But I’m not sure if that’s too much to do. Too much to wish for right now.
I hear the door open, and this time, I don’t speak. I learned my lesson the last time, unfortunately. Especially since I took the last smack across the face after they hung me up, and I dislocated my shoulder. I hurt. A lot. But I refuse to cry. I promised myself I won’t. Not yet.
So I wait in silence.
“Pinche puta,” I hear before I get slapped again. A cry escapes my lips at the sudden attack, and he pulls another from me when he hits me in the stomach. I can’t move with it from how I’m hanging, and it hurts even more than before.
I pant for breath, feeling lightheaded and dreading passing out. That’s one thing I fight for. One thing I refuse to do. Who knows what the fuck will happen when I can’t protect myself. Not that I can right now, but I’d rather be awake and remember than have to wonder about the horrors that are inflicted on me.
I hold my breath, waiting for the next hit. But it doesn’t come. Instead, I hear fists, but nothing touches me.
God, I wish I could see.
I focus on my hearing and not the pain or the blood rushing to fill my ears. I can only guess at what’s happening.
Gunshots. I hear a lot of gunshots. More fists on flesh. Some screams.
Then I don’t have to guess. My blindfold is lifted, and my eyes gloss over with tears. Fresh ones. Ones I willingly let fall.
“Koop,” I sob as he grabs my face and kisses me. It hurts because of the split lip—and because everything fucking hurts—but I welcome the pain. I welcome everything, because I feel him. He’s not made up. He’s not a dream that’ll fade away when I open my eyes. He’s here. He came.
For me.
“Oh, baby, what did they do to you? Oh, my sweet Peaches, I’ve got you. Help me get her down.”
Another guy comes into view, one I don’t know, but together they slowly lower me to the floor.
I grunt in agony, and Kooper sees. He sees everything. Always.
“Don’t untie her hands yet, Rooster.”
The guy, Rooster, nods and moves back to the door, leaning out and then shooting a second later before leaning out again. No shots this time. Either he got the guy he was aiming for, or they ran off.
“Okay, baby girl, I’m going to put your hands over my head and hold you. Try to stay as tight to me as you can.”
I nod but still cry out a bit when my arms shift to fit over his head. The tingles of numbness feel like spider bites and nails being embedded into my skin again and again.
“I know, Peaches. I know.” He kisses my forehead, and I swear everything is fine. The pain, the anguish, all of it. I have him. I’m in his arms. It’s all fine.
I hold tight as Rooster takes the lead. At first, I keep my eyes shut, but I need to look. I need to see what’s going on. To see that we’re actually leaving.
“Nat? Did you find Nat?” The thought is a whisper on my lips. I’m scared we’ll get caught. That we won’t make it if I bring too much attention to us.
“Walker and Hoss already got her out.”
They could have left. They could have taken her and gone. But they kept looking for me.
He must see the expression on my face because he holds me tighter. “I’m never leaving you behind, Peaches. You’re mine. Always have been. Always will be.” His words are rushed, and I feel them on my skin, even if he’s focused on looking around to keep us from being ambushed.
I nod, and I’m sure he can feel it. Just as I can feel my tears slide down my neck.
Bodies. I see so many. We get to the stairs and go up quickly. I would joke about him obviously not skipping leg day from the ease with which he carries me up them, taking two at a time, but as we round the top, Kooper’s ducking low, almost dropping me as we take fire. I hunker down closer to his chest and hold on tight. If this is where we die, I want it to be in his arms. I’m not letting him go, just like I know he won’t let me go.
“Go out the front. The back’s compromised,” Rooster yells. “Switch, we’re coming out the front,” he says, but I’ve got no clue who he’s talking to. I see the earpiece in Kooper’s ear, but I thought Flint would be here.
“You better get your ass out, too, Rooster, or Domino’s going to skin me alive,” Kooper says a secondbefore he shifts me. He’s only using one hand to hold me, like he did when we were leaving the hospital after the shooting on campus. That was so long ago. But even then, I knew I was safe. That with Kooper, I’m always safe.
He pulls a gun from his belt and holds it out as he jogs us to the exit. So many people are there, but they don’t see us. They’re shooting at whoever’s in front of us. I can only hope it’s the Hounds. Family that’s come to get me out.
