rolling his eyes.
"Me too. But too bad, she has your filthy blood in her body. I can't believe you are her biological father." Zane let out a humorless chuckle. "I mean, how could a father say something so disgusting like that to his daughter?" he snapped. "Toxic people like you should be sent to prison just like Rylan Tanner."
"Are you comparing me to that rapist?"
"No. You are worse than him," Zane retorted, his voice dripping with venom. "People like you scar a person mentally with their poisonous words."
"Don't forget you are standing in my house, young man," David challenged.
"I can charge you for child abuse, you know?" Zane retaliated.
"Zane, stop. That's enough," Winter spoke up. She didn't want Zane to stoop to her father's level.
Zane heaved a sigh and said to Winter, "I'm sorry. I lost my cool." He went to pick Winter up and led her to her bedroom upstairs.
"I want to take a shower first," Winter let out. "You can go home. Thanks for today."
"No, I can wait. I'm not leaving until I treat your wounds," Zane said, and Winter shifted her weight on her feet. "If you want, I can go wait downstairs."
"It's fine. Stay here," she told him and took out her clothes from her cupboard while he sat on the chair of her study table.
As soon as Winter stepped into the bathroom, tears gushed out of her eyes as she sank to her knees. Her father's words rang in her head like a temple bell, constantly reminding her of that horrible incident. Her heartbeat accelerated and her breathing became unstable. She quickly took off her clothes as if they were bugs crawling on her skin.
She felt dirty. She scrubbed her body harshly, reddening her sensitive skin, to make the touches go away. However, they still felt vivid. The way his clamped lips ran over her ears to her neck, his hands on her waist and thighs. She cried loudly, unaware of the fact that it was audible to the person waiting for her outside, despite the shower running. It broke his heart, yet he pretended as though he didn't hear any of it so that she wouldn't feel embarrassed.
When Winter came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her head, wearing a t-shirt and shorts, she felt much better.
She glanced at Zane, who was lost in thoughts. She placed a hand on his shoulder, startling him. She chuckled lightly, seeing his startled expression. She took out the first aid kit from her drawer and handed it to him.
Zane inhaled a deep breath and sat beside her on the bed, at first taking her hands on his. He applied the antiseptic on her knuckles, then at her bare arms. As he ran his fingers over skin, Winter felt all the dirty touches fading away.
He was so focused on her treatment, she took her sweet time observing his handsome face. While she was staring at him, she forgot all about her troubles momentarily. Her breath hitched in her throat when he touched the corner of her lips, applying the cream on her cut.
When her green eyes met his blue ones briefly, she had the urge to pull him closer by his collar and smash her lips on his. She instantly shook her head at the thought that occurred in her head. What was wrong with her?
Maybe it was a side effect of today's incident. Whatever it was, she liked this feeling of being cared for. Just a few hours ago, she thought that no one cared for her. But this person genuinely did. And she was happier than ever.
"Why are you smiling?" Zane asked when he noticed a faint smile tugging at her lips.
"I'm just thinking," she paused briefly. "Meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me, Zane," she confessed.
Zane stopped applying the antiseptic on her scraped knee and looked up at her. "You mean that?" Seeing her nod, he let out, "Then you should probably start dating me."
Winter laughed wryly. "You're joking, right?"
"What if I wasn't?" He arched an eyebrow, bringing his face closer to hers.
She gulped and said before pushing him away by his chest, "I know you are, so stop playing with me."
Zane shook his head and chuckled, mumbling under his breath, "Today isn't a good day to propose, anyway."
"You said something?"
"No. Just stay still," he ordered.
The two of them talked for a while longer before Zane tucked her in bed. He kissed her forehead and said, "Don't hesitate to give me a call if you are scared or get a nightmare, okay?"
"Okay." Winter smiled. He stroked her hair one last time before walking out of her room, leaving her feeling empty once again.
Winter was used to having nightmares, but if she were to get one tonight, she would undoubtedly call him, no matter how selfish she would have to be to disturb his sleep. She just wanted an excuse to hear his voice and to feel his presence.
"Ugh, am I going nuts?" She squirmed under her blanket. What was this constant feeling of wanting to be with him?
