Page 14 of Property of Yak

“I’ll stay right here. I’ll be your guardian angel like you said. You shower, and then we will tuck you into bed nice and safe.”

“You’ll stay while I sleep?” she asks, panic in her eyes.

I hadn’t planned on it, but I won’t refuse this woman anything. Not when she looks so vulnerable.

“I will.”

Relief fills her as she hops off the counter. I hold my hand out as she sways a little. Then she starts to strip, so I avert my eyes. Only the mirror is in front of me, so I still see her as she strips naked. I try not to look, but my eyes flick that way.

I tell myself it’s to ensure she’s not hurt, but the truth is, I’m drawn to her. Probably because of her being a damsel, but nothing will come of it. I’ll leave before she wakes and never see her again.

As she showers, I make myself useful, looking through her medicine cabinet for anything for the pain she is going to feel from her assault. As I look through the pills, I’m surprised to find the same sleeping pills Aspen, my best friend Wolf from Mountain River’s old lady, used to take when she struggled to sleep after her attack.

I glance over my shoulder at the naked woman. I want to know why she has these, but it’s none of my business.

I don’t need the attachment.

I shake out one and use the glass next to the sink to fill it with water. Once she is done and wrapped in a towel, I hand her the pill.

“What is it?” she asks.

“Your sleeping pill. You’ll need it.”

She nods, swallowing it with a swig of water before she makes her way to the bedroom. I watch as she pulls out clothes, turning my back to her until she tells me she is dressed.

I help her get into bed, tucking her in.

“You’ll stay? You promise?” she asks, the sleeping pill already pulling her under.

Or maybe it’s the crash from everything that happened.

“I will. Rest now.”

“Wait. What is your name?” she asks.

“It’s best you don’t know, Angel,” I whisper, brushing her hair away from her face.

“I won’t tell anyone,” she mumbles, her eyes falling shut.

“I know you won’t.”

Then for some fucked-up reason, I press a kiss to her forehead.

CHAPTER

FOUR

Julie

“Let go of me! Help!” I scream, even though they are covering my mouth as they drag me into the alley.

“Shut the fuck up, bitch,” the guy behind me says, breathing down my neck.

The other guy chuckles darkly. “I love it when they fight.”

Gasping, I sit up in bed, heart pounding as I come out of the nightmare. My eyes shoot across the room, looking for something, anything.

I’m alone.