Chapter 161:

IRIS

The first thing I felt was a weight against my back and for a solid moment, I was back at Massimo's house, and in his bed. Frightened, I jerked up and away with a sharp intake of breath but a strong arm kept me in place.

Terrified, a scream tore out of my lungs and I clawed at the hand before I felt the owner move behind me. Whipping around, with wide eyes and a raging heartbeat, I found Les with sleep ruffled hair and a sleepy look but alert eyes studying me. The room we were in was dark save for a soft light coming in from the windows in our room which gave us a clear view of the town we were in.

“It's okay. It's me. You're fine. You're free.” His deep voice washed over me in soothing waves as his hand left my midriff and touched my face. It was when he wiped a tear from it that I realized I had been crying. I blinked several times and nodded, too scared out of my mind to catch a breath. “Easy. Look at me.” I obeyed. “Take one breath in and one breath out.” He practiced and I