chapter 21 scared

Kamala's POV

My eyes darted on the big hole missing from the wall.

Tears were flooding my eyes as I stood at the edge of the wall. Shaking, I crunched down towards the edge as I held my knees in my arms.

The last thing I remembered was walking through the door. Alister was in his office so I limped my way to the main living room where I started to organize my equipment.

My back was stinging from the still very evident scars and there was some sort of of liquid teasing me through the fabric.

With shock, I realized I must have been bleeding.

The scar from the whip must have reopened.

The red sensation traced my spine and managed to get all over the white fabric of my blouse.With panic, I turned around and picked up a sponge to try and calm the wound but instead fell over from the now more than apparent pain on my upper back.

I grunted in agony and watched with trepidation as I saw the door to the office open.

Then it all happened too fast.

One minute, Alister was set by the door with his eyes locked on my battered face and the next, his fist was through the wall as he yelled out swears.

My entire body was quivering and all I wanted in the moment was to disappear. Alister was furious and he was taking it out on anything that stood in his way and I was terrified I would be next. The room looked unrecognizable to the state it was just a few minutes ago. The beautiful decoration was now splattered in the floor and the wall lost it's comfortable dark shade with the enormous holes splattered across.

Soft sobs were escaping from my mouth and I was desperately looking at the door hoping I could get out.

The tears were still soaking my cheeks and my breathing was starting to get caught up my throat as it felt harder and harder to breathe.

I started to choke and even the constant ringing in my head telling me to breathe did not help to calm me down. The panic rose to my chest and I was struggling to keep a hold of the air surrounding me.

Unaware, Alister was still punching the shit out of anything he could find and he looked exactly what I had been afraid of picturing. A mafia boss.

That was when Alister's eyes met mine. He took in my hysterical state and instantly stopped. He must have realized I was on the verge of a panic attack because the next thing I knew he was walking over to me with an almost sorrowful expression. For a second, I thought I had seen a hint of worry but blamed the illusion on my panicked condition.

He stepped up to me before getting on his knees to try and match my position. His hand reached forward to try and hold my shoulder but I instantly flinched and curved myself further against the wall. The fight for air became more violent as I felt my heart swelling and the world around me closing.

The next thing I knew, I was being picked up in somebody's arms. The thought of anyone touching me seemed to only frighten me more but struggles to get down seemed useless compared to my now less than weak form.

I was placed on the sofa and I felt Alister's worked up figure next to me. Like me, he also seemed panicked. He didn't know what to do as he obviously never had to deal with a panic attack.

Surprised he even cared about something that had to do with me, I scooted away to the edge of the sofa to relive what felt like the end of the world for me.

Suddenly I felt a hand touch mine, sending light electric sparks all over my body. Alister came closer to me as if hesitant on whether him being there would only worsen the problem. At that point, the only movement my body could do was quiver as I slowly waited for the darkness to come.

And yet, it couldn't come fast enough as I will left in my suffering state.

And then, all of a sudden, I felt something I never thought I would.

Alister wrapped his hands around my waist as he soothingly rubbed the palm of my hand.

I thought I would freak out. Black out or completely loose the last piece of air floating around in my lungs.

But instead, almost unknowingly, I leaned into his embrace laying my head on his chest as he continued stroking my hand.

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I don't know how long we stayed like that. In that moment he wasn't a mafia boss and I wasn't his maid.

Right then, all I knew was that however way he did it, it stopped the attack.

After a few minutes my breathing went back to normal and my heart rate seemed to be in its correct pacing.

My head still payed on his chest and his arms were still circled around my waist.

I couldn't help but feel protected, safe even and I didn't want to ever leave this aroma of comfort.

Then, out of nowhere, Alister pulled away. My eyes wondered up as I saw Alister leave the room and slam the door behind him in an angry mood. Like he was angry at himself.

Pulling myself out of the haze, I tried to wrap my head around what had just happened.

Alister held me. No. Hugged me.

Alister hugged me!

The most feared man in the world...hugged me.

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It had been two hours.

Two hours since Alister locked himself away in his office leaving me confused and worried about every interaction I had ever had with him.

My back still ached. It got harder and harder to bend down to pick up the supplies when my back was practically begging me to stop.

The room was damaged. Everything looked broken and I knew it was my job to fix it.

Unfortunately, most of the items were broken and couldn't be placed back so I had to throw them out. It was a pity. They each looked like they were worth at least a thousand dollars and it was a shame to see them scattered on the floor.

I picked them up and threw them into the back.

My bruises legs were barely keeping me standing up and it was always struggle to get down for something.

Through the cleaning, my mind couldn't help but wonder around Alister. I couldn't get over the fact that he actually cared enough to try and stop my panic attack. No one has ever been able to stop one before and for some reason all I wanted was to feel Alister's touch one again.

Talking of the devil, ty door to the office opened abruptly as Alister came out as he headed for the door to the elevator.

Before he could go out, his eyes landed on me.

"What the fuck are you doing?" He growled out trying to contain the anger in his voice.

"W-what?" I asked carefully trying to decipher what I had done wrong.

"Why are you still cleaning?" His voice seemed to get harder and it was getting more and more difficult for him to keep his anger at bay.

"I-it's my job, I-"

"Just shut up and sit down on the couch."

"But-"

"Sit down."

I did as I was told and got to the couch. My thoughts were ringing reminding me of the thing that happened last time I sat in this place.

Alister was about to leave when he abruptly turned around, his eyes still furious and his face resembling something deadly.

"Who did it?"

His question caught me off guard and I winced at the thought of what happened yesterday.

I wanted to bury the memory, make it never see the light of day but in that moment all his touches and words fled back to me.

"I d-don't know what y-you m-mea-"

"You know exactly what I mean! Who the fuck did it?" He yelled unable to keep his anger sustained any longer.

Knowing exactly what he was talking about, I gulped. I didn't even want to think about what Cullen would do if I snitched on him.

Until this morning I didn't even think Alister would even spare a glance at the bruises. I still didn't.

But the fact that he was asking must have meant something .

"I t-tripped." I answered simply, afraid he could see through my lies.

"Don't fucking bullshit me, Kamala! Tell me who did that!" He yelled and I flinched at his use of my name.

I didn't even think he knew.

"I t-told you. I t-tripped." I answer, my voice more quivering and soft than last time.

"I know you're lying to me. Why the fuck won't you just tell me?"

Cullen. That's why. I knew what he could do. I witnessed it with my own eyes. I couldn't go through that again.

After I stayed silent, his anger seemed to resurface.

"I'm not asking Kamala. Tell me who did that!" Alister was basically roaring at this point and I knew I had no choice but to answer.

With one last deep breath, I answered.

"Chef Warwick."