Just then, Luke and Gina made their entrance. They were hurt, Gina had blood around her mouth, yet both stood at some distance, observing her with sorrow in their eyes.
Inattentive, Alice saw them and shut down, her eyes clouded by desperation and awareness of the fact that now she was little more than a human wreck. She bowed her head and slid down but, just before she could hit the floor, two strong arms took and lifted her.
Tom engulfed her into a solid, safe, tender embrace. Grateful, Alice clung to him, buried her head in the crook of his neck and wrapped her legs around his waist. She inhaled his skin scent, so natural, with no artificial fragrance but soap, and felt pervaded by a profound sense of peace. Before she could stop it, though, she let a short sob slip, then a second, mo
