Wow, thank you so much for all this positive feedback. I know it was a 'hard' chapter to read and I was floored by the response. Thank you so much!

Chapter 3

"So, how is your stray?" David stepped beside him, leaning with his back against the railing, folding his arms over his chest.

"She isn't a stray," Robin replied. "She is a person."

"So, how is she?"

"Frightened," Robin said slowly, staring over the players down in the hall. "Someone hurt her. Badly."

"You are gonna help her." David didn't voice it as a question. He didn't have to. David knew him that well.

"I have to, David."

"I know."

-/-

As he entered the room his eyes immediately searched for her, not seeing her anywhere.

"Hello?" He already thought she had left as he heard a strangled sound from the bathroom and rushed over. "Hello?"

He knocked against the door, waiting for her answer but he just heard sobbing. He turned the knob without thinking about it and stepped into the room, his heart squeezing in his chest as he saw her crumpled on the ground, the sobs racking her body.

"Hey," he said softly, crouching down a few steps away from her, an image of another person sitting on the bathroom floor sobbing flickering in front of his eyes, and he shook his head, not having the time now to get pulled back into the past. "You are safe here. Everything is gonna be alright."

He knew that no matter what he said it might not even get through to her but he couldn't just walk away, so he scooted slowly closer, stretching out his hand and touching her softly.

She jerked back when his hand brushed against her, scooting backwards until she hit the wall, her eyes huge, the mascara smeared over her whole face. The fear in her expression made his stomach churn with anger towards whoever had hurt her.

But he mashed it down, holding up his hands, immediately retreating again. "It's alright. I'm not gonna hurt you."

He stood up and walked over to the jacuzzi, leaning forward to open the faucets, adjusting the temperature before turning back around to her.

"How about you'll take a bath? I'm gonna lay some fresh clothes outside the door for you."

And then he walked out of the room, the door clicking shut behind him quietly.

She could just stare at the closed bathroom door for a few minutes until she released the iron grip around her knees and put her hands on the floor, her eyes flitting over to the bath. It took her another minute until she could push herself up and stagger to the door, turning the lock before shedding her clothes and stepping into the hot water.

She sank slowly into it, her body relaxing with the warmth surrounding her and she leaned her head back against the edge, wondering why a complete stranger was treating her so well. It didn't make sense to her. No man had ever treated her like he did. As if she was worth being treated as a human being and not as a plaything to use for sadistic pleasure.

She stayed in the bath until the water turned cold, until she had pushed everything back into a dark corner of her brain, wondering what he might think of her now after seeing her like this. Not that it really mattered.

Stepping out of the tub, she dried herself before walking over to the mirror and removing the steam of the surface, scrubbing her face clean of the smeared make-up. She avoided looking into the mirror after removing everything, not really feeling comfortable without it; the make-up being a mask she could normally hide behind.

She wrapped the towel around her and opened the door a crack, pulling the clothes he had laid down in front of the door inside and donning them quickly. The pants and sweatshirt fit her perfectly, and she tried to ignore the uncomfortable feeling that settled in her stomach with the realization that he had eyed her more thoroughly than she had been aware.

Knowing that she couldn't avoid him forever, she slipped out into the main room quietly, finding him sitting at the table, several covered dishes standing in front of him.

"I've ordered a little bit of everything so that you have a broad choice."

She stepped forward and sat down on a chair. "Thank you."

"Wine?"

She just nodded, watching him pour the red wine into her glass and she sat ramrod straight as he leaned back and tilted his head, the corners of his mouth turning up into a soft smile as he said, "So, you already know my name. Can I have yours?"

"Regina," she whispered, not meeting his eyes.

"Regina," he repeated, his voice seemed to caress her name. "I like it."

She didn't think she could relax at all in his presence but he just chatted away, telling her about the hotel, the players, entertaining her with stories about all the strange and weird things that happened in a city like Las Vegas, and she listened with rapt attention, forgetting her situation for the moment.

But when the meal was finished and he had poured her another glass, she went rigid again, knowing that the small talk was over now.

She reached for the wine glass with shaking fingers, taking a huge sip. He was handsome and he seemed to be a nice guy, and she needed to let a man touch her again. She knew it was the only way to make enough money. She needed to sell her body again, and maybe the man sitting beside her would not treat her too harshly in bed. Maybe with him she could forget the bad things that had happened the last time she had shared a bed with a man.

She let her hand drop into her lap, taking all her courage and reaching over to his leg under the table, her fingers playing over his thigh.

"No," he said softly, putting his hand over hers and stopping her. "You are a beautiful woman, Regina. But you don't have to do this. I don't want you to do this."

"But I can make it worth your while," she cooed, spreading her fingers wide until she could feel the bulge under his pants. Her heart was hammering in her chest, the nausea curling in her stomach but she had to push through it. She had to.

"Regina, don't." He pushed her hand away gently, his voice soft but firm. "I'm not gonna lie. I am attracted to you. But I don't want you like this. You can stay here as long as you like. I don't expect anything from you in reward."

She gulped hard, just staring at him, wondering when he would change his mind because nothing was for free in this world. Nothing.

"Just don't rob me blind, okay?"

She laughed out loud, actually laughed; a weight falling from her shoulders as he smirked at her and she smiled back at him.

She didn't know what it was about him, but she felt safe with him, even though this whole situation was definitely too good to be true.

But maybe, for a few days, she could make herself believe that there were good people in this world.