Chapter 19：Something's About to Change

"I'm not letting you go, sweetheart." I answered before clutching her hair.

I knew Winter must probably still be shocked and scared so I didn't stop what she did next. She craned her neck and looked up to me with her large expectant green eyes as if pleading for it from me. I didn't hesitate and leaned down to give her what she wanted and kissed her lips. She gasped but accepted my tongue into her mouth. She clutched my nape tighter as our kiss went deeper. She just needed reassurance and the feeling of being safe. So I'm giving it to her. I'd provide it to her with every damn breath I take. I'd never deny her anything.

Winter finally pulled away and stared into my mouth as if shocked we did that before she slowly raised her eyes to meet my gaze. I kissed her forehead just because before I tucked her head under my chin. I couldn't fathom how the hell I've managed to hold her away because of Madame's contract. Winter was a big part of my life and heart. And now that she's hurt, I felt like it's all my fault because I wasn't there to protect her.

We sat like that for so long until I felt Winter's body relaxed and my arm protested being numbed with Winter's weight. But I still didn't change position and even held her tighter in a possessive embrace. The door opened and Brian came inside with a worried face.

"She's asleep." He nodded towards the girl in my lap.

"Yeah." I answered while feeling the weight of guilt settled in my gut. "Can you please bring me something to patch up her face. She might get infection."

"Sure." Brian went into my toilet to get the necessary first aid for Winter's scratch and returned to me with it. "Here, let me."

Brian cleaned up Winter's wound and tended it with ointment. While my friend was busy doing this, my mind was in chaos. I thought of how to make this up to Winter and how to plan my revenge to those motherfuckers who hurt her. I'm a man who once wore a uniform before so I wasn't thinking of gunning down those fucks. I just have to make things right and shut their mother fucking nonsense bullshit.

"I'm taking Winter home. We might be away for a few days. I've thought of how to deal with this mess. I'll make them pay, Ian."

"I've had our lawyers settle things." Brian informed.

"No. That's not enough. I'll ruin them, man." I said with all the hate I felt.

"Bruce, you don't have to do so much damage. We had enough publicity to last us for a year. Bad publicity if I may say so myself."

"Since our name have been tainted, why not make use of it in one blow. I have contacts to make things work. They hurt Winter and for me that's something I can't live without revenge."

Brian studied me for a moment before he sighed and nodded his head. He stood and opened the door for me while I walked out of the office and into the lift carrying Winter in my arms. I didn't get to ground floor since I knew people were still mingling around to investigate the scene so I went immediately to basement.

"Bruce?" Winter moaned and her eyes fluttered open.

"Go back to sleep, sweetheart. I'm right here. I won't leave you." I kissed her temple before depositing her into my car and strapped her in.

I rounded the driver's seat and drove away into my house. My own house and not Madame's. In the middle of the drive, Winter woke up but remained silent while looking at her side of the window.

My heart hurt for her. I hated seeing such pain and misery in her eyes. I've known Winter long enough and cared for her so much to the point of believing that I lived to make her happy. I thought of Madame and the memories we shared and I mentally shook my head. Madame's just a contract, a temporary arrangement. Someone I couldn't have for a forever kind of way. But Winter was. I clutched the steering wheel tighter.

Somethings about to change.