54 - Joana

"My father was tortured before he died," I said in a low tone. Pablo was slightly startled, as if he had already forgotten that I was still there. He straightened up, frowning his face. I swallowed it dry. "I'm sorry to talk about it out of nowhere. It's just that it was the first thing I thought about when it all started.”

"No," he said, in a hurry. He approached and put the ice pack against my forehead. The pain relief was immediate, but when I became aware that Pablo was between my legs, I was a little tense. He put one of his hands on my shoulders. "You can talk. I'd rather you talking or getting angry than in silence. Your silence scares me, Lioness.”

It was the first time that day he called me by an intimate nickname, so I forced myself to open a quick smile. That day was already a total mess, any other show of affection would not change anything.

Not after I spent several minutes hugging my client and desperate to leave the blessed room that turned out to be our salvation. Not